RUTH, the ftrongest Link of human Society, is not more neceffary in the univerfal Commerce of Life, than amiable in itfelf. The fublimeft Idea we can have of the fupreme Being, is to call him the God of Truth; and the Imperfection of human Nature can never so near approach the Divinity, as when we endeavour to imitate this his greatest and most noble Attribute: It is this which diftinguishes Hiftory from Romance, and is fo abfolutely effential in a Writer, who B

is to tranfinit the Tranfactions of
past Ages to Pofterity, that the reve-
rend Author of the Book before us
owns it himself in thefe Words:
Pref. p. 3.
"For I reckon a Lie in
Hiftory to be as much a greater Sin
"than a Lie in common Difcourfe;
(C as the one is like to be more lafting
"and generally known than the
"other. How well he has made
good this Declaration the following
Remarks will convince the World,
by fhewing the Reader fuch an un-
interrupted Series of Untruths as will
aftonish; not Miftakes proceeding
from Negligence or human Infirmi-
ty, but from a corrupt Design to
impofe on Pofterity; not from Mif-
information or Error of Judgment,
but from a deliberate Act of the.
Will, what the Logicians call a
Volition to do Mischief, by not on-
ly mifreprefenting Matters of Fact,
and fetting them in a falfe Light, but
pofitive Affertions of several things

1

which he must have known in his Confcience to be abfolutely contrary to Truth; fo that if we may judge by the whole Tenor of the Book, we may venture to affirm, that nothing can equal his Infincerity, but his Malice; and, if poffible, exceed both, but his Vanity.

It is to be lamented, that this unhappy Author should in fome Places fo exceed all Bounds of Decency, and so atrociously outrage Virtue and Innocence, as to forfeit that Refpect which is due to his Character, and even extinguish that Tenderness which in good Nature and Charity we owę to the Infirmities of other Men.

Such is the Man, who, to the eternal Dishonour of his Country, has added another Buchanan to the Scotifh Writers, not in Quality of an Hiftorian, but Incendiary; being as much below that wicked great Man in Erudition, Genius, and Capacity,

as he seems to tranfcend him in Dif ingenuity, Fury, and Resentment.

Before we enter into the Matter of the Book, it will be neceffary to make fome Remarks on his Manner of writing, efpecially his Hearfay Evidence, which never was, nor never must be allow'd in Hiftory by the common Confent of Mankind. If fuch a Liberty were permitted, we could make an Anecdote of thisAuthor's Life, with the Stories which daily Conversation furnishes, that in Bulk would make a Volume equal to his own; and if it were not too mean to imitate his Example, and expose the Conduct of private Life, we could be very merry on this Subject, and entertain the Reader with fome Paffages fo agreeable, as would convince him of his Vigour and Manhood, as well as Gallantry.

C

As to his Language, and the Turn of his Periods, they are in fome Places furprizingly mean and vulgar;

but

but there is one Expreffion in his Preface, which must not pass without a Remark, that is, Thou God of my Life and all my Mercies! This I am fure is not English, and, as I have been well inform'd, is no Scotticism; fo that as thefe Words convey no diftinct Idea, they are unintelligible, which in plain English is call'd Nonfenfe. It is certain there is a Beauty in that Simplicity of Style which he pretends to affect, but could never reach, as well as in the Drefs and Habits of Men; but there is a Difference between Embroidery and Rags, and a certain Mean between a Fop and a downright Sloven; but he defcends fometimes fo very low in his Narration, that I have heard a Story told with a better Grace, and more extemporary Eloquence in a Chimney-Corner. His affected Repetition of fome favourite Adverbs, tho' they fignify nothing to the Senfe, five or fix times in the fame Paragraph,