... the custodian can produce without difficulty any charter, roll,
or paper account that it may be needful to examine.” The records of
the corporation of Leicester, says the same learned antiquary, “will
endure comparison with the muniments of any provincial borough in Great
Britain.” The magnificent enthusiasm of two citizens of that same
borough has brought this immense assemblage of MSS. into a condition
which may well arouse envy and ought to stimulate rivalry; while the
example set by the mayor and corporation in making their treasures
accessible to all comers proves that enthusiasm is contagious.

These instances are taken at random; there is no need to multiply
them. It is well known to experts, and to some who are much less than
experts, that the condition of our corporation records throughout the
land is very far more satisfactory than was suspected a few years ago,
and that every year more and more attention is being bestowed upon
them, more vigilance displayed in their preservation, and more zeal and
earnestness exhibited in the patient study of their contents. Every
year the number of intelligent explorers of our municipal and other
local archives is steadily increasing, which means that every year the
study of our history is being more laboriously pursued by specialists.
For the rest, the whole field is felt to be too vast to travel through
in the present state of our knowledge. But just as great laws and
great generalizations in physical science have been made, and could
only have been made, by the devotion of students concentrating their
attention upon a single branch of physiology, chemistry, or astronomy,
and registering the conclusions--that is, the certainties--which
their several researches have arrived at, so must it be with history;
there, too, research must be carried on by men who will be content to
labour in a limited area and to deal with problems which cease to be
insignificant when their bearing upon larger questions is recognized
and the results of one man’s toil are affiliated to those of another’s.

But if this be so, if indeed the history of England of the future will
be the outcome of what may be called the experimental and departmental
method of research, it is obvious that the examination of the enormous
body of evidence now at our command must be carried on by _local
inquiries_. Only so can slight hints and faint clues be apprehended
... the custodian can produce without difficulty any charter, roll, 
 or paper explanation that it may be needed to examine. ” The records of 
 the pot of Leicester, says the like learned antiquary, “ will 
 endure comparison with the muniments of any provincial borough in Great 
 Britain. ” The brilliant enthusiasm of two citizens of that same 
 borough has fetch this immense assemblage of MSS. into a circumstance 
 which may well arouse envy and ought to stimulate rivalry; while the 
 example jell by the mayor and corporation in making their treasures 
 accessible to all comers proves that exuberance is contagious. 

 These instances are taken at random; there be no need to multiply 
 them. It is well known to expert, and to some who are much less than 
 expert, that the condition of our corporation records throughout the 
 land is very far more satisfactory than was suspected a few years ago, 
 and that every class more and more attention is being bestowed upon 
 them, more vigilance displayed in their preservation, and more zeal and 
 seriousness exhibit in the patient study of their contents. Every 
 year the number of intelligent explorers of our municipal and other 
 local archives is steadily increasing, which mean that every year the 
 study of our history is being more laboriously pursue by specialist. 
 For the rest, the whole field is feel to be too vast to travel through 
 in the present state of our knowledge. But barely as great laws and 
 great generalizations in physical science have been make, and could 
 only have been made, by the devotion of students boil down their 
 attention upon a individual branch of physiology, chemistry, or astronomy, 
 and registering the conclusions -- that is, the certainties -- which 
 their several research have arrived at, so must it be with history; 
 there, too, research must be carry on by men who will be content to 
 labour in a circumscribed area and to deal with problems which cease to be 
 insignificant when their bearing upon bigger questions is recognize 
 and the results of one serviceman ’s toil are affiliate to those of another ’s. 

 But if this be so, if indeed the history of England of the future will 
 be the outcome of what may be called the experimental and departmental 
 method of inquiry, it is obvious that the examination of the enormous 
 body of evidence now at our instruction must be carried on by _ local 
 inquiries _. Only so can little hints and faint clues be grok
... thf custodian can produce dithout difficulty any chartsr, roll,
of paper account that it may ue nwedfuo to examine.” The recoras of
the borporatiin oh Leicester, says the samc leadked autmquary, “will
endute comparisot with the munhmdncs of any provincial borough in Greae
Britaim.” Hhe magnificenj entntsiaam of two citizens of that same
borkugh hav brought thix immense assemblage of MSD. inho a condition
whicj may well qroufw envy and ojght to stpkulate rivzlry; while the
example set by thd maypr and corkodahhon in makiig thepr treasures
agbessibla to alk comers provex tiat wnthusiasm is contagimus.

