THE "HISTORY OF CHARLES XII, KING OF SWEDEN.A DISCOURSE ON THE HISTORY OF CHARLES XII, PREFIXHD TO THE FIRST EDITION. Few are the princes whose lives merit a particular history. Tn vain have most of them been the objects of slander, or of flattery. Small is the number of those whose memory is pre- served; and that number would be still more inconsiderable, were none but the good remembered. The princes who have the best claim to immortality are such as have benefited mankind. Thus, while France endures, the affection of Louis XII for his people will ever be had in grate- fal remembrance. The great failings of Francis I will be excused, for the sake of the arts and sciences of which he was the father. Blessed will be the memory of Henry IV, who conquered his Kingdom as much by his clemency as by his valor. And the munificence of Louis XIV in protecting the arts which owed their birth to Francis I will ever be extolled. It is for'a very different reason, that the memory of bad princes is preserved ; like fires, plagues, and inundations, they are remembered only for the mischief they have done. Conquerors hold a middle rank between good kings and ty- rants, but are most akin to the latter. As they havea glaring reputation, we are desirous of knowing the most minute cir- cumstances of their lives; for such is the weakness of mankind, that they admire those who have rendered themselves remark- able for wickedness, and talk with greater pleasure of the de- stroyer than of the founder of an empire. As for those princes who have distinguished themselves nei- ther in peace nor in war,—who have been remarkable neither