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was imitated by the Margraves of Brandenburg。 Thus in the
south…east and north…east there arose hereditary sovereignties
founded upon the dominion over alien races； while in the two
western corners of the land two republics grew into existence which
continually separated themselves more and more from the parent
nation； and within； in the nation's heart； disintegration；
impotence； and dissolution continually progressed。 The misfortunes
of the German nation were completed by the inventions of gunpowder
and of the art of printing； the revival of the Roman law； the
Reformation； and lastly the discovery of America and of the new
route to India。
The intellectual； social； and economic revolution which we have
described produced divisions and disruption between the constituent
members of the Empire； disunion between the princes； disunion
between the cities； disunion even between the various guilds of
individual cities； and between neighbours of every rank。 The
energies of the nation were now diverted from the pursuit of
industry； agriculture； trade； and navigation； from the acquisition
of colonies； the amelioration of internal institutions； in fact
from every kind of substantial improvement； the people contended
about dogmas and the heritage of the Church。
At the same time came the decline of the Hanseatic League and
of Venice； and with it the decline of Germany's wholesale trade；
and of the power and liberties of the German cities both in the
north and in the south。
Then came the Thirty Years' War with its devastations of all
territories and cities。 Holland and Switzerland seceded； while the
fairest provinces of the Empire were conquered by France。 Whereas
formerly single cities； such as Strasburg； N黵nberg； Augsburg； had
surpassed in power entire electorates； they now sank into utter
impotence in consequence of the introduction of standing armies。
If before this revolution the cities and the royal power had
been more consolidated if a king exclusively belonging to the
German nation had obtained a complete mastery of the Reformation；
and had carried it out in the interests of the unity； power； and
freedom of the nation how very differently would the
agriculture； industry； and trade of the Germans have been
developed。 By the side of considerations such as these； how
pitiable and unpractical seems that theory of political economy
which would have us refer the material welfare of nations solely to
the production of individuals； wholly losing sight of the fact that
the producing power of all individuals is to a great extent
determined by the social and political circumstances of the nation。
The introduction of the Roman law weakened no nation so much as the
German。 The unspeakable confusion which it brought into the legal
status and relations of private individuals； was not the worst of
its bad effects。 More mischievous was it by far； in that it created
a caste of learned men and jurists differing from the people in
spirit and language； which treated the people as a class unlearned
in the law； as minors； which denied the authority of all sound
human understanding； which everywhere set up secrecy in the room of
publicity； which； living in the most abject dependence and living
upon arbitrary power； everywhere advocated it and defended its
interests； everywhere gnawed at the roots of liberty。 Thus we see
even to the beginning of the eighteenth century in Germany；
barbarism in literature and language； barbarism in legislation；
State administration and administration of justice； barbarism in
agriculture； decline of industry and of all trade upon a large
scale； want of unity and of force in national cohesion；
powerlessness and weakness on all hands in dealing with foreign
nations。
One thing only the Germans had preserved； that was their
aboriginal character； their love of industry； order； thrift； and
moderation； their perseverance and endurance in research and in
business； their honest striving after improvement； and a
considerable natural measure of morality； prudence； and
circumspection。
This character both the rulers and the ruled had in common。
After the almost total decay of nationality and the restoration of
tranquillity； people began in some individual isolated circles to
introduce order； improvement； and progress。 Nowhere was witnessed
more zeal in cherishing education； manners； religion； art； and
science； nowhere was absolute power exercised with greater
moderation or with more advantage to general enlightenment； order；
and morality； to the reform of abuses and the advancement of the
common welfare。
The foundation for the revival of German nationality was
undoubtedly laid by the Governments them selves； by their
conscientious devotion of the proceeds of the secularised Church
lands to the uses of education and instruction； of art and science；
of morality and objects of public utility。 By these measures light
made its way into the State administration and the administration
of justice； into education and literature； into agriculture；
industry； and commerce； and above all amongst the masses。 Thus
Germany developed herself in a totally different way from all other
nations。 Elsewhere high mental culture rather grew out of the
evolution of the material powers of production； whilst in Germany
the growth of material powers of production was the outcome chiefly
of an antecedent intellectual development。 Hence at the present day
the whole culture of the Germans is theoretical。 Hence also those
many unpractical and odd traits in the German character which other
nations notice in us。
For the moment the Germans are in the position of an individual
who； having been formerly deprived of the use of his limbs； first
learned theoretically the arts of standing and walking； of eating
and drinking； of laughing and weeping； and then only proceeded to
put them in practice。 Hence comes the German predilection for
philosophic systems and cosmopolitan dreams。 The intellect； which
was not allowed to stir in the affairs of this world； strove to
exercise itself in the realms of speculation。 Hence； too； we find
that nowhere has the doctrine of Adam Smith and of his disciples
obtained a larger following than in Germany； nowhere else have
people more thoroughly believed in the cosmopolitan magnanimity of
Messrs Canning and Huskisson。
For the first progress in manufactures Germany is indebted to
the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and to the numerous refugees
who by that insane measure were driven