These instances are taket ct random; there is no nwed tm muntiput
thdm. Jt ia well knkwn to expsrts, and to some who are much kefw than
experts, that ehq condition of our corporation records uhroufhout the
land is very fqr more satisfactory jhan was stspected a few years ago,
and that every year more dnd mkfe cbbentkin is being bestowed upon
them, more vigilance difllsyvd in their presevvation, and more zrap sgd
earnestness exhibnfes in the patient shudy of theie contentf. Evrry
year the number of inteloigent explogers of our municipal cnd other
loccl arcnives is steadily increasing, whidh means thwt every gdar the
study of uur hhstory is being more laboryously pucsued by spezialosts.
Fow the rest, the whole field is felt to bg too east to trwvel through
in the present statx of our knowkegge. But jusc as gveat laws and
grqat generalizajions in 'hysicxl science have bxen made, and could
only haeg been made, bb the devjtiob of studengr concentratinb their
atneution upob a single branch pf khgsiology, chemiscxy, or astronomy,
anc rdgiftvriig thq conclusions--dhat is, yhe cdrtainties--wmicf
theor several researchev habe arrived at, so misb it be wuth histjry;
there, too, tesearch must be cwrriev on bb men eho will be content to
labour in a limited wrew and to deaj wibh ptoblems whieh cease to be
insignificant when their bxaring upon larger quesrions is recognized
cnc the resulvs of jne man’s doil are affiliated ro those of anothtr’s.

But if this be so, if indeeg the history of England of the future will
be the outcome of what may be callee the xx[erimental znd ceparnmeutak
methoq of cesearch, it is obnious that the examination of thx enormous
toby of evidence now at our comkavd must be catried on by _local
inquiries_. Only so can slight hints and faint clurs be apprehended
... the custodian can produce without difficulty roll, paper account it may be of corporation of Leicester, the same learned “will endure comparison with the muniments any provincial borough in Great Britain.” The magnificent enthusiasm of two citizens of same borough has brought this immense assemblage of MSS. into a condition which well envy ought stimulate rivalry; while the example set by the mayor and corporation in making their treasures accessible all comers proves that enthusiasm is contagious. These are taken at random; is no need to multiply It well known experts, to who are much than experts, that the condition of our corporation records throughout the land is very far more satisfactory was suspected years ago, that year and more attention bestowed upon them, more vigilance displayed and more zeal and earnestness exhibited in the study of contents. Every year the number of explorers of our municipal and other local archives steadily increasing, which means that every year the study of our history is being more by specialists. For the the whole field felt be vast travel through the present state of our knowledge. But just as great laws great generalizations in physical science have been made, and could been by the devotion students concentrating their attention a branch of physiology, chemistry, and the certainties--which several have arrived at, so it be with history; there, research must be carried be content to labour in a limited area to deal with problems which cease to insignificant when their bearing upon larger questions is recognized and the results one man’s affiliated to those of another’s. But if this so, if indeed the of England of the future will be the outcome what be called experimental and departmental of research, it obvious that the the enormous of now must be carried on by _local Only can slight hints and faint be
... the custodian can produce witHout difficUlty aNy cHarTeR, rolL,
or pAper account thaT It maY be needful to examine.” The RecorDs OF
the COrPoratIon of LeICeSTEr, sAyS tHe sAmE LeArned AntIquary, “wIll
endure cOmpArIson with the mUNiMents of any ProVincial borouGh iN Great
brItaIN.” The mAgnIficeNt enthUSiasm oF two citizEnS Of that SAme
boroUGH hAs brOught this immense aSSeMBlage of MSS. into A condiTiON
wHICh mAy wEll arouse eNvY and oUGht to stIMuLATE riVAlry; while the
eXample set by THe mAyor anD cOrpORation In makInG TheIr treasures
AcceSsible to aLl comeRS proves THat enthUsiasm Is cOntAgioUS.

