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OF THE EEFOBMATION. 01minds of the European nations; and, for a longtime tocome, not only maintained its influence upon private life,but showed itself without disguisein the administration oftheir internal affairs. The revocation of the edict of Nantes(by which Lewis XIV., in spreading the industry and skillof French artisans over the rest of Europe, unintentionallyrepaid in some it,degree, for the evib which his wars hadcaused) gave proof of what we say, in France; while by thefamous clause which was added to the fourth article of thetreaty of Ryswick, Lewis XIV. also provided a new cause ofdissension between the Catholics and Protestants in Germany, the operation of which was for a long time perceptible. But, powerful as stillmight be the influence of thisin the manner which we have now dedestructive spirit,scribed, it as undoubtedly ceased to interfere with the mutualrelations of the different states, and the higher system ofpolitics upon which these depend. It "was from the higherregions that the clouds of prejudice first disappeared, but along interval elapsed before the sun of knowledge was strongenoughto drive them out from those beneath. In the meantime it was chiefly from individual circumstances, as theyarose, that politics received their direction.While the enterprises of Lewis XIV.., and the wealthamassed by the successful trade and manufactures of theDutch, had, during the last period, assigned different spheresto religion and to politics, the vacant succession to the throneof Spain gave rise, at the close of the century, to a newsource of interest ;and one so great and important, that thewhole of Western Europe was occupied byit for nearlyfifteen years. During the same, and even a longer period, awar of equal fury was carried on in the East, by which thatquarter of Europe was subjected to a complete revolution ofaffairs. A power of the first rank was forming itself here,which could have nothing to do with either the Catholic orthe Protestant interest, since itbelonged to neither of thetwo partiesand the glorious career of Eugene and Marlborough,of Charles and Peter, presented a scene so differentfrom any that Europe had hitherto beheld the duration ofit was so long, and the impression which remained from itso deep, that it was impossibleto return to the opinions bywhich politicshad previously been governed. The position