the minds of men, and which by universal consent is adopted as the indisputable axiom of the time. The grand motive of one age has been policy, of another valor, and of another truth. The times of Justinian afford an example of the first; the age of Feudalism of the second, and the Refcrmation of the last.

During the reign of the Roman Emperor, when the public mind had become enervated by luxury, artfulness and finesse were the qualities most admired, and the only means of self-elevation. But during the long and gloomy period when Europe was under the sway of the Feudal Baronies, military accomplishments were the chief objects of ambition, and the surest road to honor. Chivalry was the reigning spirit of the age. The people followed, not principles, but men. All other considerations were lost in enthusiasm for the personal heroism of their leader. If you wished to rouse the energies of a nation to move in some great enterprize, you had but to point to a gallant knight, accomplished in all the warlike virtues of his time, and uncounted thousands burning with enthusiasm would flock to his standard. This spirit gave birth to those heroic actions which fill up the brilliant legends of the old crusaders. It was a far more enterprizing and stirring principle than had hitherto guided the world.

When turbulent Europe settled back to its repose after the crusades were over, it had assumed an entirely new aspect. The human mind was now prepared for higher achievements. For the heavy tread of those indomitable masses of living valour, that fought for the Holy Sepulchre, had hardly died away on the ear of Europe, before the trumpet call of the Reformation was sounded from the woods of Germany by the Monk of Erfurth, and a new principle took possession of the civilized world. Resting from its bold struggles with the infidel hosts of the East, the exploits of heroism were no longer the theme of universal admiration, and the hero and his deeds were forgotten together. Other and higher objects of contemplation filled the minds of men. They began to gaze dimly. through the dust of ages after truth-long-buried Religious Truth-truth that would satisfy the wants of man's higher nature-truth descended from Heaven for the soul, and yet hitherto denied it.

The awakening truth-seeking world no longer cares for the Politician, the Crusader or the King. It boldly asks whence the mitre derives its sacredness-the Pope his infallibility? Where are the Records of God's Prophets and God's anointed Son? What has obscured their pages? Who has dared to hide them from the sight of man? This new love of Truth which inflamed the souls of the Reformers, spread from hamlet to hamlet, and province to province, until it well nigh emancipated Europe from a spiritual despotism that had been consolidated by the slow growth of ages. Then followed the controversial age, and the world became weary in the fruitless effort to settle upon a creed that should unite the religious opinions of mankind. One grand result however crowned these efforts. The foundations of Christianity were carefully examined and found to be firm and immovable; and although little approximation was made towards a unity of belief in unessential matters, yet a solid and secure lodgement was gained in the human mind for the great principles of Christianity, which in their turn, gave birth to civil freedom, and settled in the human soul a conviction of the equal rights of man, and imparted a firm determination to possess them.

A spirit of inquiry has gone abroad over the world peculiar to our own age. Everywhere men are becoming restive under oppression. Something of the greatness and value of man, of the sacredness of his rights as a creature of God, and the grandeur of his destiny, is dawning on the human mind. The truth of Hampden's words is written out in clear bold characters upon the institutions, the changes, the endeavours, and the spirit of this generation. Man is beginning to be understood that which "hath been the riddle of ages." His rights are beginning to be respected, and the few guiding minds of the world to whom God has committed the ark of human liberty, are rallying the innumerable host of their down-trodden brethren, to lead them forth from a worse than Egyptian bondage. They are teaching them the great lessons of liberty, and inspiring them with

the hope of becoming free." Blessing on thee, Man! Sacred, venerable thy name! Thou shalt live-the divine germ of thy nature shall yet expand and grow and bear celestial fruit, God's own Freedom and 'Truth and Love-God speed the rescue." To millions now humanity has become a charmed word, and the most careless observer of the spirit of his time must discern that this spirit is rapidly gaining sway.

If a great change is proposed in the structure of society or the administration of power, humanity is alleged as the reason. The press talks of ignorance, of oppression, of suffering; it urges no reason for their removal but sympathy for the sad condition of fellow men. Even religion is not now urged so much as a duty and a truth, as a remedy for man's suffering, bruised nature-a consolation amid the ills of life, and a hope in the dying hour. It is this high Humanity that forms the pretence, the basis, the motive, to all great un dertakings of the age. It is even a better, a higher principle than truth;-truth can but discern the duty of man and the means of alleviating his condition; but humanity gives enthusiasm to the execution of that duty and the relief of that condition. Truth, like the daylight, only shows the mariner struggling with the waves; it never prompts the bold adventurer to plunge in and rescue him from death. When Truth has performed its office, a greater principle must come behind to complete the work. The heart of man must prompt him to act when his intellect has taught him to understand.

In the appearance and diffusion of this humane spirit in modern times, is treasured up the hope of the world. Intelligent philanthropy is now watching over the interests of the people, and the time has come when even they are looking back with a nobler feeling than idle curiosity, on the past history of the race. The story of oppression excites indignation against the oppressor, and a firmer purpose than ever to work the regeneration of man.

There has never been a time when in this country and in Europe, so general an interest has been exerted in favour of the working classes; or when inquiries into their condition, have met with such universal favour. It will be necessary, before we consider particularly the present condition of the lower classes in Great Britain, to bestow a few thoughts on their condition in past times. It will, however, be impossible, as well as unnecessary, in such a work as this, to enter into the inquiry very minutely. The entire space allotted to these volumes would not contain a full picture of the wrongs and the sufferings of the British people, even since the times of Cromwell --much less from the origin of the British government. In another part of this work I shall review the history of the suffering and wrong Ireland has endured at the hand of England. That