INTRODrCTION. 



Its character on that day differed from its charactef 

 on the preceding, is a task which can appear easy 

 only to ignorance and inexperience. And in pro- 

 portion as the number of minds to be contemplated 

 increases, or the length of the time in question is 

 extended, the difficulties of the undertaking mul- 

 tiply, and it becomes, in every respect, more ar- 

 duous. How numerous the difficulties, then, of 

 estimating the operations and the progress of the 

 human race for an hundred years! 



Another source of doubt and mistake also arises 

 here, besides that which is occasioned by the com- 

 plexness and confusion of the scene. Who can 

 distinguisli between revolution and improvement in 

 human affairs? Who can undertake to say in what 

 cases they are synonymous terms, and when they are 

 directly opposite? If every change were to be con- 

 sidered an advantage, it would follow, of course, 

 that the strides of civilized man, in every species 

 of improvement, during the last century, have 

 been prodigious. But, alas! this principle cannot 

 be admitted by the cautious inquirer, or the friend 

 of human happiness. The passion for novelty and 

 change, so universal and unceasing, has doubtless 

 oftentimes indulged itself at the expense of real 

 good, and substantial enjoyment. 



A wise man, and an inspired WTiter, has told 

 us, that there is no neiv thing under the sun. Is 

 there ami thing whereof it may be said, See, this is 

 77ewP It hath been already of old time, xvhicli zvas 

 before ifs. — This passage, like many others of a 

 similar kind, is doubtless not to be interpreted as 

 declaring literally, that there never have been, nor 

 ever can be, any schemes, events, or discoveries 

 entitled to the appellation of ncwy but as teaching 

 us, in a strong and figurative manner, that the pro- 

 jects and improvements of human genius are 

 frequently sinking into forgetfulness, and rising 



