well as of the Reasons, upon which so many great Men have grounded the Opinions, that compose the Digests or Pandects; as the Decrees and Edicts of the Emperors make what is call'd the Code, and the Authenticks. … But the chief Study of those that design to be employ’d in Embassies, ought to he that of History; I comprehend under that Name all that depends thereon, and is any way useful to it, as Memoirs, Instructions, and Negotiations; and particularly Treaties … It may be said of History, that there is none so bad but something useful shall be found in it … Thucidides, Xenophon and Polybius amongst the Greeks: Titus Livius, Julius Caesar, Sallustius, Velleius Paterculus and Tacitus amongst the Romans, ought to be study'd … Let our Politicians give the first Place to Tacitus if they please, for my part I shall be bold to say, that upon an equitable and impartial Judgment, Philip de Comines … is nothing inferior to him in any respect whatever … There is not any Book so useful to Princes and Ministers as the Memoirs of Comines. His Disinterestedness appears every where, he does Justice to every Body; and there is not any remarkable Accident, of which he does not assign the first Cause to His Providence, who holds the Hearts of Kings in his Hand; that is to say, the God of Battles, who alone disposes of Crowns and Monarchies. Nicholas Matchiavel's History of Florence is a compleat Work, and almost inimitable…'[1]
(b) Des Connoissances necessaires et utiles à un Negoctateur:[2]
'Un homme qui est né avec les qualitez propres à traiter les affaires publiques, & qui se sent de l'inclination à s'y apliquer, doit commencer par s'instruire de l'état où se trouvent les affaires de l'Europe, des principaux interêts qui y regnent & qui la divisent, de la forme des divers gouvernemens qui y sont établis & du caractere des Princes, des Generaux & des Ministres qui y sont en autorité & en credit.'[3]
'L'étude de la forme du gouvernement qui est presentement établi dans chaque Etat de l'Europe, est trés-necessaire à un Negociateur, il n'est pas de sa prudence d'attendre à s'instruire de celle de chaque pays où on l'envoye à mesure qu'il y arrive;
