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OF POLITICAL THEORIES.SISlosophy. If, then, speculative science in general made nogreat advance here, we cannot reasonably expect that thatpart of it which has reference to politics should have madeany, since, from its very nature, it must be one of the lastbranches which are put forth from that stock.This incapacityfor theory, however, had the effect of directing the Italians more immediately to practice, and theywere considered the deepest and most accomplished politicians of Europe. But as they held diplomacy to be anempty name, unless it included cunning and intrigue, theyby this view offered another impediment to a right cultivation of the subject.Their highest principles of policy were nothing betterthan a collection of maxims, and these never ripened, norcould ripen,into a science. The only writer of that periodwho need be mentioned here, is Machiavel ;and his worksafford the strongest confirmation of what we advance. His"3 'Principe, and his " 1Discorsi sopra Livio,"are full ofreasoning such as we have described, the result partly ofhis historical studies, partly of his own experience ; andthey contain sufficient evidence that a practical attention tohistory was in force at this period, and that the Italians werelikely enough to prove good historians, but not greattheorists.The first quarter of the sixteenth century witnessed thebreaking out of the Reformation. I have endeavoured in aformer treatise to prove the fact, and point out the mannerof its acquiring a political tendency ; I have also followedup its practical results.on the Netherlands, on England, and for a considerableperiod on France, it became the origin of political freedomin Europe, can be a matter of doubt only to those who"having eyes, see not;" and this once admitted,it will notbe difficult to show that the same causes led to its being theThat, by its influence on Germany,origin of political speculation also.Meantime, however, we must remember, that the veryessence of the Reformation, and the first direction of itspower, rendered itimpossible that this should be the case y[This critique appears to have escaped M. Artaud in his laborious trea1tise on the life and works of the Florentine secretary. But to judge from.^the manner in which he has met some similar observations of Eaumer, it isone to which MachiaveFs most ardent admirers can hardly object. See Machiaveljson Genie et ses Errears ; par M. Arlaiid, vol. ii p. 490. TR.]