300 HISTORY OP THE CONTEMPLATION OP THE UNIVERSE. 



brought during the last half century continually nearer to 

 Europe by commercial intercourse, and by the improvement 

 of navigation, has exercised an important influence on the 

 political institutions, ( 458 ) and on the ideas and tendencies 

 of those nations who dwell on the eastern shore of the con- 

 stantly narrowing valley of the Atlantic Ocean. 



t 



