from active life as those elder annalists had been connected with it。 In modern times the relations
are entirely altered。 Our culture is essentially prehensive and immediately changes all events
into historical representations。 Belonging to the class in question; we have vivid; simple; clear
narrations — especially of military transactions — which might fairly take their place with those of
Caesar。 In richness of matter and fullness of detail as regards strategic appliances; and attendant
circumstances; they are even more instructive。 The French 〃Memoires〃 also fall under this
category。 In many cases these are written by men of mark; though relating to affairs of little note。
They not unfrequently contain a large proportion of anecdotal matter; so that the ground they
occupy is narrow and trivial。 Yet they are often veritable masterpieces in history; as those of
Cardinal Retz; which in fact trench on a larger historical field。 In Germany such masters are rare。
Frederick the Great (Histoire de mon temps) is an illustrious exception。 Writers of this order
must occupy an elevated position。 Only from such a position is it possible to take an extensive
view of affairs — to see everything。 This is out of the question for him; who from below merely
gets a glimpse of the great world through a miserable cranny。
II。 Reflective History
1。 Universal History … 2。 Pragmatical History … 3。 Critical History
§ 5
The second kind of history we may call the reflective。 It is history whose mode of representation
is not really confined by the limits of the time to which it relates; but whose spirit transcends the
present。 In this second order strongly marked variety of species may be distinguished。
1。 Universal History
§ 6
It is the aim of the investigator to gain a view of the entire history of a people or a country; or of
the world; in short; what we call Universal History。 In this case the working up of the historical
material is the main point。 The workman approaches his task with his own spirit; a spirit distinct
from that of the element he is to manipulate。 Here a very important consideration will be the
principles to which the author refers; the bearing and motives of the actions and events which he
describes; and those which determine the form of his narrative。 Among us Germans this reflective
treatment and the display of ingenuity which it occasions; assume a manifold variety of phases。
Every writer of history proposes to himself an original method。 The English and French confess to
general principles of historical position。 Their standpoint is more that of cosmopolitan or of
national culture。 Among us each labours to invent a purely individual point of view。 Instead of
writing history; we are always beating our brains to discover how history ought to b
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