peaceful and orderly revolution which gave birth to the Free Church of Scotland. It was an event charged with a moral power of vast import, and which could not fail to produce beneficial results.

The Established Church for a time was greatly crippled, and her pre-eminence has not been restored. But she has worked steadily and well, and extended her lines on every side. The Roman Catholics have increased more, comparatively, especially in recent years, than any other denomination, in the present century. The Roman hierarchy has recently been restored in Scotland. As observed in preceding chapters, toleration and liberty of thought have made remarkable progress within the last fifty years; no one need now be afraid to announce their opinions, if they have anything to tell worthy of attention.

THE

CHAPTER LIII.

Summary of the Work--Conclusion.

I-THE first volume opens with a few brief explanations of the method and scope of the work, and touched on the primary causes of civilisation, indicating that the human mind was the prime factor.

1. The geographical and physical aspects of the country were described. The influence of climate, and other external agencies were considered; and, also the general features of the country in relation to the imagination and understanding.

2. The principle of historic interpretation in reference to the order of development-touching thought and language, was treated; and the importance of the discrimination of historical evidence was also pointed out.

3. The interesting problem of the cradle of the human race was mooted; and followed by the question of the cradle of the great. Aryan race, of which a concise statement was presented. The ethnology of Scotland was next handled, and disentangled from a mass of legends and obscuring accretions.

4. The prehistoric period, embracing the stone and iron ages, were treated in detail. The stone weapons and implements were described, and the processes of their manufacture indicated. The various modes of disposing of the dead, interments in chambered cairns, cremation, and other peculiarities, were described. The origin and use of the earth-houses was discussed, and primitive boats noticed.

5. The introduction of the use of metals was narrated. Bronze weapons and tools found in Scotland were described; and attention was directed to the gold ornaments of the prehistoric period. Traces of the dwellings and sites of the prehistoric people were treated, including crannogs, and hill forts. The modes of interment which prevailed in the bronze age were handled. An attempt was made. to indicate the probable duration of the prehistoric period in Scotland.

6. So far as available data admitted, an account of the religion, social state, and culture of the prehistoric people was presented.

II. The Roman invasion and occupation of a portion of the country was narrated. This occupation tended to create new historical conditions in the Island.

7. The relative position of the chief tribes in the country from the fifth century to the foundation of the historic monarchy was given. The natural circumstances which led to its foundation and its limits were also indicated.

III. Advent of a new factor of civilisation-The introduction of Christianity and the missionary labours of the early saints were narrated; and the impression which they left upon the people was noted.

8. The gradual extension of the kingdom was concisely narrated; and a change of historical conditions indicated.

9. The social state of the people from the seventh century to the end of the eleventh was presented in detail.

10. Early architecture, including the brochs, round towers, and rude chapels, were historically treated. The sculptured stones were described, and historically handled in relation to the life and habits of the people. The art of these monuments was also briefly treated. The distinctive characteristics of this art as exhibited on metal ornaments were indicated.

The fragments of early literature and chronicles, and teaching in the monasteries were noticed.

IV. A critical estimate of the result of Norman feudalism on the civilisation of Scotland was presented, in which interesting details of the social state of the Normans themselves are given.

11. An account of the kingdom and the introduction of feudalism in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries was presented. The social state of the people, trade, organisation, and civilisation, were treated in detail.

12. The difficulties arising from the disputed succession issued in the War of Independence, of which a clear account was given. The results of the battles of Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn ultimately led to the acknowledgment of the independence of the nation.

13. A narrative of events from the death of Robert I. to 1424 was presented.

14. The reign of James I. was exceedingly important. He was an able ruler, and endeavoured to curb the lawless nobles. He tried to govern the kingdom through parliament, and was the first King who

attempted to introduce the principle of representation in Scotland. A body of laws was passed in parliament in his short reign, such as is not to be found in any period of the same length before or since, and these were recorded and proclaimed in the language of the people, and in many other ways he struggled to redress the disorder and oppression which had so long prevailed.

15. After the murder of James I., to the battle of Flodden, the struggle between the Crown and the nobles often distracted the kingdom. A narrative of the chief events and proceedings till 1513 was presented.

16. An exhaustive account of the social state of the nation in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries was given: Embracing the origin and peculiarities of the Scottish Parliament; the power of the nobles; agriculture, and the state of the tenants and labourers, the Crown lands, and relative subjects were detailed. The burghal communities —their trade, and the characteristics of their daily life were handled at length. The commerce and coinage of the kingdom, the defence of the country-armour, weapons, and organisation of the army were treated. Amusements and games, the dress of the different ranks, household goods and ornaments, were noticed. The price of the staple necessaries of life, and the wages of workmen were indicated. Crime and defects in the administration of justice, and the forms of punishment, were treated in detail. Architecture, the wealth of the Church and monasteries, were noticed; and an account of the religious feeling of the people was presented.

17. The literature of the period, education, music, and art were treated.

V. New historical conditions had arisen, and the second volume, which deals with the sixteenth century, opened with a survey of the agencies and causes which preceded the Reformation. The power, wealth, and vast organisation of the Church in the Middle Ages was indicated; and an outline of the popular belief presented. The Inquisition, morals of the clergy, translations of the Bible, awakening of the moral and religious consciousness were touched on; and the early stages of the revolutionary movement explicated.

18. The history of the Reformation in Scotland till the overthrow of the Roman Catholic Church, was given. The external circumstances and influences which aided the Reformation in Scotland were examined; while the inner and sustaining causes of the movement

were shown to depend upon the moral sentiments and convictions of the people.

19. An outline of the Confession, polity, and organisation of the Reformed Church of Scotland was given; and other proceedings of the Reformers noticed.

20. The reign of Queen Mary was treated at length. The trying circumstances in which she was placed were pointed out. Her difficulties with the Reformed preachers, marriage with Darnley, and consequent proceedings, the character of her husband, who became a mere tool in the hands of the nobles, were narrated. The difficulties thickening around her, the tragic events, and the proceedings which ended in her flight to England, were related.

21. The history of Protestantism and the conflict of the clergy with the Crown was commenced and continued till the accession of James VI. to the throne of England. The proceedings of the Reformed clergy in the struggle with a party of the nobles and the King were concisely narrated; and the attitude of the nobles and the policy of the King were placed in a clear light.

22. At the close of the history of Protestantism a brief expository statement was made, in which it was enunciated that the supreme sustaining power of the Reformation throughout was the moral sentiments and ideas, coupled with religious feelings and aspirations.

23. The social state of the people in the sixteenth century was next treated. Commencing with a reference to the character of the Government, I described the state of the inhabitants of the Borders and Highlands. The prevalent classes of crime and forms of punishment, the defective organisation, and habits of swearing, were handled. The defective sanitary condition of the towns was noticed. The state of the tenants and tillers of the land, and the poor, were noted. The religious feelings of the people, as manifested in their daily life, was illustrated, and indications of the approaching change were noticed.

24. After the Reformation sharp and severe measures were adopted for the suppression of immorality and vice. The relation of the different sexes, the observance of Sunday, the regulation of marriage, the protection of the life of infants, and also the condition of the poor, engaged the attention of the Reformed Church and the Government. Trials and executions for witchcraft were noticed. The coinage, mining operations, and the trade and commerce of the kingdom were noted. Sumptuary enactments touching dress, eating, drinking, and popular amusements were passed by the Government.