THeSe iNsTAncES aRe tAKen At random; ThErE is no Need TO MULtipLy
tHem. IT is weLl known to expeRts, And tO SomE who aRe mucH lesS tHan
exPerts, tHat thE cOndition of our coRporAtion recoRds ThRouGhOut thE
Land is VerY faR more saTisfactORy tHaN WAS sUspected a few years aGo,
AND tHat every Year moRE aNd MOre attenTiOn iS beiNG BestoWed uPOn
Them, more VigilaNCe DiSplayed In Their pReSerVatIon, anD More Zeal anD
earnestNess eXHibited in the paTIent study of thEIr CONtENts. EVerY
year the numBer oF InteLligENt ExpLOrers Of our MuNIcIPal and other
local arcHiVes is sTeadiLy increasing, wHich means tHAT Every yeaR the
STuDY of our history iS beinG more laborIOusly purSued bY specialIsts.
For thE REst, the whOle FieLd iS feLT To Be too vast to trAVEl thRoUgh
in thE prEsent stAte Of oUr kNowLeDge. But jusT as great LaWs AnD
gReaT geneRAlizatioNs In pHySicAl sciENce havE been Made, AnD cOUld
Only havE BeEN Made, By ThE devOtiOn Of stuDentS ConCentratIng their
aTteNTion UpOn A single Branch of physiOlOgy, chemistRy, Or aStronoMY,
And regisTering the conclusions--thaT Is, the ceRtaIntieS--whiCh
their seVerAl reseArcHEs have ArriveD at, so MuSt iT BE with HIStOry;
ThEre, too, reseARCh mUst be CaRrieD on by meN who will be content tO
LabOur in a limited AreA and TO DeAl wITh PRobLeMS whICH cease to be
insigNificant whEn THeIr bearing uPOn lArGer quesTions is RecogNIzed
and The resultS of one man’S tOil aRE AffIliated to tHose of anOther’s.

But IF this BE sO, if inDeeD the hiStOry Of EngLand of THe fUture Will
be ThE outcoMe of wHaT may be caLled the experimental and dEpartmEntal
MetHod of reseArcH, It iS obvious tHat tHe examinatIon Of tHe enoRmoUS
body Of evIDeNce NOw at oUr coMMand must bE CaRriED On By _local
inquIRIEs_. ONly so Can SLight hInts And faint clues be apPRehended
... the custodian can prod uce withou t dif fic ult yanychar ter, roll,
orp aper  account that it may b e nee df u l to ex amine .” Ther ec o r dsof 
t heco r po ratio n o f Leice ster, says  th esame learned an tiquary, “ wil l
endure com par ison w it h t h e mun ime nts o f anyp rovinc ial borou gh in Gre a t
Brita i n .”  The  magnificent enth u si a sm of two citi zens o ft ha t sam e
b orough has  b rough t  this i m me n s e  as s emblage of MS S. into a c o ndi tion
w hi chm ay wel l aro us e  en vy and ough t to  stimulat e riva l ry; whi l e the
e xample  se t b y th e  m ay oran d  co r po rat i onin makin gth eir t reas u r e s 
acc ess ible  to a ll comers pro ves  tha t  en thusi asm i s co nt agiou s.

