special form in which they will embody their intentions must, of course, depend to a great degree on the political forms under which they have passed their lives, modified by that approach to homogeneousness which arises from increased intercommunication. The canal system, so wonderfully developed in China, exerted no little influence in that respect-an influence, however, not to be compared with that which must be the result of the railway system of Europe. Its hopeful ness com pared with that of China. In an all-important particular the prospect of Europe is bright. China is passing through the last stage of civil life in the cheerlessness of Buddhism; Europe approaches it through Christianity. Universal benevolence cannot fail to yield a better fruit than unsocial pride. There is a fairer hope for nations animated by a sincere religious sentiment, who, whatever their political history may have been, have always agreed in this, that they were devout, than for a people who dedicate themselves to a selfish pursuit of material advantages, who have lost all belief in a future, and are living without any God. I have now come to the end of a work which has occupied me for many years, and which I submit, with many misgivings as to its execution, to the indulgent consideration of the public. These pages will not have been written in vain if the facts they present impress the reader, as they have impressed the author, with a conviction that the civilization of Europe has not taken place fortuitously, but in a definite manner, and under the control of natural law; that the procession of nations does not move forward like a dream, without reason or order, but that there is a predetermined, a solemn march, in which all must join, ever moving, ever resistlessly advancing, encountering and enduring an inevitable succession of events; that individual life and its advancement through successive stages is the model of social life and its secular variations. I have asserted the control of natural law in the shaping of human affairs-a control not inconsistent with free-will any more than the unavoidable passage of an individual as he advances to maturity and declines in old age is inconsistent with his voluntary actions; that higher law limits our movements to a certain direction, and guides them in a certain way. As the Stoics of old used to say, an acorn may lie torpid in the ground, unable to exert its living force, until it receives warmth, and moisture, and other things needful for its germination; when it grows, it may put forth one bud here and another bud there; the wind may bend one branch, the frost blight another; the innate vitality of the tree may struggle against adverse conditions or luxuriate in those that are congenial; but, whatever the circumstances may be, there is an overruling power for ever constraining and modelling it. The acorn can only produce an oak. The application of this principle to human societies is completely established by a scientific study of their history; and the more extensive and profound that study, the better shall we be able to distinguish the invariable law in the midst of the varying events. But that once thoroughly appreciated, we have gained a philosophical guide for the interpretation of the past acts of nations, and a prophetic monitor of their future, so far as prophecy is possible in human affairs. II.-26 INDEX. ABBA OUMNA, a distinguished Jewish the capture of Beziers, ii. 62. Abdalmalek invades Africa, i. 334. Tours, ii, 30. Abderrahman III., description of the Introduces cotton manufacture into Abelard, Peter, his character and doc- Abkah, his temporary success in sub- jugating Africa, i. 334. Aboul Wefa discovers the variation of Abraham Ibn Sahal, obscene character of the songs of, ii. 35. Veda doctrine of, i. 60. Abul Hassan, an Arab astronomer, ii. Abu Othman, a Moorish writer on Fifth, founded by Antiochus of As- Acherusian Cave, superstitiously be- Puzzle, advanced by Zeno the Acoustics, discoveries in, and pheno- Adrian, Pope, incurs the displeasure of Charlemagne in consequence of selling his vassals as slaves, i. Adriatic Sea, North, change of depth Eneas Sylvius becomes Pope Pius II., His remark on the Council of Basle, On the state of faith, ii. 103. Affinity, first employed in its modern Al Beithar, a Moorish writer on acceptation by Albertus Magnus, ii. 153. Africa, circumnavigation of, by the Age of the earth, problem of, ii. 294. Age of Faith, Greek, i. 143. In the East, end of, i. 326. In the West, i. 349; ii. 1, 27, 77, Its literary condition, ii. 128. Age of Greek decrepitude, i. 207. i. 217. History of, European, i. 239, 265. Approach of, ii. 151, 190. Of intellectual progress of Europe, Algazzali's, of life of man, ii. 52. Air, modern discoveries of the rela- Aix-la-Chapelle, adorned by Charle- Aiznadin, battle of, i. 335. Al Abbas, a Moorish writer on botany, botany, ii. 39. Albertus Magnus constructs a brazen His extensive acquirements, ii, 153. Albigensian revolt, ii. 147. Alby, edict of Council of, against the Alchemists, Saracenic, i. 409. France, and Germany, ii. 155. ning of the sixth century, i. 365. Alexander II. excommunicates the Alexander IV., Pope, he endeavours Alexander of Aphrodisais, his prin- Alexander the Great, his invasion of His character, i. 174. Alexandria, foundation of, i. 173. Decline of the school of, i. 204. Its capture, i. 334. "Alexiad" of Anna Comnena, ii. 59. Alhakem, Khalif, his extensive library, Alhazen discovers atmospheric refrac- His conclusions on the extent of Ali, believed by the Shiites to be an Almagest, of Ptolemy, description of, Translated by Averrhoes, ii. 67. Determines the obliquity of the Also the size of the earth, ii. 41. Alps, upheaval of, i. 31. Al-Sirat bridge, spoken of in the Alwalid I., Khalif, prohibits the use Amadeus, elected "Pope Felix V.,” ii. 103. Amber brought from the Baltic, i. Supposed by Thales to possess a Its electrical power imputed to a Ambrose of Milan converts St. Augus- Apology for the impostures prac- Ambrose Paré lays the foundation of Discovery of, ii. 163. Where name first occurs, ii. 163. America, United States of, separation Opportune occurrence of the Revo- Culmination of the Reformation in, American tragedy, ii. 166. Ammon, St., wonder related of, i. 427. Ammonius Saccas, reputed author of Amrou, the Mohammedan general, Analogy of Greek and Indian Philo- Analysis, higher, commencement of Political dangers of, i. 139. His doctrines, i. 108. Persecution and death of, 110. Originates cosmogony and biology, Anaximenes of Miletus holds the doc- Anchorets, number of, i. 432. Order of succession of, ii. 321. Characteristics of, ii. 339. In lower tribes of, movements are Their instinctive and intellectual apparatus, ii, 351. Their nature, ii. 363. Analogy between, and Man- 364. |