discontent in the inferior classes of society, from the disappointment of their expectations as to the results of the previous convulsion. Foreign episodes of surpassing interest signalize this period; for it contains the heroic effort of the Poles to restore their national independence in 1831; the revolt of Ibrahim Pacha, the bombardment of Acre, and the narrow escape of Turkey from ruin; our invasion of Afghanistan, and subsequent disaster there. This period, so rich in important changes and interesting events, will form the subject of the third volume. At the Indus and the Himalaya snows. the same time, the spirit of republican aggrandizement, not less powerful in the New than in the Old World, impelled the Anglo-Saxons over their feeble neighbors in Mexico; Texas was overrun-CALI FORNIA conquered-and the discovery of gold mines, of vast extent and surpassing riches, hitherto unknown to man, changed the fortunes of the world. The simulta neous discovery of mines of the same precious metal in AUSTRALIA acted as a magnet, which attracted the stream of migration and civilization, for the first time in the history of mankind, to the Eastern World; and now, while half a million Europeans annually land in America, and double the already marvelous rate of Transatlantic increase, a hundred thou sand Anglo-Saxons yearly migrate to Australia, and lay the foundations of a second England and another Europe, in the vast seats provided there for their reception. The Fourth Period, commencing with the noble constancy in adversity displayed by Sir Robert Peel and the English Government in 1842, terminates with the overthrow of Louis Philippe, and consequent European Revolutions in February, 1848. If these years were fraught with internal and social changes of the very highest moment to the future fortunes of Great Britain, and of the whole civilized world, they were not less distinguished by the brilliancy of her external triumphs. They witnessed the second expedition into Afghanistan and capture of Cabul; the conclusion of a glorious peace with China under the walls of Nankin; the conquest of Scinde, and desperate passage of arms on the Sutlej. Never did appear in such striking colors the immense superiority which the arms of civilization had acquired over those of barbarism, as in this brief and animating period. Events so wonderful, and succeeding one another with such rapidity, must impress upon the most inconsiderate observer the belief of a great change going forward in human affairs, of which we are the unconscious instruments. That change is THE SECOND DISPERSION OF MANKIND ; the spread of civilization, the extension of Christianity, over the hitherto desert and unpeopled parts of the earth. It is hard to say whether the passions of civilization, the discoveries of science, or the treasures of the wilderness have acted most powerfully in working out this great change. The first developed the energy in the breast of civilized man, which rendered him capable of great achievements, and inspired him with passions which prompted him to seek a wider and more unfettered situation for their gratification than the Old World could afford. The second, in the discoveries of steam, furnished him with the means of reaching with facility the most distant parts of the earth, and armed him with powers which rendered barbarous nations powerless to repel his advance; the third presented irresistible attractions, at the same time, in the most remote parts of the earth, which overcame the attachments of home and the indolence of aged civilization, and sent forth the hardy emigrant, a willing adventurer, to seek his fortune in the golden lottery of distant lands. No such power The Fifth Period commences with the overthrow of Louis Philippe in February, 1848, and terminates with the seizure of supreme power by Louis Napoleon in 1852. It is, beyond all example, rich in external and internal events of the very highest moment, and attended by lasting consequences in every part of the world. It witnessed the spread of revolution over Germany and Italy, and the desperate military strife to which it gave rise; the brief but memorable campaign in Italy and Hungary; and the bloodless suppression of revolution in Great Britain and Ireland by the patriotism of her people and the firmness of her government. Interesting, however, as these events were, they yield in ultimate importance to those which, at the same period, were in progress in the distant parts of the earth. The rich territories of the Punjaub were, during it, added to the British dominions in India, which was now bounded only by ful causes, producing the dispersion of the species, have come into operation since | from the effect of these very passions, the mankind were originally separated on the Assyrian plains; and it took place from an attempt, springing from the pride and ambition of man, as vain as the building