HISTORY OF CIVILISATION.

VOL. II.

HISTORY

23
61

MIS8

OF

CIVILISATION.

BY

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

"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:

PRINTED FOR

LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS,

PATERNOSTER-ROW.

LONDON:

Printed by A. SPOTTISWOODE,

New-Street-Square.

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 Profi-

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

Edict of Nantes. Edicts of Louis XV. resisted. · Cor.

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-

-

CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

Want of Foresight in Montesquieu and others. French Army

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

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