THE ECCLESIASTIC

AND

THEOLOGIAN.

BUCKLE'S HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION IN ENGLAND.

History of Civilization in England. BY HENRY THOMAS BUCKLE. Vol. I. John William Parker. 1857.

In the conclusion of what is only the first volume of the introduction to the History of Civilization in England,' Mr. Buckle tells us that he wishes this work to be estimated not according to the finish of its separate parts, but according to the way in which those parts have been fused into a complete and symmetrical whole.' We fear that the judgment, or at least the patience of his readers will scarcely await the time when his vast undertaking has been completed, and that it will only be in the event of his book obtaining a permanent place on the shelves of our libraries that it will be estimated in the way which he reasonably desires. For this our author is chiefly accountable. To read and wholly to suspend the judgment on the merit of so remarkable a volume as that which we introduce to the notice of our readers is impossible. Publication itself is an appeal to the reader's judgment. When the task in which Mr. Buckle is engaged shall have been finished, the general reader and the critic may indeed review and have reason to modify the opinion formed of this portion of his work; but there are too many dogmas and conclusions occurring in these pages which cross and oppose the belief of a large portion of mankind to allow of our waiting the time when we shall learn how many of them may fall before the future researches and the more matured judgment of our author. But besides all this, the greatness and interest of the subject, as well as the industry and ability shown in its investigation, will secure to this volume no small share of the attention and so of the judgment of those who can rise above narratives of the petty and wearying strife of cabinets, the minute and frivolous details of historical millinery, the vulgar and revolting tales of VOL. XX.-JANUARY, 1858.

B