through insufficient supply of those facts and natural laws which provide men with infinite details of instrumentalities derived from nature’s abundant resources and powers. Hence is the world filled with civilizations arrested, and with the remnants of nations whose development had reached an unripe stage and was then made stagnant there; but the intrusion of alien superior forces, whether by might or by fraud, fixed the conditions in disastrous permanence of existing incompleteness. Every nation that develops itself unceasingly along its own lines, and by the constant growth of its inherent elements, must endure. Let its career be broken, then the unripe principles and crude systems it has reached become indurated for ever through retrospective appeals of patriotism to the life and glory it had lost. Bohemia had attained a fuller stage of polity in one respect. That stage conferred splendid prospects and had developed in most hopeful directions, and it is for these reasons her enemies conspired. I trust your highness may be able in your imperial dignity to preserve that which has been attained.”
“I invite the judgment of our physician present. His skill, learning, travel, and acquaintance with men and with principles will enlighten us,” said Rudolph.
“My judgment, highness,” replied Solomon, “must coincide in part with each sentiment that has been expressed. I believe the downfall of kingdoms may be referred, however, to the acceptance and enforce-
