History of the United States. By William Cullen Bryant and
Sydney Howard Gay. Vol. IV, (Sampson Low and Cu.)—Mi. Bryant's share in this work was that he road the first and second volumes. This fact is quite frankly stated in the preface ; and we mention it chiefly to express -a doubt whether it was worth while, under the circumstances, to keep even so honoured a name on the title-page. The book is in fact quite good enough to stand on its own merits. The volume before us takes up the story towards the close of 1778, and carries it on to the end of the Civil War, Se bringing the work to a conclusion. It is extremely difficult for an outsider to judge of the temper in which an historian approaches the political ques- tions with which he has to deal. Who can presume with certainty that even Thucycides was impartial? Mr. Grote certainly thought that he was not. Mr. Gay does not respect all the national beliefs. General Jackson, for instance, who passes commonly for a good patriot, presents a figure that is not always admir- able. Again, the policy which led to the breaking.out of war between England and tho States in 1812 is sharply arraigned. The Ashburton Treaty is passed over somewhat lightly. Here, at least, it is commonly believed that the American negotiators knew of facts which directly negatived part of their contention, and that the line drawn was more than "slightly erroneous." The narrative, on the whole, is given with much vigour; the leading points are skilfully seized, and a good general impression made. The volume is plouti- f ally furnished with illustrations, most of them good, and certainly not very favourably represented by the frontispiece " Sheridan's Ride." The artist should compare David's rendering of Napoleon crossing the Alps" with Delaroche's. Altogether, this is a valuable work, not without due dignity of appearance, and deserves to take place, at least for the present, as an authority.
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