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.