Postscript on Mr. Buckle. 209 



hardly more defining value than such a word as 

 " philosophical ; " and whether a given set of opin- 

 ions can be grouped under such rubric or not has 

 become a point hardly worth arguing. 



While mainly a personal narrative, this book 

 of " Pilgrim Memories " keeps certain ulterior 

 ends in view. The author has projected, and in 

 part executed, an extensive series of works to be 

 entitled " The Modern Revolution," in which noth- 

 ing less is aimed at than the establishment of a 

 new law of history, a new speculative basis for 

 religion, and a new point of departure for dra- 

 matic art. The new law of history and the new 

 speculative basis for religion we are to seek in 

 the conception of historic development as " a cer- 

 tain Change, and Process of Change, in men's no- 

 tions of the Causes of Change." One object of 

 the present volume is to show how this concep- 

 tion took shape in the author's mind in the course 

 of his journeyings and discussions with Mr. 

 Buckle. By the Gulf of Ezion-Gebir, " walking 

 or riding along a shell- and coral-covered strand : 

 on our right the sea, red with the coralline for- 

 ests of its depths, and with a margin so bright 

 and clear that, as we rode, we saw all its gem- 

 like pavement ; on our left sandstone precipices 

 of the most magnificently-varied hues," amid 



14 