the Tower of Babel. British family is rapidly increasing in dis. tant hemispheres, and that the human race is deriving fresh life and vigor, and spreading over the wilds of nature, from the causes which portend its decline in its former habitations. As the history of a period fraught with such momentous changes, and distinguished by such ceaseless and rapid progress, as that which is undertaken in this work, of necessity brings the author in contact with all the great questions, social and That attempt was the endeavor to establish social felicity, and insure the fortunes of the species, by the mere spread of knowledge, and the establishment of emocratic institutions, irrespective of the moral training of the people. As this project was based on the pride of intellect, and rested on the doctrine of human per-political, which have agitated society dur fectibility, so it met with the same result as the attempt, by a tower raised by human hands, to reach the heavens. Carried into execution by fallible agents, it was met and thwarted by their usual passions; and the selfishness and grasping desires of men led to a scene of discord and confusion unparalleled since the beginning of the world. But it terminated in the same result in Europe as in Asia: the building of the political tower of Babel in France was attended by consequences identical with those which had followed the construction of its predecessor on the plains of Shinar. The dispersion of mankind followed, in both cases, the vain attempt; and after, and through the agency of a protracted period of suffering, men in surpassing multitudes found themselves settled in new habitations, and forever severed from the land of their birth, from the consequences of the visionary projects in which they had been engaged. ing its continuance, he has deemed it essential invariably to follow out the two rules which were observed in his former publication. These were, to give invariably at the end of every paragraph the authorities, by volume and page, on which it is founded; and never to introduce a great question without giving as copious an abstract as the limits of the work will admit, of the facts and arguments brought forward on both sides. The latter, especially, seemed to be peculiarly called for in a work which is more occupied with social and political than with military changes, and which is occupied with a period when the victories were won in the Forum or the Senate-House, not the field. The author has made no attempt to disguise his own opinions on every subject; but he has not exerted himself the less anxiously to give, with all the force and clearness in his power, those which are adverse to it; and he should regret to Views of this kind must, in the present think that the reader could find in any aspect of human affairs, force themselves other publication a more forcible abstract upon the most inconsiderate mind; and of the arguments in favor of Parliamentthey tend at once to unfold the designs of ary Reform, a Contracted Currency foundProvidence, now so manifest in the direc-ed on the retention of gold, or Free Trade tion of human affairs, and to reconcile us in corn and shipping, than are to be met to much which might lead to desponding with in this. views if we confined our survey to the fortunes of particular states. An examination of the social and political condition of the principal European monarchies, particularly France and England, at this time, and a retrospect of the changes they have undergone during the last thirty years, must probably lead every impartial person to the conclusion that the period of their greatest national eminence has passed, and that the passions by which they are now animated are those which tend to shorten their existence. But we shall cease to regard this inevitable change with melancholy, when we reflect that, In making this abstract, he has adopted two rules, which seemed essential to the combining a faithful record of opposite opinions with the interest and limits necessary in a work of general history. The first is to give one argument only on each side, and not attempt to give separate abstracts of the speeches of different men. Felicitous or eloquent expressions are occasionally preserved; but, in general, the argument given is rather an abridgment of the best parts of the arguments of many different speakers than a transcript of the oration of any one. That this is necessary, must be obvious, from the considera of real than in the conception of imagm One very interesting subject is treated tion that the author is often called on to For a similar reason, although the History is a general one of the whole European states, yet no attempt has been made to bring forward, abreast in every year, the annals of each particular state. On the contrary, the transactions of different countries are taken up together, and brought down separately, in one