"There never ceases in this world of ours Work for the good and noble. God decides Epochs and institutions; every change And states derive their sovereignty and range. Which could not bear the moral analyst ; And such a State was built by CHARLEMAGNE.' 66 'Charlemagne laid the first solid foundation for a permanent system of Christian government and institutions."-Fred. von Schlegel. “The name of Charlemagne has come down to us as one of the greatest in history. Though not the founder of his dynasty, he has given his name both to his race and his age."-Guizot. CHAPTER I. PROLUSION. N the olden ages of the world the various forms of government arose singly-"at sundry times and in divers manners." The patriarchal, the kingly, the sacerdotal, the oligarchic, and the democratic systems of sovereignty may not have manifested themselves in distinct and chronological succession; but they did not develop themselves in parallel order, neither did they attempt to work together in harmony and union. The grand purpose of the period, included in the term, Ancient History, seems to have been to give rise to those differing schemes by which men may be governed, and by a process of "progress by antagonism" to raise each of these to its highest power and noblest individual development. This purpose being fulfilled, the kind and degree of each being so tried, tested, and known, and each in its turn having failed to maintain pre-eminence, and produce the highest and holiest good to the people, a new problem arose-viz., How, by a due admixture of these, to secure the greatest possible amount of stability in government, and the highest possible state of civilisation in all classes of the people? This integration. and harmonious union of all the possible varieties of govern |