iculous; a class
keen of observation, fond of the satirical, and indifferent to all
institutions and enterprises which have for their object the elevation
of the masses, or the triumph of the abstract principles of truth and
justice.

* * * * *

REFERENCES.--Lord Mahon's History of England, which
commences with the peace of Utrecht, is one of the most
useful and interesting works which have lately appeared.
Smollett's continuation of Hume should be consulted,
although the author was greater as a novelist than as an
historian. Burnet's history on this period is a standard.
Hallam should be read in reference to all constitutional
questions. Coxe's Life of Marlborough throws great light on
the period, and is very valuable. Macaulay's work will, of
course, be read. See, also, Bolingbroke's Letters, and the
Duke of Berwick's Memoirs. A chapter in the Pictorial
History is very good as to literary history and the progress
of the arts and sciences. See, also, Johnson's Lives of the
Poets; Nichols's Life of Addison; Scott's Life of Swift;
Macaulay's Essay on Addison; and the Spectator and Tatler.

CHAPTER XVIII.

PETER THE GREAT, AND RUSSIA.

[Sidenote: Early History of Russia.]

While Louis XIV. was prosecuting his schemes of aggrandizement, and
William III. was opposing those schemes; while Villeroy, Villars,
Marlborough, and Eugene were contending, at the head of great armies,
for their respective masters; a new power was arising at the north,
destined soon to become prominent among the great empires of the
world. The political importance of Russia was not appreciated at the
close of the seventeenth century, until the great resources of the
country were brought to the view of Europe by the extraordinary genius
of Peter the Great.

The history of Russia, before the reign of this great prince, has not
excited much interest, and is not particularly eventful or important.
The Russians are descended from the ancient Sclavonic race, supposed
to be much inferior to the Germanic or Teutonic tribes, to whom most
of the civilized nations of Europe trace their origin.

The first great event in Russian history is the nominal conversion of
a powerful king to Christianity, in the tenth century, named Vladimir,
whose reign was a mixture of cruelty, licentiousness, and heroism.
Seeing the necessity of some generally r