SECTION I.

CRITERIONS OF CRITICISM CONCERNING AN
ORIGINAL HISTORY.

PART I.

CRITERIONS FOR THE WRITER OF HISTORY.

NOTE. We deem it incumbent on our part to treat of every subject of Belles-Lettres concisely, yet completely. But it happens not unfrequently, that some topics naturally lead us to the exposition of the philosophical principles on which their rules are based. To omit those would be to mutilate the subject badly; and leave the mind of the student in sad ignorance of the principles on which the rules rest.

These

would seem then gratuitous, and their nature would be neither well understood, nor remembered by the scholar. On the other hand, it may appear, that the youthful mind, for whom this treatise on Belles-Lettres is designed, is not capable yet of comprehending philosophical principles. To this objection we reply; that it is our opinion that some scientific principles are not so abstruse as many imagine. Their obscurity is often owing to the confused ideas and obscure language of a preceptor. This fault we shall endeavor to avoid. For the rest, as it is our duty to treat of a subject in full; so it belongs to the teacher to use his own discretion in the selection of the subjects to be studied by his pupils, according to their capacity. If he deem it well

to postpone for a time, either wholly, or in part, a subject, or species of composition which requires more maturity of thought; he may do so, without any impropriety or injury to the student. But in all cases, it would not be amiss to make an experiment first.

1. Preliminary Remarks.-I. It is here presupposed, that the facts, which are designed to form the subject of history, have some reference to men, either in their cause, effect, or adjuncts, as required by the definition of history in its proper sense.

2. II. Historical facts must belong either to the physical order of nature, or moral order of human actions; because facts or truths of the logical or metaphysical order, even if they regard man, are not classified as subjects of history, in its strict sense.

3. III. The facts to be related may be either coeval, or uncoeval with the writer, as explained above; hence,

4.

FIRST GENERAL CRITERION. "When facts are coeval with the writer, two points must be ascer

(1.) What is here pre-supposed, in relation to facts which are to form the subject of history?

(2.) To what order must historical facts belong?

(3.) Is it necessary that the facts should be coeval with the

writer?

(4.) Give the first general criterion, for the writer of history.

tained by the historian; first, the possibility; second, the existence of the fact. This general criterion is subdivided into other particular criterions, as follows:

5.

FIRST PARTICULAR CRITERION, CONCERNING THE POSSIBILITY OF A FACT. "No fact is to be admitted which is impossible." This criterion is subject to the following principles and rules.

6. There are three classes of impossibility, to-wit; Metaphysical, Physical, and Moral.

7. PRINCIPLE I. A “ metaphysical impossibility, which implies a contradiction in terms, or, in other words, which contains an intrinsic absurdity and falsehood, cannot be made a reality by any power, either natural or supernatural." Such is the impossibility, that "two added to two are equal to three." If such a proposition were true, four objects would at the same time be four and three, which is utterly impossible. Hence,

8.

FIRST RULE. By analyzing the ideas

Does the general criterion admit of a subdivision ?

(5.) What is the first particular criterion concerning the possibility of a fact?

(6.) How many kinds of impossibility are there?

(7.) What is the first principle concerning metaphysical impos

sibility?

Illustrate it by example.

which form an assertion, it is easily discovered whether the assertion implies an inward contradiction, or metaphysical impossibility. Thus, for instance; if a man should state that a certain person has made a triangle, the three angles of which added together exceed in degrees two right angles; the intrinsic absurdity of this statement is readily found by ascertaining first, to what three angles of a triangle are equal; and upon the application of geometrical principles, they will be found to be equal to 180°. In the same manner it will be ascertained that two right angles are also equal to 180°; whereby the absolute impossibility of the above assertion is made manifest.

9. SECOND RULE. When the statement of a fact contains a contradiction in its terms. or a metaphysical impossibility, the fact is to be absolutely rejected; for, as it has been stated before, an absolute absurdity and falsehood cannot be made a reality by any power whatever.

10. PRINCIPLE II. 66 Physical impossibility, which implies an infraction of some of the laws of nature, cannot be done by any created power."

(8.) Give the first rule for finding when a fact, or an assertion, implies a metaphysical impossibility.

(9.) What is the second rule in such a case?

(10.) Name the second principle respecting physical impossi

bility.

11. PRINCIPLE III. "A suspension or derogation of the laws of nature, although above the power of created beings, is, nevertheless, within the power of the Author of Nature; since he, that has power to make laws, has, also, power to suspend, or repeal the same. Hence, physical impossibility is not absolute, but only relative to created agents." Hence,

12. RULE I. By inquiring whether a fact is contrary to any of the laws of nature, it is ascertained, whether it is physically impossible, or not. Thus, if a person should state that a certain man made a huge stone fly up in the air instead of falling down to the earth; by inquiring into the laws of nature, it will be found that such a fact is against the law of gravity, and, therefore, it is physically impossible.

13. RULE II. It is not an easy task to ascertain, whether a certain fact is or is not contrary to the laws of nature: because we do not know all these laws, and because we ignore the extent of power of natural causes. Many things, which one or two centuries ago would have been deemed

(11.) What is the third principle concerning the same kind of impossibility?

(12.) How can it be ascertained if a fact is physically impossible? Give the first rule.

(13.) Is it an easy task to ascertain that point?