HISTORY OF CIVILISATION

AND

PUBLIC OPINION.

BY

WILLIAM ALEX MACKINNON, M.P. F.R.S.

Third Edition.

"Liberty hath a sharp and double edge, fit only to be handled
by just and virtuous men; neither is it completely obtained, but
by them who have the happy skill to know what laws are wanting,
and how to frame them substantially, that good men may have
the freedom which they merit, and the bad the curb which they
need."-MILTON: History of England, Book III.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER,

GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

CONTENTS

OF

THE SECOND VOLUME.

CONTINENTAL STATES OF EUROPE.

CHAPTER I.

FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THE FRENCH NATION TO THE REIGN

OF LOUIS XV.

Progress of Civilisation in France.

Fondness for War.

-

The French under the Feudal System.Establishment of

absolute Monarchy. - Northern and Southern Republics.-

Effect of Improvement in Manufactures and Commerce. -

Frightful Oppression. - Public Atrocities. Court Profli-

gacy.-Luxury and Idleness.-War for nearly a Century.

- Edict of Nantes. Edicts of Louis XV. resisted.

ruption of Manners in his Reign.- His despotic Acts.

Rise of the Middle Class. - Folly of the Government.

Magnificence of the French Court. Seeds of the Revo-

lution

-

Cor-

Page 3

CHAPTER II.

CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

-

-

French Army

Want of Foresight in Montesquieu and others.

officered by a poor Noblesse. Growing Influence of the

Tiers Etat.-Exclusion of the Bourgeoisie from public Em-

ployment. Assembly of the States-General. Fatal Error

of Louis XVI. - Public Opinion in favour of a Revolution.—

Mischievous Power of the Lower Class. Contests between