6. Sixth; after the lapse of one or more days, review it again, and if nothing appears deserving correction, you may have reason to consider it good. But in order to be certain, submit it to the review of another experienced person.

7. We shall illustrate this praxis by offering the skeleton of the historical narration above quoted from Livius.

THEME. The Fight of the Horatii and Curiatii.

OUTLINE OF NARRATION.

"1. The sign of battle is given.

.

2. The spectators rise in breathless suspense. 3. In the first encounter one of the Romans remains unscathed; two are killed; and the three Albans are wounded. The Alban army raises a shout of applause.

4. The Roman soldier then feigned to flee. The three Albans followed him at different intervals.

5. After having fled a short distance, he turned back and slew the first pursuer; while the Curiatii were shouting to the other brothers, to run to his assistance.

6. The Romans then raised a shout of applause, and bid their soldier to finish the contest.

7. Horatius then slaughtered the second Cu

(7.) Can you illustrate this praxis by example?

riatius before his brother could come to his assistance.

8. Horatius said to the last Curiatius, 'I have sacrificed two brothers to the Manes; I will sacrifice the third also, that the Romans may have command over the Albans.'

9. The Romans then received their soldier with ovations and rejoicings."

8. This is the skeleton of the narration, and may serve to illustrate the directions given in Part I., Article II., No. 2, as far as the seventh direction. Now, the student must begin the work of amplification of the points contained in this outline; and follow the directions, seventh, eighth, et seq., given in the same place.

9. The composition being finished, the student must compare it with the original model. In the comparison, he will learn, that many things, which do not alter the substance of a fact, can be supposed, and embodied in the narration. He will also discover, what he could have omitted, and what he could have added; what vivid language he could have used, and what figures he might have dispensed with; in brief; the perfection of the model will show clearly, the imperfections of the copy which the student must correct.

I.-EXERCISE.

THEME. Relate the attack, and fall of Fort Sumter, in 1861."

II.-EXERCISE.

Read your composition, and show how you have observed the qualities of historical narrations, viz: probability, perspicuity; and what style you have used. Let others criticise your composition; and make the necessary corrections afterward.

ARTICLE III.

OF HISTORY IN PARTICULAR: ITS DEFINITION, DIVISION, QUALITIES, NECESSITY, UTILITY, AND CRITERIONS.

1. History, as stated above, is, "A narrative of past events."

2. History may be divided into numberless classes, according to the different subjects of which it treats; and may relate to the acts and words of men, with respect to God, themselves, and other individuals. Hence, history may refer to the different relations and conditions of man in life; to the various forms of government; to the different modes of worship; and it may em

(1.) Give again the definition of history. (2.) How may history be divided?

brace either the whole, or a part of mankind; or it may be confined to a single nation, or a community, or a single individual.

3. Each class forms a special branch of history; which takes its name from the subject of which it treats. Thus, the chronicle of daily events, relating to a community, is called Journalism; and the record of the life of an individual, is termed Biography. These two branches of history, are in common use; hence, we shall treat of them in two separate articles, after we shall have expounded the criterions that must guide the writer, and reader, of history.

4. In the division of a historical subject, the historian ordinarily, follows either, FIRST, the order of time, and epochs of facts; or, SECOND, the order of places, where those facts have occurred; or, THIRD, the degree of merit and dignity, of persons, actions, or things.

5. The essential qualities of history, are not only perspicuity, and probability, as in narrations

(3.) From what does a branch of history receive its appellation?

What is called Journalism, and Biography?

(4.) What order does a historian follow in the division of a

subject?

(5.) What are the essential qualities of history?

in general; but moreover, a moral certainty of the facts related: for the reason, as Cicero says, that " History is the witness of times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.”

6. The necessity, utility, and importance of history, are evinced from the fact, that history is, as it were, the golden link which connects the present with the past; that it is, in many points, the basis of our knowledge; that it forms, on various subjects, the rule of our actions; that it is the support of our religious belief; and, in many things, is the moral cause of our obligations towards God, others, and ourselves.

7. Such being the momentous importance of history, is it necessary for a reader, as well as a writer of history, to subject it to a rigid criticism, before assenting to the facts and truths related therein ? We answer in the affirmative.

8. For, is it not true that many histories have been found either spurious or incorrect? Is it not, then, just and right to discriminate the

(6.) How do you prove the necessity, utility, and importance of history?

(7.) Is it necessary for a reader and writer of history, before admitting facts, to submit them to a rigid criticism? (8.) Prove this assertion with respect to the reader.