42 RUINED CITIES OF ANTIQUITY. 



merous and striking illustrations of this are to be seen 

 in Egypt and elsewhere. 



Arguing from analogy, therefore, we can have no 

 doubt that if the population of Great Britain from 

 any cause were to disappear, the country which is 

 situated in the Great Forest region of the Temperate 

 Zone would gradually resume the condition of a great 

 forest what history teaches us it actually was in 

 ancient times. It might be supposed that with its 

 superabundant population and advanced civilization this 

 would be impossible. But as we know, the world 

 contains numerous instances of mighty nations, pos- 

 sessing an advanced civilization (as the remains of their 

 ancient works of art and architectural monuments 

 most clearly show) which have disappeared so completely 

 that their very name and language have now passed 

 into oblivion. 



There are places where the country is covered, for 

 many square miles, with traces of a former super- 

 abundant population, including the ancient sites of great 

 cities, containing remains of magnificent temples, palaces, 

 and other extensive works, representing an enormous 

 expenditure of human skill and labour; where the 

 wilderness has so completely resumed its sway that the 

 whole district is now covered with almost impenetrable 

 forest, inhabited only by a few wandering families of 

 wild jungle people. 



These spectacles of fallen greatness and depaiced 

 glory are eloquent and solemn object lessons to man- 

 kind, and exhibit in the most striking manner the 

 instability of human institutions. Their transitory 

 splendour, when contrasted with their present utter 

 desolation and loneliness, has been very beautifully 



