To the ostent of the senses and eyes [he writes], the in?uences which stamp the world's history are wars, uprisings, or downfalls of dynasties. These, of course, play their part; yet, it may be, a single new thought, imagination, abstract principle put in shape by some g1eat literatus, and projected among mankind, may duly cause changes, growths, removals, greater than the longest and bloodiest war, or the most stupendous merely political, dynastic, or commercial overturn.