Peasantry-Cumberland-Influence of Mountain Scenery in the Formation of Character-North- A Battle with a Bee-Antiquity and Prevalence of Wrong-doing-Dr. Woodward-Pope-Prevalence of Wrong-Judicial Wrong-War, and the Injus tice of the Taxation induced by it-Butler-Cus- toms-Alienation of Commons-Social Injustice— Malthus-The People parties to their own Debase- ment-A General Election-Want of Freedom- Freedom Defined-Natural Rights Discussion of the Principle of Political Change-Physical Force --Conservatism-The Jacquerie of France-Im- portance of Wise Political Teachers-Theorists- Hopes for the Future-Stationary State of Society -The Tardiness and Youthfulness of Civilization Sins the Authors of Wrongs-The Essentials of Social Elevation-Mistakes-Intemperance-Old English Inns-Dr. Southey-Striking Facts-Coleridge's Fable of the Golden Age-Prevalence of Intem- perance Servility of the People-The Facilities of Servility-Life of a Spitalfields weaver-Ab- sence of Political Independence-Improvidence- Testimony of Thomas Beggs-Pawnbroking-Illus- trations of Independence-Dame Stradwick- trating its Benefits to the Workman-Importance of Moral Education-Education and Crime-Intem- perance and Education-Sweden-Norway-Glas- gow-The Fable of the Syrens-Influence of Edu- cation on Holland-The Schoolmaster-Duty of elevating the Profession-The End of Learning— Milton-Dr. Channing-Degradation of Children State of Woman the Test of Civilization-Beauty of Woman in Social Relations - True Gallantry- Woman the Universal Sister-Various Modes of Reforms-Reformation by Influence-The Mother -Wrongs of Woman in Trade-Injustice in Her Social Condition-Distinguished Women answer Remedies for England vain without Emigration- Capabilities for Population-The American Con- tinent - Benefit of Emigration to the Mother CHAPTER I. THE DEVELOPEMENT OF THE AGES. PROLOGUES OF QUOTATIONS. "It is hard to find a whole age to imitate, or what century to propose for our example. Some have been far more approvable than others; but virtue and vice, panegyrics and satires, scatteringly to be found in all history, set down not only things laudable but abominable; things which should never have been, or never have been known. that noble patterns must be fetched here and there from single persons rather than whole nations, and from whole nations rather than any one." SIR THOMAS BROWN. So "Christian Morals." "Almost every one when a state of civilization is spoken of, understands by that phrase our own state, and that of the other most refined European nations. No doubt we are more civilized than our ancestors, and than the mass of mankind at the present day. But I hope and trust, that our posterity five centuries hence will look on us as semibarbarians." ARCHBISHOP WHATELY. "Political Economy." "The slow progress of the race in true morality, is to be ascribed to the consecrated crudities of former ages. The ideas of mankind, naturally progressive on this as on all other subjects, are continually called back to the venerated models, while they have an irresistible tendency to depart from it. To borrow an expressive phrase from a modern writer, they are "tethered to the stump of old superstitions." Thus the morality of a nation may long remain rude, vacillating, and inconsistent amidst the wonders of mechanical art, the achievements of physical science, and the refinements of taste." SAMUEL BAILEY. "Author of Essays on the Publication of Opinion." B THE AGE AND ITS ARCHITECTS. CHAPTER I. Simultaneous Development of Opinions and PeoplesChanges in Society, Mechanic and Organic-Influence of Great Thoughts and Great Men-a New Age-Characteristics-Science-Democracy-Difficulties in the way of British Civilization-Industry, its Power in Developing the Life and Mind of a People-Achievements-GoldIron-The Blacksmith and the Warrior-Strength and Cunning-Average view of English Society-Moral Progress-State of Ancient People and their CivilizationThe Origin and Progress of the English People-Taxation -The Statutes-condition of the Poor-Political Progress-Cities-Defoe on the Poor-Improvement of Social Condition-Curious Facts-Despairing views of Lord Jeffrey, contrasted with those of Mr. MacaulaySummary Review of the Ages of England-The Age of Commercial Development-An Old English Fair-Age of Elizabeth-Age of Parties-Prospects of the Present Age of Action. To the student of history no circumstance in the movement of humanity, is more remarkable and note-worthy than the simultaneousness with which the life of nations and races develops itself; there is apparently a wonderful and instinctive unanimity in the characteristics and thoughts of the ages, so that to a great degree an idea is not confined to a nation, but spread |