IX.] Mr. Buckle's Fallacies. 189 



But Mr. Buckle devotes by far the largest portion 

 of his work, thus far, to the illustration of his third 

 and fourth laws. As he treats only of the revolu- 

 tionary period, his illustrations are all appropriate 

 and forcible. We lack words to express our admira- 

 tion of these profound and instructive chapters. The 

 inquiry into the history of the intellect in England, 

 France, Spain, and Scotland, shows an extent of 

 learning and a depth of thought unsurpassed, so far 

 as we know, in historical literature. Our author traces 

 the rise of scepticism and the decline of the royal 

 power in England, the workings of the protective 

 spirit in England and France, the causes, remote and 

 proximate, of the French Revolution, all with the 

 most consummate skill. In the case of Spain, he 

 sets before us in vivid colours the utter impotence of 

 government to direct social progress. He describes 

 in bold outlines the course of philosophic investigation 

 among the Scotch, and the influence of their habits of 

 thought upon their general condition. Everywhere, 

 in this part of the work, we see the touches of a 

 master ; everywhere we find something to instruct 

 and entertain. Had Mr. Buckle written nothing 

 more, these chapters alone would suffice to make 

 his name immortal. Considered merely as historic 

 pictures they rival anything in Gibbon or Grote. 



