HISTORY OF PROGRESS

"ENQUIRE WITHIN" AND "REASON WHY" SERIES, "THAT'S IT," ETC.

LONDON

HOULSTON AND WRIGHT

65, PATERNOSTER ROW

MDCCCLXVI.

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

PREFACE.

THE "History of Progress in Great Britain" is submitted to the reader's attention, believing that it contains some interesting Facts and Records not hitherto known, or, at least, not heretofore applied to demonstrate the growth of the British mind, and the development of the Nation's material resources.

Though necessarily concise, the History is not superficial. The Author has endeavoured to throw himself as far as possible into the moral and mental atmosphere which surrounded former generations. He has striven to realize their life, thoughts, fears, and difficulties. The reader will find that he frequently quotes their words, in preference to using his own; feeling convinced that no language of his could so aptly explain the old notions of vegetation (for instance) as those which have been given from Goodge, Platt, Gabriel Plattes, Markham, and other "ingenious husbandmen," who undertook to enlighten mankind upon their favourite theme; and that the notes by Pigafetta upon Magalhaen's voyage most significantly show the scantiness of knowledge of Natural Phenomena and History in the sixteenth century.

This Work was designed to be essentially a British History, and confined, as far as possible, to the advancement made within these Islands. But as Britain is connected, by the Sea and her Shipping, with every part of the world, it was found necessary, in the section upon Navigation and Geographical Discovery, to wander beyond the prescribed limits, and to include the Portuguese and Spanish discoveries, which opened to British enterprise a. highway East, West, and South.

The subjects included are complete as far as possible. Their further progress will henceforward, it is presumed, consist rather of the application of Inventions already tested, than of the introduction of new applications; for the genius of Man appears to have ransacked the stores of Natural Philosophy, and already to have gleaned therefrom every element of previously hidden power.

A considerable portion of space has been devoted, in the Second Series of this Work, to the deeply interesting subject of Civil and Religious Liberty; but so grand and comprehensive a Theme must have its own separate Historian who shall be worthy of it. Meanwhile, the brief notices here given are commended to the reader's indulgence. Whatever be their faults, they have been written by one who ardently desires to see his country, and all mankind, in the fullest possible enjoyment of everything that is conveyed in the words Civil and Religious Liberty. These, rightly understood and determinedly acted on, must tend to elevate the individual nature of Man, and bring the entire Human Family into complete and harmonious unity.

The Author tenders his grateful acknowledgments for the favour with which this Work has been received, and for the popularity it has attained since it was first published. He confidently anticipates that this new and cheaper edition will find a place in every Library, public or private, in all Reading Clubs and Mechanics' Institutes, for which it is specially adapted.