It was observed in the Preface to the First Edition, that just as the following work was originally completed for publication, a change of the political situation of France occurred, which bore a strong testimony to the truth of many of the views taken of the French character and condition in the course of its pages. The change alluded to was that caused by the return of Buonaparte from Elba, and the expulsion of the Bourbons from the nation, to the sovereignty over which they had been so recently called.