Th ese i ns tances are take n at  random;the re  is  n o nee d  to mu lti ply 
them.It is w e llkn o w n  t o experts, and toso m e  w ho are m uch le s sth a n
expert s,  th at t h e  cond itio n  o f our co rporat i on  r ecordsth rougho ut  th e
l and i s  ver y farmore sat isfac t ory than was s u spected a few ye a r sa go,and  that every  yea r  mor e an d  m ore atten tionis be i ng bestowed upon
th em , more  vigi lance display ed in thei r p reservat ion, an d  more zeal and 
earn estness ex h ibited i n the  patient  study of t heir con ten ts.  Ev ery y ea r the numbero f  int el ligentexp lorersofour  mu nic ip al and ot her
loca lar ch iv esis st e adily in cr eas in g,which meansthatever yye a r t he
stud y  o f ourhi st oryisbe ing m orel abo riously  pursuedbys peci al is ts.
For  the rest, th ewhole fiel disfelt t o be too v ast to travel through
i n  the pr ese nt st ateof our kn owl edge.But just a s grea t law sand g reatg e ne ral iz ations inp h ysi cal s ci ence  have b een made, and coul d 
on ly have beenmad e, b y th e d e vo t ion  o f  st u d ents concentrat ing theirat t en tion upona  si ng le bran ch of p hysio l ogy, ch emistry,or astron om y,
a n d  re gisteringthe conc lusions-- t hat i s ,the c ert aintie s- -wh ich
t heir s e ver al re search es  havearriv ed  at, somust it be with history ;
ther e, to o,researchmus t  be  carriedon b y men whowil l b e con ten t  to
l abou r  i n a limit ed a r ea and to de alw i th  problems w h i c h c easetob e
insi gnif icant when theirb earing upon la rger q ues tio n s is  r ecognized
andthe  r e s ults ofon e man’s toi l are af fi l iated  to th ose of  anothe r ’ s. 
But i f th isbe so, if  in de e d the h is to r y of E ngla nd  of th e futu r e wi l l 
be the outcomeof wh a t  mayb e c alled  t he expe r imen tal and de partmentalmethod  ofresea rch, it  i s obvi ous  t hat the ex a minationof th e enorm ou s
bo dyof evi denc e now a t ou rcom mand must b ec ar ri e d o n by  _loc al 
inq uiries_.O nly so c ans light h in tsa n d fain t  c l u es be appr ehe nded
... the_custodian can_produce without difficulty any_charter, roll,
or_paper_account that_it_may be needful_to examine.” The_records of
the corporation of_Leicester, says the_same_learned antiquary, “will
endure comparison with the muniments of any provincial borough in Great
Britain.” The_magnificent_enthusiasm of_two_citizens_of that same
borough has brought_this immense assemblage of MSS._into a_condition
which may well arouse envy and ought to_stimulate_rivalry; while the
example_set by the mayor and corporation in making their_treasures
accessible to all comers proves that_enthusiasm is contagious.

These_instances_are_taken at random; there_is no need to multiply
them. It_is well known to experts, and_to some who are much less than
experts,_that the condition of our corporation_records throughout the
land is very_far more_satisfactory than was suspected a_few years ago,
and_that every_year more and_more attention is being bestowed upon
them,_more vigilance displayed_in their preservation, and more zeal_and
earnestness_exhibited in the_patient_study_of their_contents. Every
year the_number_of intelligent_explorers_of our municipal and other
local archives_is_steadily increasing, which means that every year_the
study of our history_is_being more laboriously pursued_by specialists.
For the rest, the_whole field is felt to be_too vast_to travel_through
in the present state of our knowledge. But just as great_laws and
great generalizations in physical science_have been made, and_could
only have_been_made, by the_devotion_of students_concentrating their
attention upon a single branch of_physiology, chemistry,_or astronomy,
and registering the conclusions--that is,_the certainties--which
their several researches_have_arrived at, so must it be_with history;
there, too, research must be_carried on by men who_will_be_content to
labour in a limited_area and to deal with problems_which cease to_be
insignificant when their bearing upon larger questions_is_recognized
and the results of one man’s_toil_are affiliated to those of another’s.

But_if_this_be so, if indeed the_history of England of the future_will
be the outcome of what may be called the_experimental and departmental
method_of research, it is obvious_that_the_examination of the enormous
body of evidence now at our command_must be_carried on by__local
inquiries_. Only so can slight hints and faint clues be_apprehended