[Mister Micawber]

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Not 'nations' necessarily, though there is considerable overlap. Here,

society = 1b. A group of humans broadly distinguished from other groups by mutual interests, participation in characteristic relationships, shared institutions, and a common culture. c. The institutions and culture of a distinct self-perpetuating group. (Am Heritage Dict)

For example, one 'society' in this passage may be meant to refer to e.g. British, English-Canadian and American peoples as a single group.
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