of real than in the conception of imagin ary events.
tion that the author is often called on to give the marrow of an argument in three or four pages, which is expended over One very interesting subject is treated some hundreds of Hansard or the Moni- of at considerable length in these volumes, teur; and it is surprising how effectually, which could not, from the pressure of warwhere the attempt is made in sincerity like events, be introduced at equal length and good faith, it proves successful. The into the author's former work. This is second is, when a subject has been once an account of Literature, Manners, the introduced, and the opposite arguments Arts, and social changes in the principal fully given, to dismiss it afterward with a European states during the period it emmere statement of the fate it met with, or braces. An entire chapter on this subthe division on it in the Legislature. As ject, regarding Great Britain, has been inthe same subject was constantly debated troduced into the first volume; similar in both Houses of Parliament, both in ones relating to literature and the arts in France and England, for many consecu- France, Germany, and Italy, will succeed tive years, any attempt to give an account in those which follow. This plan has of each year's debate would both lead to been adopted from more than an anxious tedious repetition and extend the work to desire-strong as that motive is to rean immoderate length. lieve the reader's mind, and present subjects of study more generally interesting than the weightier matters of social and political change. During pacific periods, it is in the literature, which interests the public mind, that we are to find the true seat of the power which directs it; and if we would discover the real rulers of mankind, we shall find them rather in their philosophers and literary men than either their statesmen or their generals. The only difference is, that it is a posthumous dominion, in general, which the author obtains: his reign does not begin till he himself is mouldering in the grave.
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-
missing every subject of political debate
when it has once been fully laid before the
reader, the author has no doubt of his
being able to comprise the history of the
whole period in five volumes. The last
volume will be accompanied by a copious
Index.
A. ALISON.
POSSIL HOUSE, Lanarkshire,
October 8, 1852.