or more chapters, through several consecutive years. Thus the first volume is chiefly occupied with the internal annals of France and England, from 1815 to 1820, when all the great changes which afterward took place were prepared; the second, besides the annals of France and England, with the foreign wars or revolutions of Russia, Spain, and Italy, or the distant conquests of the English in India during the next ten years. In no other way is it possible to enable the reader to form a clear idea of the succession of events in each particular state, or take that interest in its fortunes which is indispensable to success or utility, not less in the narrative By steadily following out the rule of dis- POSSIL HOUSE, Lanarkshire, } CONTENTS OF VOL. I. Drama was one springing out of Social Passions.- Causes which rendered it so Violent.-Govern- ments now aimed at Peace, and the People clam- ored for War.-Causes in France which predis- posed to the Revolution of 1830.-Causes which made England share in the Convulsion.-Great effects of the Revolution in both Countries.-Po- litical Alliance between France and England which followed this Change.-Effects of the Change upon the Colonial Empire of England. Still greater Results of the Free-trade Policy of England.-Vast Extension of the United States of America.-Vast Increase of Russia during the same Period.-Continued Increase of Russia from the Revolutions of 1830 and 1848.-Simultaneous Conquests of the English in India, and their Origin in necessity. Their great Frequency and Extent. -Revolution of 1848 in Paris.-Causes of the Fall of Louis Philippe.-Calamitous effects of the Rev- olution of 1848 in Europe.-Extreme Violence of the Revolution in Germany.-Successful stand against the revolutionary Spirit in England and France.-Restoration of military Power in Aus- tria.-Restoration of military Despotism in France by Louis Napoleon.-Great Increase of external - Disastrous Effects of this Revolution on the Cause of Freedom.-Dangers of Great Britain in particular.-Causes which have rendered the Con- dition of Great Britain so precarious.-Extraor- dinary Change in the national Mind in this re- spect.-Dangers springing from the Free-trade System.-Dangers arising from the Change in our foreign Policy.-Gold Mines of California and Aus- tralia.-Tendency to undue Influence of Wealth in the later stages of Society.-Way in which this is brought about.- Influence of Contraction and Expansion of the Currency on Rome, and on Eu- rope in the sixteenth Century.- Vast effects of the Expansion of the Currency during the War.- Great Distress over the World from the Contraction of the Currency since the Peace. Amount of that Contraction.-Hopeless prospects of Industry in Great Britain.-Vast effect of the Discovery of the Californian Gold.-What if California had not been discovered?-Vast blessings which its Discovery has introduced.-Immense Effect of the applica- tion of Steam to mechanical Labor and Import- ance of its being inapplicable to Agriculture.- Proof of this from statistical Considerations. What if the Case had been otherwise? - Influ- ence of this Law on the Fate of particular Nations. -Great effect upon the Fortunes of the Species. -Effect of general Education on general Morality. -Proof of this from various Countries.-Reasons of this peculiarity in human Nature. General Power of Thought over Mankind. Great conse- quent Influence of Mind on human Affairs.-Ease with which the Press may be perverted to the purposes of Despotism.-Great effect of the dis- brought about.-General longing after represen- HISTORY OF ENGLAND FROM THE PEACE OF PARIS, IN 1815, TO THE END OF THE YEAR 1816. Commanding Position of Great Britain at the close of the War.-Statistical Facts proving the general Prosperity of the State.-Warm and general An- ticipations of general Prosperity on the Peace.- Universal disappointment of these Hopes, and general Distress. Beginning of the Distress among the export Merchants.-Its spread to the Agriculturists.-Severe scarcity of 1816.- Dis- tress among the Manufacturers, and Causes to which it was owing.-This general suffering was not owing to the transition from War to Peace. -Diminished supply of the precious Metals from bates on Agricultural Distress.-Argument of the Opposition on the subject. Argument on the other side by the Ministry.-Measures of Gov- ernment in regard to the restriction of cash Pay. ments and a Loan from the Bank.-Argument of the Opposition; against the continuance of the Bank Restriction Act.-Answer of the Ministry. -Reflections on this Subject.-Extraordinary In - - prevailed.-Consolidation of the English and Irish which led to it.-Description of Algiers.- Lord CHAPTER III. HISTORY OF FRANCE FROM THE SECOND RESTORA- - Extraordinary Difficulties of the Government of - - - Austria and the lesser Powers.-Treaty of Paris. - - - - -Answer of M. de Fontanes and M. de Brissac. nance. - |