Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. Such a work, to be really useful, must be condensed into a moderate compass; else the powers Of the writer would be frit tered away, and the attention of the reader wearied out, by an overwhelming bulk, filled up with microscopic details. The more striking facts of history, - the rise and fall of empires, - the achievements of warriors and heroes, - the struggles of peoples for their rights and freedom, - the conflict between priestcraft and religious liberty, - must needs stand out on the canvas of such a picture with the prominence they claim in the world itself. But they will not divert our attention from the more quiet and influ ential working of science and art, social progress and individual thought, - the living seed sown, and the fruit borne, in the field broken up by those outward changes.
