1 86 MR. BUCKLE'S FALLACIES. [ix. 



the other. The application of this law in the case 

 of Germany and America is to be contained in the 

 third volume. 



In conclusion, we must say a few words in regard 

 to Mr. Buckle's application of his four great laws. 

 The application of the first runs through the whole 

 work. In every chapter we are met by numberless 

 illustrations of the law that the progress of humanity 

 conforms to the progress of opinion. It is different, 

 however, in the case of the second law which we 

 have discussed. Mr. Buckle appears entirely to for- 

 get his theoretical neglect of the moral element in our 

 nature, and to take it practically into account as much 

 as any one else. In his delineations of wars, civil 

 revolutions, and especially of religious persecutions, 

 he seems to believe in spite of himself that " moral 

 feelings " do exercise as much power over men as 

 " intellectual acquisitions ; " and that the effects pro- 

 duced by the former are quite as lasting as those 

 produced by the latter. He repeatedly recognises 

 the fact that our desires and impulses influence us 

 strongly in the acceptance and defence of opinions. 

 In speaking of the Scotch clergy, he attributes their 

 tyrannical enforcement of superstitious notions to an 

 inordinate desire for power, not to a mistaken interest 

 in the welfare of others. After noticing the profound 



