VUl PREFACE.
public, can resist the tendency towards a constrained attitu
dinizing, O r throw off the fixed expression of one sitting for
h is portrait; and it is only in conversation, spoken or written;
that w e get the whole man revealed in a series of constantly
varying and unconstrained, expressions. And even where, as
in Augustine’s case, we have an autobiography, w e derive from
the letters m any additional traits of character, much valuable
illustration o f opinions and progress.^
In their function o f appendices to history they are equally
valuable. I t was a characteristic remark o f Horace W alpole’s,
that “ nothing gives so ju st an idea of an age as genuine
le tte r s ; nay, history w aits for its last seal from them .” A
s till greater authority. Bacon, in his marvellous distribution of
aU. knowledge, gives to letters the highest place among the
A ppendices to H istory.” “ Letters,” he says, “ are, according
to a ll the variety of occasions, advertisements, advices, direc
tions, propositions, petitions commendatory, expostulatory, satis
factory ; of compliment, of pleasure, of discourse, and aU other
passages of action. And such as are w ritten from w ise men
are, of a ll the words of man, in m y judgment, the b e s t; for
they are more natural than orations and public speeches, and
more advised than conferences or present speeches. So, again,
letters of affairs from such as manage them, or are privy to
them , are of all others the best instructions for history, and to
a diligent reader the best histories in them selves.” ® This is
especially true of the Letters of A ugustine. A large number
of them are ecclesiastical and theological, and would in our
day have appeared as pamphlets, or would have' been delivered
as lectures. There are none of h is writings which do not
^ “ Si, dans le Taste naufrage des temps, par im malheur que la Providence
n’ a pas permis, les ouvrages proprement dits de Saint Augustin eussent peri et
qu’il ne fdt rest6 que ses lettres, nous aurions encore toute sa doctrine, tout son
genie ; les Lettres de Saint Augustin, c’ est tout Saint Augustin.”—Poujoulat,
Lettres de S. Aug. vii.
^ Advancement of Learning, p. 125.