It may be noted (1) that he deprecated attempts at writing a universal history as premature until an adequate knowledge of facts had been gained, and this would demand long preliminary labours; (2) that he discussed the question whether history is an indefinite progression or a series of constant cycles, and decided for the former view.

(Memoire sur le cours periodique, 1785).
Bock's monograph is the best study of Wegelin; but see also Flint's observations in Philosophy of History, vol.i.

(1874).] Herder brought down his historical survey only as far as the sixteenth century.

It has been suggested [Footnote: Javary, De l'idee de progres, p.

69.] that if he had come down further he might have comprehended the possibility of a deliberate transformation of societies by the intelligent action of the human will--an historical force to which he does not do justice, apparently because he fancied it incompatible with strict causal sequence.