When a man, though a native of this Island, comes fresh to peruse … a piece of its ancient History,…he is like one newly landed in a strange country. He finds himself in another climate. He observes many things strange and uncouth, in language, laws, customs, and manners But there are some persons who seem habitually disposed to speak meanly of all parts of learning which are not directly lucrative. They are apt to say, “Of what use are these old antiquated things? Give us what is more suitable to the age we live in;” and such like. But if we examine these allegations, they will, I suppose, be found to have no force. Every part of learning is of some use…………History may be said to be two-fold, ancient and modern. The former consists of Antiquities, and cannot, even in thought, be separated from them….The knowledge of Antiquities is a part of Historical learning, and cannot be impugned without impugning History itself.