Page:History of Manchester (1771), Volume 1, by John Whitaker.djvu/12



F we compare the endeavours of our countrymen for the illutration of our antiquities with thoe of other nations, we hall find the preference both in number and matter due to us. The Italians and French are our only competitors. The latter have acquired, the former are born with, a paion for antiquities. Both will teach us a tyle, when we have acertained our knowledge; and we may borrow from the one a portion of cepticim to contrat with the aiduity of the other. The French, carrying into their antiquarian reearches thoe engaging talents which they poes in the generality of literary puruits, have handled thoe obcure ubjects with the ame eae as romances. Without going o deep as graver nations, even their uperficial knowledge appears to greater advantage by an animated tyle and pertinent reflections; while our language, as capable of concie judicious remarks, is drawn out into tedious unanimated narrative in uch compoitions.—Thoe who have hitherto treated our topographical antiquities eem to have trodden only in mazes overgrown with thorns, neglecting the flowery paths with which the wildernes of obeurity is diverified. Incorrect pedigrees, futile etymologies, verboe diquiitions, crowds of epitaphs, lits of landholders, and uch farrago, thrown together without method, unanimated by reflections, and delivered in the mot uncouth and horrid tyle, make the bulk of our county hitories. Such works bring the tudy of antiquities into disgrace with the generality, and digut the mot candid curioity.

The Hitory of Mancheter is attempted upon a different plan, upon that which has long appeared to the author the one only rational and judicious plan for a work of antiquities. He