من كان من الكسل بحيث لا يقرأ إلا للتسلية، فقد يكتسب من هذه الأعمال شيئًا من المعرفة بالتاريخ، وهي معرفةٌ، وإن شابها عدم الدقة، خيرٌ من لا شيء.

“Those who are too idle to read, save for the purpose of amusement, may in these works acquire some acquaintance with history, which, however inaccurate, is better than none.”Walter Scott — Novels of Ernest Theodore Hoffman. The omen. Hajji Baba in England. Tales of my landlord Thornton's Sporting tour. Two cookery books. Johnes' translation of Froissart. Miseries of human life. Carr's Caledonian sketches. Lady Suffolk's correspondence. Kirkton's Church history. Life and works of John Home. The Culloden papers. Pepys' Memoirs (1841)