These causes are the things which it is of main importance to us to know, not how the Lacedaemonian phalanx was broken at Leuctra,--not whether Alexander died of poison or by disease.

History, without these, is a shell without a kernel; and such is almost all the history which is extant in the world.

Paltry skirmishes and plots are reported with absurd and useless minuteness; but improvements the most essential to the comfort of human life extend themselves over the world, and introduce themselves into every cottage, before any annalist can condescend, from the dignity of writing about generals and ambassadors, to take the least notice of them.

Thus the progress of the most salutary inventions and discoveries is buried in impenetrable mystery; mankind are deprived of a most useful species of knowledge, and their benefactors of their honest fame.

In the meantime every child knows by heart the dates and adventures of a long line of barbarian kings.