tion. American literature can boast of names equally great,-Bancroft, Motley, Hildreth, and Prescott. The style of Prescott is justly regarded as a model of historical writing, as well from its purity and beauty as from the absorbing interest with which it invests whatever he treats.

The North American Review makes the following remarks on Prescott's style, which are worthy of being added, as likely to convey a just idea of what a good historical style should be:

"Mr. Prescott is not a mannerist in style, and does not deal in elaborate, antithetical, nicely-balanced, periods. His sentences are not cast in the same artificial mould, nor is there a perpetual recurrence of the same forms of expression, as in the writings of Johnson or Gibbon; nor have they that satin-like smoothness and gloss for which Robertson is so remarkable. The dignified simplicity of his style is still farther removed from any thing like pertness, sinartness, or affectation; from tawdry gum-flowers of rhetoric, and brass-gilt ornaments; from those fantastic tricks with language which bear the same relation to good writing that vaulting and tumbling do to walking. It is perspicuous, flexible, and natural, sometimes betraying a want of high finish, but always manly, always correct,-never feeble, and never inflated. He does not darkly insinuate statements, or leave his reader to infer facts. Indeed, it may be said of his style, that it has no marked character at all. Without ever offending the mind or the ear, it has nothing that attracts observation to it, simply as a style. It is a trans-. parent medium, through which we see the form and movement of the writer's mind. In this respect, we may compare it with the manners of a well-bred gentleman, which have nothing so peculiar as to awaken attention, and which, from their very ease and simplicity, enable the essential qualities of the understanding and character to be more clearly discerned."

§ 444. A Biography is an account of the life of an individual. When the chief incidents only are touched upon, it is called a Biographical Sketch. The style recommended in the last paragraph for history is also appropriate to biography. The writer should avoid a tendency to minuteness of uninteresting detail, and exaggerated praise of the person of whose life he is treating.

§ 445. The third variety of narrative is the Obituary, which is a notice of a person's death, accompanied with a brief sketch of his life and character. Obituaries are generally written by friends of the deceased, in whom, as in the

Mention those distinguished in American literature. What is said of Prescott's style? In what terms does the North American Review speak of it?

§ 444. What is a biography? What is a biographical sketch? What style is appropriate to biography? Against what tendency should the biographer be on his guard?

§ 445. What is the third variety of narrative? What is an obituary? By whom are obituaries generally written? What, therefore, is the natural tendency in the

biographer, there is a natural tendency to exaggerate the abilities and virtues of those whose memory they would preserve. Such exaggeration fails of its object, being readily detected, and in that case not only losing its effect, but actually offending the reader. In this, as in every other species of narrative, truth should be the primary object.

§ 446. Travels constitute the fourth kind of narrative. They may be defined as an account of incidents that have happened, and observations that have been made, during a journey; and form one of the most entertaining and popular departments of literature.

Narration constitutes the greater part of a book of travels; but description and the other elements of composition may also be introduced, in a greater or less degree. Keen powers of observation are essential to the writer in this department of composition. His style should be varied to suit the different objects and incidents he is called on successively to describe; ornamented or simple, sublime or sparkling with humor, as occasion may require. To awaken interest in his readers, he should select new and important subjects only, and exhibit them in their most striking light.

§ 447. The fifth class comprises Voyages; which resemble travels in every respect, except that the incidents they relate are such as have happened to one passing by water between countries remote from each other. As regards style, the same principles apply as in the case of travels.

§ 448. The last variety of narrative we shall here mention, is the Anecdote. This term is derived from two Greek words (a privative, and ěkdoтoç, given out, made public); and was originally applied to an historical fact not generally

writers of obituaries? What is said of such exaggeration? In all the varieties of narrative, what should be the primary object?

§ 446. What constitute the fourth kind of narrative? What is meant by travels? What constitutes the greater part of a book of travels? What else may be introduced? What is essential to success in the writing of travels? What style is most effective for them? What subjects should be selected by the writers of travels?

§ 447. What is the fifth division of narratives? In what do voyages differ from travels? What style is recommended for voyages?

§ 448. What is the last variety of narrative mentioned? From what is the

As now used,

known, when promulgated for the first time. however, this term signifies an account of an interesting detached incident, particularly one connected with the career of some distinguished person. The point of an anecdote should not be obscured by too many words.

§ 449. The only example it is thought necessary to present, is one of the anecdote. The other varieties form so considerable a portion of the current literature of the day, that the student can hardly go amiss for suitable models.

ANECDOTE OF DR. FRANKLIN.

