THE HISTORICAL BASIS OF MODERN EUROPE (1760-1815). AN INTRODUCTORY STUDY TO THE GENERAL TEENTH CENTURY. BY ARCHIBALD WEIR, M.A. "Oblivion is the dark page whereon Memory writes her light-beam characters." ERRATUM. Page 175, line 4, for Prussian Poland read East Prussia. Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury. 7-18-38 PREFACE. C THE purpose purpose of this work is to review in their logical connection the chief groups of events which form the groundwork of European history in the nineteenth century. Though historical in form, the book does not pretend to be a history, but aims only at presenting such a preliminary view of the immediate antecedents of modern civilisation as will supply a convenient, though of course arbitrary, basis for the study of our age. To effect this object, it has been necessary to abandon the usual artifice of bringing all history under the head of politics, and to distribute the subject in the following manner. The introductory chapter endeavours to indicate as summarily as possible the evils of the monarchico-feudal system in the eighteenth century, and the ideas of reform which were generated by the contemporary intellectual movement. The second chapter reviews the work of the chief reforming monarchs, in order to exhibit the actual state of Europe in the latter part of the century, and to draw attention to the fact that monarchy by its good offices obtained over men's minds considerable b |