PREFACE. 



WHILE studying the progress made in the colonisation of 

 different parts of the world by European nations, I have 

 often asked myself the following questions : 



How is it that over every region of the globe the spread of 

 the English-speaking people and of their language far exceeds 

 that of all the other European nations combined ? 



Why is it that, wherever the English-speaking people have 

 settled, or are at this day found, even in small numbers, they 

 are far more energetic, daring, adventurous, and prosperous, 

 and understand the art of self-government and of ruling alien 

 peoples far better than other colonising nations ? 



Whence do the English-speaking communities derive the 

 remarkable energy they possess ; for the people of Britain 

 when invaded by the Romans did not show any such quality ? 



What are the causes which have made the English such a 

 pre-eminently seafaring people ? for without such a charac- 

 teristic they could not have been the founders of so many 

 states and colonies speaking the English tongue ! 



In studying the history of the world we find that all the 

 nations which have risen to high power and widespread dominion 

 have been founded by men endowed with great, I may say 

 terrible, energy ; extreme bravery and the love of conquest 

 being the most prominent traits of their character. The 

 mighty sword with all its evils has thus far always proved a 

 great engine of civilisation. 



To get a satisfactory answer to the above questions we must 

 go far back, and study the history of the race who settled 

 in Britain during and after the Roman occupation. We 



