Nor yet would I have frequent maxims, or criticisms on the transactions, prolixly thrown in, lest, by interrupting the thread of events, the Historian should invade the office of the Political Writer: for, if the Historian, in explicating counsels and narrating facts, follows truth most of all, and not his own fancy or conjecture, he fulfils his proper duty.

I would add also that characteristic of Sallust, in respect of which he himself chiefly praised Cato,--to be able to throw off a great deal in few words: a thing which I think no one can do without the sharpest judgment and a certain temperance at the same time.

There are many in whom you will not miss either elegance of style or abundance of information; but for conjunction of brevity with abundance, i.e.for the despatch of much in few words, the chief of the Latins, in my judgment, is Sallust.

Such are the qualities that I think should be in the Historian that would hope to make his expressions proportional to the facts he records.
"But why all this to you, who are sufficient, with the talent you have, to make it all out, and who, if you persevere in the road you have entered, will soon be able to consult no one more learned than yourself.

That you do persevere, though you require no one's advice for that, yet, that I may not seem to have altogether failed in replying correspondingly with the value you are pleased to put upon my authority with you, is my earnest exhortation and suggestion.
Farewell; and all success to your real worth, and your zeal for acquiring wisdom.
"Westminster: July 15, 1657." Henry Oldenburg, and his pupil Richard Jones, _alias_ young Ranelagh, had left Oxford in April or May 1657, after about a year's stay there, and had gone abroad on a tour which was to extend over more than four years.