Long after the victories of Washington over the French and English had made his name familiar to all Europe, Dr. Franklin chanced to dine with the English and French ambassadors; when, as nearly as the precise words can be recollected, the following toasts were drunk:

"ENGLAND-The Sun whose bright beams enlighten and fructify the remotest corners of the earth."

The French ambassador, filled with national pride, but too polite to dispute the previous toast, drank the following:

"FRANCE-The Moon whose mild, steady, and cheering rays, are the delight of all nations, consoling them in darkness, and making their dreariness beautiful." Dr. Franklin then arose, and, with his usual dignified simplicity, said:"GEORGE WASHINGTON-The Joshua who commanded the Sun and Moon to stand still, and they obeyed him."

EXERCISE.

I. Write, in your own language, an Anecdote of Richard the Lion-hearted.

II. Write, in your own language, an Anecdote of Philip of Macedon, from the following heads :

A Macedonian soldier had so distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of valor as to gain the favor of King Philip and many marks of royal approbation. This soldier was once shipwrecked; and, being cast ashore with scarcely a sign of life, was revived only by the care and tenderness of a Macedonian, whose lands were contiguous to the sea, and who hastened to his relief. Placed in this good man's bed, carefully nursed, and freely supplied with the necessaries of life, the shipwrecked soldier found himself, at the expiration of forty days, sufficiently recovered to be able to resume his journey. He left with loud protestations of gratitude to his kind host; and, informing the latter of his influence with the king, promised that his first care should be to secure from the royal bounty a munificent reward for one who had so generously befriended him in time of need. word anecdote derived? To what was this term originally applied? As now used, what does it signify? What is the effect of too many words in an anecdote ?

In reality, however, he was filled with base cupidity, and ungratefully resolved to procure for himself the grounds of his benefactor. Shortly after, he presented himself before the king; and, recounting his misfortunes and at the same time his services, begged that Philip would give him an estate, and specified that of his entertainer as one which would be peculiarly acceptable. Ignorant of the circumstances, Philip inconsiderately granted the request.

The soldier immediately returned, and, driving out his preserver with violence, seized on the property in question. The latter, stung to the heart by this unparalleled ingratitude, boldly approached the king, and laid the whole case before bim. Philip, finding, on examination, the story to be true, lamented his own inconsiderate act, ordered the property to be restored, made the suffering complainant a munificent present, and, seizing the base soldier, confiscated his goods, and had the words THE UNGRATEFUL GUEST branded on his forehead.

[Close with remarks on the king's justice.]

FROM the following points, draw up two Biographical Sketches, one of Alfred the Great, and the other of William the Conqueror. If further information is needed, any his tory will supply it.

ALFRED THE GREAT.

Introduction-Responsibility resting on kings- How much the happiness or misery of their subjects depends on them-How some kings abuse their opportunities of doing good, while others are incalculable blessings to the lands they rule-How it was in the case of Alfred.

Born 849, at Wantage, in Berkshire-son of Ethelwolf; his mother was Osburgh, daughter of Oslac, butler to Ethelwolf, but well descended.

His early education neglected-his natural thirst for knowledge-skilled in bodily exercises.

His enemies, the Danes; i. e. the people of Scandinavic
Commander of his

(Sweden, Denmark, and Norway).

brother's armies-recommends a navy.

Losses and reverses of fortune-anecdote of the burnt cakes--visit in disguise to the Danish camp-defeat of the Danes--baptism of Guthrum-Alfred's power increasespeace during the last two years of his reign-dies 901.

His character-learning-piety-habits-political institutions-patronage of learned men-division of England into counties, hundreds, tithings, &c.

WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.

Introduction-Some kings seem to have been chosen by Providence as instruments for effecting mighty changes in nations-the case with William the Conqueror-intermixture of Normans with Saxons produced the English nation of the present day.

Whose son ?—his title to the English throne-his rival -the invasion of England-the number of William's army -where he landed.

Harold's title to the crown-proposals made by William to Harold the night before the battle.

The battle and its circumstances-death of Harold, and victory of William, 14th October, 1066-extinction of the Saxon rule-submission of the clergy.

Coronation-oath-return to Normandy-effects of his absence-conspiracy of the English-return of William, and treatment of the rebels and English clergy.

Destined to vexation and trouble-his children—anecdote of their quarrels.

Insurrection in Normandy-conduct of the queen, daughter of Baldwin, Earl of Flanders-rebellion quelled by an English army.

Death of Queen Matilda-insurrection in Maine aided by the King of France.

Invasion of France by William-accident which caused the death of the king in 1087.

Character-changes produced in England during his reign-relations between the Saxons and the Normanschanges in the language.