uildhall," &c. The pronoun _he_ must relate to the Lord Mayor,
but the sentence is obscurely expressed.

[6] Vol. ii. pp. 259, 260.

* * * * *

OPINIONS OF WRITERS ON ENGLISH HISTORY, NO. 1.

"Oh, do not read history, for that I _know_ must be false."--SIR
ROBERT WALPOLE.

Sir,--I have, from time to time, made a few _notes_ on our historical
writers--rather I should say the conflicting opinions of critical
writers on their relative value, and the dependence to be placed on
them as historical guides. They are so opposite, as would in a great
measure confirm the opinion of the celebrated statesman above quoted.
I send, as a specimen, the opinions upon Burnet, and should its
insertion in your "NOTES AND QUERIES" be deemed advisable, I will
from time to time send others which I have in my note-book.

M.

Burnet, "A good historian and an honest man."--_Lord Brougham_.

"The History of his Own Times, which Burnet left behind him, is a work
of great instruction and amusement.... His ignorance of parliamentary
forms has led him into some errors, it would be absurd to deny,
but these faults do not detract from the general usefulness of his
work."--_Lord John Russell_.

"The most partial, malicious heap of scandal and misrepresentation,
that was ever collected for the laudable design of giving a false
impression of persons and things to all future ages."--_Lord
Dartmouth: note in Dr. Routh's edition_.

"A rash and partial writer."[7]--_Macaulay_.

"It is a piece of justice I owe to historical truth to say, that I
have never tried Burnet's facts by the tests of dates and of original
papers, without finding them wrong."--_Sir J. Dalrymple_.

"Burnet had all the merits and all the faults of an ardent, impetuous,
headstrong man, whose mind was honest, and whose objects were noble.
Whatever he reports himself to have heard or seen, the reader may
be assured he really did hear and see. But we must {41} receive his
representations and conclusions with that caution which must ever be
observed when we listen to the relation of a warm and busy partizan,
whatever be his natural integrity and good sense."--_Smyth's Lectures
on Modern History._

"His history is one which the present editor (Dr. Routh) truly says
will never lose its importance, but will continue to furnish materials
for other historians, and to be read by those who wish to derive their
knowledge of facts from th