The following third and last part of the Origins of Contemporary France is to consist of two volumes.

After the present volume, the second is to treat of the Church, the School and the Family, describe the modern milieu and note the facilities and obstacles which a society like our own encounters in this new milieu: here, the past and the present meet, and the work already done is continued by the work which is going on under our eyes .-- The undertaking is hazardous and more difficult than with the two preceding parts.

For the Ancient Regime and the Revolution are henceforth complete and finished periods; we have seen the end of both and are thus able to comprehend their entire course.

On the contrary, the end of the ulterior period is still wanting; the great institutions which date from the Consulate and the Empire, either consolidation or dissolution, have not yet reached their historic term: since 1800, the social order of things, notwithstanding eight changes of political form, has remained almost intact.

Our children or grandchildren will know whether it will finally succeed or miscarry; witnesses of the denouement, they will have fuller light by which to judge of the entire drama.