Such is the system of political equilibrium which ex ists in this quarter of the globe, though an impolitic ambition, or thoughtless security, has frequently pre vented its full application to the affairs of modern Eu rope. We may easily perceive, however, how great has been its influence in maintaining the independence of the different states, if we consider the trifling extent of the changes which have taken place in the relative situations of the European powers, and the distribu tion of the Continent under separate governments du ring the long period of modern history. Thus in Eu rope has been formed a species of general law, which, in most instances, supersedes an appeal to the sword, by rendering such an appeal fatal to any power that may infringe upon the code ; by sending the forces of the rest invariably against each delinquent ; by agree ing that any project of violating a neighbour's integri ty shall be prevented or avenged, not according to the resources of their neighbour, but according to the full resources of every other member of the European community, and by constantly watching over the state of public affairs, even in profound peace. Such is the balancing system, carried to its full extent ; and such is the state of refinement to which it is constantly tending.
The time, it is probable, is approaching, when the affairs of Europe, like those of a great commonwealth, shall be settled, not in the field of battle, but in a ge neral congress of deputies from its various states ; and any of its nations waging war be regarded as guilty of rebellion ; to quell which, all the rest are bound to con tribute their aid. But as civil wars will often take place, and sometimes succeed in overturning the governments which they attack, so commotions will also take place in the European community, and may even be of such a nature and strength, as to endanger or even altoge ther overturn the general confederacy. Of this kind were the late dreadful and alarming convulsions which for a time completely suspended, and seemed to have entirely destroyed, the balance of power in this part of the world. But its different kingdoms having again subsided into their ancient state, after one of the seve rest agitations to which they can ever be exposed, has established this system much more firmly than if it had never been interrupted ; and shewn, that no power need hereafter attempt to disturb it, who is not able to subjugate Europe.
The Christian is the universal religion of Europe, with the exception of Turkey, in which Mahometun ism is established, but where, nevertheless, at least one half of the inhabitants arc Christians. And its
religion must be regarded as one of the causes of the superiority of Europe ; for wherever the religion of Jesus has penetrated, knowledge, industry, and civili zation, have followed. The southern parts of Europe were converted to the Christian faith at an early pe riod. Among the barbarous tribes of the North, the progress was slow. Scandinavia remained Pagan till the eleventh century ; some Sclavonic tribes on the South of the Baltic till the thirteenth ; and it is not above a century since the Laplanders were converted by missions from Denmark. The chief divisions of the Christian church are three : The Greek church, which prevails in Europe, and the two grand distinc tions of Catholics and Protestants ; the former of which are prevalent in the South, and the latter in the North of Europe.
The progressive geography of Europe will be more properly and more minutely illustrated under the de scriptions of its different kingdoms and states. Spain, France, and Britain, were early and fully explored by the Romans, who overran them with their arms, and established in them permanent settlements. Their ships explored the southern shores of the Baltic, as far as the river Rubo, or the Western Dvina, and dis covered the names of several tribes along the coasts ; they were also acquainted with the southern parts on the left of the Danube, but of the central parts of Germany it is evident, from the maps of Ptolemy, they had no just ideas. Of Scandinavia, the ancients knew only the southern parts, as far as the lakes \Vet ter and Wenner. The Carpathian or Sarmatian moun tains were well known, but the line of 50° or 52° north latitude bounded the ancient knowledge in the north east, and the wide extent of the Russian empire con tinued almost unknown to Europe until the sixteenth century. The greater and more splendid efforts, in deed, for extending geographical knowledge, have been directed to distant regions ; but great and laudable ex ertions have also been made to improve the geography of European nations. Some of them have already been most minutely and elaborately described ; and it is probable, from the great and increasing intercourse amongst its different states, as well as the labours of scientific and public spirited individuals, every fact of importance in the geography of Europe will speedily be unfolded. (0)