Excepting a small portion of its most northern limits which stretches within the Arctic circle, Europe is en tirely situated within the temperate zone, and is conse quently exempted from the utmost extremities both of heat and of cold. In so extensive a track, however, the climate must necessarily be very various. While its northern states are often cold and bleak, and during ma ny months lay bound in the frozen chains of winter, one wide expanse of snow, its central regions are generally mild and temperate, and its southern kingdoms enjoy a sky the most serene, and a climate the purest and most delightful in the world. The climate of no division of the globe is more salubrious than that of almost every part of Europe ; and no where do the human species live to a more advanced age. The soil of Europe, though it pours not forth its vegetation with the same spontane ous luxuriance as in regions heated by a tropical sum, yet, aided by the hand of industry, and superior skill in agriculture, it supplies more certainly and more abun dantly than any other quarter of the earth, subsistence for its numerous population, and furnishes them with all the comforts and even luxuries of life.
The population of Europe is estimated at 150,000,000 of souls ; which is about one-fifth of the whole popula tion of the globe. The Europeans excel both in vigour of body and in energy and activity of mind; and so far has their progress in knowledge and arts raised them above the inhabitants of the other divisions, that they al most seem to be a superior race. There can be no doubt that in Asia were the primeval seats of the human race, from whence they diffused themselves over the rest of the world. The time and circumstances of their first migrations into Europe, history has not with certainty recorded. The most ancient population of this quarter of the earth which we can trace, consisted of the Celts in the west and south ; the Fins in the north-east ; and the Laplanders, a diminutive race like the Samoids of Asia, in the furthest north. Those ancient inhabitants, who seem to have been thinly scattered, were driven towards the west and north by the Scythians or Goths from Asia, whose descendants occupy the greater part of Europe ; and by the Sarmatians or Slavonic tribes, also from Asia, the ancestors of the Russians, Poles, Sec. From Africa, also, a colony of the Iberi passed into Spain at a very early period ; and at a later period, the accession of the Hungarians and Turks took place from Asia.
irruptions of these barbarous nations who over ran the Roman empire, and settled themselves in every quarter of Europe, gave rise to a new and singular state of society, distinguished by the name of the Feudal Sys tem. As these conquerors of Europe had their acquisi tio.ls to maintain, not only against such of the ancient in hal.:tants as they had spared, but also against the more formidable inroads of new invaders, self-defence was their chid care, and seems to have been the chief object of their first institutions and policy. With this view, every soldier, upon receiving a portion of the lands which were divided, bound himself to appear in arms against the ene mies of the community. This tenure, by which they held their land, amongst a warlike people, was reckoned both easy and honourable. The king or general who led them to conquest continuing still to be their head, had, of course, the largest portion allotted to him. These lands he parcelled out amongst his adherents, binding those on whom they were bestowed to resort to his stan dard when required, with a number of men proportioned to the extent of territory they received. His chief offi cers imitated the example of their sovereign, and in dis tributing portions of land to their dependants, annexed the same conditions to their grant. Thus a feudal king dom resembled a military establishment rather than a civil institution. The victorious army, cantoned out in
the country which it had conquered, continued arranged under its proper officers, who were ordered to hold them selves in readiness to assemble whenever occasion should require their united operations. The names of a soldier and a freeman were synonymous. Every proprietor, girt with a sword, was ready to march at the summons of his superior, and to take the field against the common enemy. Such is the origin and outline of that celebra ted system which for many centuries prevailed through out the whole of Europe. Though it seems well calcu lated for repelling foreign assaults, yet it was ill fitted to promote the ends of internal order and tranquillity, and was unfavourable to the cultivation of every art but that of war. By the gradual operation of various causes, this barbarous structure has been overthrown in most of the states of Europe. In some countries, however, conside rable remains of it are still to be found, and in all its for mer existence, may be traced in their laws, policy, and institutions.
In Europe, almost alone, or in its colonies, are liberty and free government to be found. In various states, freedom is established beyond the reach of accident or caprice ; and even those governments which:in theory are more arbitrary or altogether absolute, the diffu sion of knowledge, the state of European society and manners, and the force of public opinion, has render ed in practice comparatively mild, and attentive to justice and the rights of the subject : The univer sal hatred and detestation of which, in this quarter of the world, where the principles of freedom and of go vernment are so much better understood, they inva riably render their authors the objects, in a great mea sure check such wanton exertions of tyranny as occur under Oriental despotisms. The operation of these cau ses is extended, and the administration of its different governments in some degree assimilated, by that close and intinate union subsisting amongst its various i states, which is peculiar to modern Europe. In ancient times, and in other divisions of the globe, every inde pendent state is unconnected and detached. It looks on an inactive spectator, while one of its neighbours is overrunning and conquering another, and interferes not, unless for the defence or extension of its own territo ries or dominiou. In this state of things, some one in dividual power is always acquiring an undue prepon derance and ascendency fatal to the independence of the rest ; and the face of the political world is perpetu ally undergoing great and sudden changes. But the similarity in the situation of the European powers ; the resemblance of their languages, manners, and laws ; the extension of their intercourse by travelling and fo reign residence ; their union, by the relations of scien tific and commercial pursuits, the universality of the Christan religion, and a conviction of the great and common advantages of such an union,—have given birth to an intimate connection in times of peace, and a com mon feeling of interest in maintaining the existence of the present state of affairs. They form a united whole within themselves, almost separated from the rest of the world,—a greet federacy, acknowledging indeed no common chief, but united by certain common princi ples, and obeying one system of international law. Each power views with solicitude the dangers which beset the rest, and feels itself attacked when any of the weaker states are exposed to the insults or oppressions of their more formidable neighbours. The power that would encroach on the territories of any one feeble neighbour, must lay its account with preserving the usurpation, by exposing its whole dominions and colo nies to the combined attacks of the other states, who will immediately unite to restore the former balance of power.