Inference to be drawn as to the causes of social progress 224-226
INQUIRY INTO THE INFLUENCE EXERCISED BY RELIGION, LITERATURE, AND GOVERNMENT.
Recapitulation of preceding arguments 227
Moral feelings influence individuals, but do not affect society in the aggregate 228-229
This being as yet little understood, historians have not collected proper materials for writing history 230
Reasons why the present history is restricted to England 231-235
Comparison of the history of England with that of France 235-236
With that of the United States of America 240-242
Necessity of ascertaining the fundamental laws of intellectual progress 243
Much may be gained in that respect from studying the histories of Germany, America, France, Spain, and Scotland 244-246
Influence of religion on the progress of society 253-266
Illustration from the efforts of missionaries 254-256
Illustration from the early history of Christianity 259-262
Influence of literature on the progress of society 268-272
Influence of government on the progress of society 272-287
Illustrated by repeal of the corn-laws 273-274
The best legislation abrogates former legislation 275
The interference of politicians with trade has injured trade 276-278
Legislators have caused smuggling with all its attendant crimes 278-280
They have also increased hypocrisy and perjury 281-283
By their laws against usury they have increased usury 283-284
By other laws they have hindered the advance of knowledge 284-285
England has been less interfered with in these ways than other nations, and is therefore more prosperous than they 286-287
ORIGIN OF HISTORY, AND STATE OF HISTORICAL LITERATURE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES.
Conclusions arrived at by the preceding investigations 288
An inquiry into the changes in historical researches will throw light on the changes in society 289-290
The earliest histories are ballads 291-295
One cause of error in history was the invention of writing 296-300
A change of religion in any country also tends to corrupt its early history 300-307
But the most active cause of all was the influence of the clergy 307-308
Absurdities which were consequently believed 309-317
Illustration of this from the history of Charlemagne by Turpin 318-321
And from the history of the Britons by Geoffrey 321-325