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lways offers a sure retreat from the calamities which afflict another part； and however great may be the evil； the remedy which is at hand is greater still。
It must not； then； be imagined that the impulse of the British race in the New World can be arrested。 The dismemberment of the Union； and the hostilities which might ensure； the abolition of republican institutions； and the tyrannical government which might succeed it； may retard this impulse； but they cannot prevent it from ultimately fulfilling the destinies to which that race is reserved。 No power upon earth can close upon the emigrants that fertile wilderness which offers resources to all industry； and a refuge from all want。 Future events； of whatever nature they may be； will not deprive the Americans of their climate or of their inland seas； of their great rivers or of their exuberant soil。 Nor will bad laws； revolutions； and anarchy be able to obliterate that love of prosperity and that spirit of enterprise which seem to be the distinctive characteristics of their race； or to extinguish that knowledge which guides them on their way。
Thus； in the midst of the uncertain future； one event at least is sure。 At a period which may be said to be near （for we are speaking of the life of a nation）； the Anglo…Americans will alone cover the immense space contained between the polar regions and the tropics； extending from the coasts of the Atlantic to the shores of the Pacific Ocean。 The territory which will probably be occupied by the Anglo…Americans at some future time； may be computed to equal three…quarters of Europe in extent。 *o The climate of the Union is upon the whole preferable to that of Europe； and its natural advantages are not less great； it is therefore evident that its population will at some future time be proportionate to our own。 Europe； divided as it is between so many different nations； and torn as it has been by incessant wars and the barbarous manners of the Middle Ages； has notwithstanding attained a population of 410 inhabitants to the square league。 *p What cause can prevent the United States from having as numerous a population in time？
＇Footnote o： The United States already extend over a territory equal to one…half of Europe。 The area of Europe is 500；000 square leagues； and its population 205；000；000 of inhabitants。 （〃Malte Brun；〃 liv。 114。 vol。 vi。 p。 4。）
＇This computation is given in French leagues； which were in use when the author wrote。 Twenty years later； in 1850； the superficial area of the United States had been extended to 3；306；865 square miles of territory； which is about the area of Europe。＇＇
＇Footnote p： See 〃Malte Brun；〃 liv。 116； vol。 vi。 p。 92。＇
Many ages must elapse before the divers offsets of the British race in America cease to present the same homogeneous characteristics： and the time cannot be foreseen at which a permanent inequality of conditions will be established in the New World。 Whatever differences may arise； from peace or from war； from freedom or oppression； from prosperity or want； between the destinies of the different descendants of the great Anglo…American family； they will at least preserve an analogous social condition； and they will hold in common the customs and the opinions to which that social condition has given birth。
In the Middle Ages； the tie of religion was sufficiently powerful to imbue all the different populations of Europe with the same civilization。 The British of the New World have a thousand other reciprocal ties； and they live at a time when the tendency to equality is general amongst mankind。 The Middle Ages were a period when everything was broken up； when each people； each province； each city； and each family； had a strong tendency to maintain its distinct individuality。 At the present time an opposite tendency seems to prevail； and the nations seem to be advancing to unity。 Our means of intellectual intercourse unite the most remote parts of the earth； and it is impossible for men to remain strangers to each other； or to be ignorant of the events which are taking place in any corner of the globe。 The consequence is that there is less difference； at the present day； between the Europeans and their descendants in the New World； than there was between certain towns in the thirteenth century which were only separated by a river。 If this tendency to assimilation brings foreign nations closer to each other； it must a fortiori prevent the descendants of the same people from becoming aliens to each other。
The time will therefore come when one hundred and fifty millions of men will be living in North America； *q equal in condition； the progeny of one race； owing their origin to the same cause； and preserving the same civilization； the same language； the same religion； the same habits； the same manners； and imbued with the same opinions； propagated under the same forms。 The rest is uncertain； but this is certain； and it is a fact new to the world … a fact fraught with such portentous consequences as to baffle the efforts even of the imagination。
＇Footnote q： This would be a population proportionate to that of Europe； taken at a mean rate of 410 inhabitants to the square league。＇
There are； at the present time； two great nations in the world which seem to tend towards the same end； although they started from different points： I allude to the Russians and the Americans。 Both of them have grown up unnoticed； and whilst the attention of mankind was directed elsewhere； they have suddenly assumed a most prominent place amongst the nations； and the world learned their existence and their greatness at almost the same time。
All other nations seem to have nearly reached their natural limits； and only to be charged with the maintenance of their power； but these are still in the act of growth； *r all the others are stopped； or continue to advance with extreme difficulty； these are proceeding with ease and with celerity along a path to which the human eye can assign no term。 The American struggles against the natural obstacles which oppose him； the adversaries of the Russian are men； the former combats the wilderness and savage life； the latter； civilization with all its weapons and its arts： the conquests of the one are therefore gained by the ploughshare； those of the other by the sword。 The Anglo…American relies upon personal interest to accomplish his ends； and gives free scope to the unguided exertions and common…sense of the citizens； the Russian centres all the authority of society in a single arm： the principal instrument of the former is freedom； of the latter servitude。 Their starting…point is different； and their courses are not the same； yet each of them seems to be marked out by the will of Heaven to sway the destinies of half the globe。
＇Footnote r： Russia is the country in the Old World in which population increases most rapidly in proportion。＇
End of Volume 1