is this, I trust, which, recognized in the midst of heathen times,* may reassure the readers of these volumes concerning the course prepared for their race towards a liberty, not of Rome nor of America, but that into which Christianity shall so profoundly penetrate as to be one with it in the sight of Heaven.

The present work is intended as one of a series, which I hope, with God's blessing, to complete in my lifetime. Its successors, relating to the Liberty of the Early Christian Ages and the Liberty of the Middle Ages, will, if they be ever written, bring down the history of Liberty to the Reformation. I propose to make the Liberty of England the subject of a work by itself, in which the constitutional and progressive freedom of the nation shall be traced from its origin to its maturity. Further volumes may follow upon the Liberty of Europe since the Reformation, and, lastly, upon the Liberty of America. In mentioning these, I am perfectly aware of the uncertainty of life, and, even

* Old Montaigne has a passage which describes these and their lessons in themselves :-"Ce temps est propre à nous amender à reculons; par disconvenance plus que par convenance; par différence que par accord." Essais, Liv. III. ch. 8. It is more Christian to recognize the similarities between one generation and another of mankind.

should that be granted, of capacity to complete so large an enterprise. But I have wished to state that it has been begun, and that the present volumes form the first of the histories proposed. JANUARY, 1849.

NOTE.

THE illustrations to these volumes are all the designs and the generous gift of my more than friend, Charles C. Perkins, to whose affection and taste a large share of any interest that may possibly attach itself to my pages will be readily and deservedly ascribed.

S. E.