portions of America, particularly in the West Indies and the United States. In the nineteenth livre, forming volume X, Raynal concludes his own writing with a review of the development of institutions, moral and social, political and industrial, in both hemispheres, and their influence upon culture.
The departure implied in this work had more than a literary significance; it meant a warfare against social intolerance; and this required courage, particularly in a man moving in the supercilious, frivolous circles open to Raynal. It required also ability to face the learned hosts before him; and it demanded both qualities to undertake researches for so varied a field. The result was manifested alike by the applause of philosophers and practical men, and by the condemnation of the church and the government, which forced him into exile. An acknowledgment of its beauties was conveyed in the very charge that Diderot's hand was manifest therein; but there is no doubt that, whatever the work may owe to his advice, the elaboration is entirely by Raynal. It exhibits a not uneven form, and a sustained nobility' of thought and style, which is never obscure, and always attractive. When principles, when human rights are the theme, then alone he breaks somewhat the bounds of calm review, and rising into the dramatic be discloses the Voltairian influence which has encompassed him, and shows himself the champion also of the negro slave.
Trained a Jesnit and later made an abbé, Raynal had amid his multifarious studies imbibed the teachings of Montaigne and Bayle. Becoming a writer from choice as much as from necessity, he at once attracted the attention of critics by the Histoire da Stathoudérat, wherein he rose as one of the first to combat the prejudice of the age against trade as a profession, to point out its glories in the Queen of the Adriatic, in the Medici family, and to demonstrate its influence and power in Holland, in raising a downtrodden people to a leading nation, while for England it was about to create empires. The researches for this subject, and the duties in editing for Le Mercure, chained him more and more to commercial interests, while the companionship of Rousseau and kindred spirits raised him above the rank of mere narrator, and instilled a philosophic spirit which soon evolved the Histoire Philosophique. Before fleeing from Paris to Genoa he had three copies of it printed, to be submitted to friends and critics for suggestions and improvements. The perfecting process occupied him after its publication till his death in 1796, at the age of about 83. England showed her appreciation of the work by a translation, in 1783, which was several times republished. Raynal left among other notes a Histoire Philosophique, etc., des établissements dans l'Afrique Septentrionale, which Penchet enlarged and issued in 1826, in 2 vols. 8vo; and which should form a part of the greater work.
A fuller list of authorities consulted is the following: Ordenes de la Corona, MS., iii. 45-8; vi. 34, 64-5, 79-85; Cedulario, MS., i. 155-6, 246-8; iii. 62-3, 176; Cogolludo, Hist. Yuc., 548-51; Calle, Mem. y Not., 36-8, 160-1, 183; Azanza Ynstruccion, MS., 71-5, 112-14, 141-57; Villa-Señor, Theatro, i. 49-50; Revilla Gigedo, Instruc., MS., i. 119-44, 321-64; ii. 354-60, 486-7; Id., Bandos, nos. xv. xix. xli.-lxxi.; Puga, Cedulario, 10, 113-14, 175-6, 195-6; Vireyes de Mex., Instruc., MS., 5; Monumentos Domin. Esp., MS., 92, 107-8; Concilio Prov. Mex., MS., i. 108-17, 341-60; Providencias
