ANNALS

A chronological history: derived from the Roman "Annales Pont if i cum," or "Annates Maximi," which were annual records of pa ing events connected with religious observances, kept by the Pontifex Maxianus. Annals are a species of historical writing; but they seem, notwithstanding, to differ materially from history, as the tatter is now understood. Annals should comprise a succinct account of the events having reference to some peculiar subject, as they occur in succe ive years. Inquiries as to the remote causes and consequences of events seem to be misplaced in them; though they are the e ence of history. Cicero, when speaking of annalists, says," Unarn dicendi laudem putant e e brevita/em, non exornatores rerum., sed tantum narratores." Annals are, in fact, rather materials for history, than history. In the one, events only are narrated, in the other they are narrated and reasoned upon. The annalist may, no doubt, reason upon facts as well as the historian; but such reasonings are not so well or happily placed in a book divided into years, as in one that depicts the continuous stream of events, without breaking it into limited compartments. Hailes's " Annals of literature.Scotland" is, perhaps, the best work of its cla in English ANNATES, or [s. 68]