the traveller thus remarks:--

"An idea, strange as it is visionary, has entered into the minds of the
generality of mankind, _that empire is travelling westward: and every
one is looking forward with eager and impatient expectation to that
destined moment when America is to give the law to the rest of the
world_."[20]

The traveller is none the less an authority for the prevalence of this
sentiment because he declares it "illusory and fallacious," and records
his conviction that "America is formed for happiness, but not for
empire." Happy America! What empire can compare with happiness! But, to
make amends for this admission, the jealous traveller, in his edition of
1796, after the adoption of our Constitution, announces that "the
present union of American States will not be permanent, or last for any
considerable length of time," and "that that extensive country must
necessarily be divided into separate states and kingdoms."[21] Thus far
the Union has stood against all shocks, foreign or domestic; and the
prophecy of Berkeley is more than ever in the popular mind.

TURGOT.--1750.

Among the illustrious names of France there are few equal to that of
Turgot. He was a philosopher among ministers, and a minister among
philosophers. Malesherbes said of him, that he had the heart of
L'Hopital and the head of Bacon. Such a person in public affairs was an
epoch for his country and for the human race. Had his spirit prevailed,
the bloody drama of the French Revolution would not have occurred, or it
would at least have been postponed. I think it could not have occurred.
He was a good man, who sought to carry into government the rules of
goodness. His career from beginning to end was one continuous
beneficence. Such a nature was essentially prophetic, for he discerned
the natural laws by which the future is governed.

He was of an ancient Norman family, whose name suggests the _god Thor_;
he was born at Paris, 1727, and died, 1781. Being a younger son, he was
destined for the Church, and commenced his studies as an ecclesiastic
at the ancient Sorbonne. Before registering an irrevocable vow, he
announced his repugnance to the profession, and turned aside to other
pursuits. Law, literature, science, humanity, government, now engaged
his attention. He associated himself with the writers of the
Encyclopaedia, and became one of its contributors. In other writings he
vindicated especially the virtue of toleration. Not merely a