Mr. Lecky on Monday delivered a valuable lecture on his-
tory in the Birmingham and Midlands Institute. He main- tained that while history, properly studied, greatly enlarged the mind, and trained men to decide wisely on the problems of their own time, a superficial use of history was the source of much error. The strident should study the dominant ideas of the period which occupies him ; "what forces chiefly ruled it ; what forces were then rising into a dangerous ascendency, and what forces were on the decline ; what illusions, what exaggerations, what false hopes and unworthy influences chiefly prevailed." He should also study institutions, and their gradual transformations from their original purpose, in order to meet new wants. Skill in such transformations marks political genius in a people, and enables them to avoid misfortunes like the Revolution, in which France broke with her past. The student should also accustom himself to place his mind on both sides of any conflict, and so understand the point of view of those with whom he disagrees. I It is excellent advice ; but, as we have argued elsewhere, it is all in the direction that a little knowledge is of no use. We doubt that if it is only accompanied by a willingness to make the little knowledge more when needful.
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