PRELIMINARY NOTICE. THE HISTORY OF THE PEACE was one of the literary projects of MR. CHARLES KNIGHT. It was based on the idea that, to many persons, particularly young persons entering upon the world, there was no period of English history at once so important, and about which it was so difficult to obtain information, as the immediately past age. The First Book, excepting the portion on the Spanish American Colonies, was MR. KNIGHT'S composition. Being unable to complete the Work with his own pen, he transferred it to MISS HARRIET MARTINEAU, whom he justly conceived to be well fitted for the task by her knowledge of political and social science, and her extensive acquaintance amongst the public men of her era. The result, it is scarcely necessary to say, fully justified MR. KNIGHT's expectations, for certainly no such luminous memoir of the Thirty Years' Peace is likely to be written by any contemporary. It is proper, on account of the many references to time in the book, to add that the Author's stand-point was in the years 1846, 1847, and 1848. In 1858 Miss Martineau gave the work a final revision. She then made a number of corrections, and substituted the Eighth Chapter of the First Book for the portion on the South American Colonies above referred to. This is a reprint of that revised edition with the correction of some obvious errors. CONTENTS. Peace of Paris-Holy Alliance-Congress of Vienna-Secret Treaty-Paris in the Autumn of 1815-Territorial Limits settled by Peace-State of Parties-Parliamentary Leaders— Lord Chancellor Eldon-Lord Liverpool and his Colleagues PAGE Criminal Laws-Police-Gaslight-Mendicity and Vagrancy- Spanish America-Colonial Misgovernment-General Miranda- Mr. Pitt-The Addington Cabinet-The Grenville Cabinet- The Portland Cabinet-The Perceval Cabinet-Improvement of Brazil-Difficulties of the Spanish Provincials-Mexico-New Opening of Parliament-Outrage on the Prince-Regent-Alarm— |