in all to each other. No forum or theatres were at hand, with
their cares or their pleasures; no city enjoyments were a
counterpoise to the pleasures of country life. War and the chase
broke in, it is true, grievously at times, upon this scene of
domestic peace. But war and the chase could not last for ever;
and, in the long intervals of undisturbed repose, family
attachments formed the chief solace of life. Thus it was that
WOMEN acquired their paramount influence--thence the manners of
chivalry, and the gallantry of modern times; they were but an
extension of the courtesy and habits of the castle. The word
_courtesy_ shows it--it was in the _court_ of the castle that the
habits it denotes were learned."--(_Lecture_ iv. 13, 17;
_Civilization Europeenne._)

We have exhausted, perhaps exceeded, our limits; and we have only
extracted a few of the most striking ideas from the first hundred
pages of one of Guizot's works--_ex uno disce omnes_. The translation
of them has been an agreeable occupation for a few evenings; but they
awake one mournful impression--the voice which uttered so many noble
and enlightened sentiments is now silent; the genius which once cast
abroad light on the history of man, is lost in the vortex of present
politics. The philosopher, the historian, are merged in the
statesman--the instructor of all in the governor of one generation.
Great as have been his services, brilliant his course in the new
career into which he has been launched, it is as nothing compared to
that which he has left; for the one confers present distinction, the
other immortal fame.

Footnotes:

[1] Little girl--or girl, merely.

[2] Mr O'Connell stated in his speech, after "the liberation," that
that most unexpected and miraculous event had been publicly prayed for
in all the churches of Belgium.

[3] Taken from Lewis's Statistics of the Four Reformed Parliaments.

[4] The following account of the number of freeholders on the
register, in 1837, when the number was largest, and in 1841, taken
from Lewis's tables, will show an immense decrease in those counties
completely under the control of the priests and agitators, and where
their power is unassailable.

1837. 1841.
Clare, 3170 1785
Cork, 4180 3706
Galway county, 3074 1990
Galway town,