16 OCTOBER 1880, Page 23

A Guide to Modern History. By William Cory. Part I.,1815-1830.

(C. K. Paul and Co.)—Mr. Cory calls this book a "guide." It really is a political history of England during the fifteen years which followed Waterloo (of the conduct of which battle, by the way, Mr. Cory gives us an excellent criticism). And it is very well done. Mr. Cory is sometimes, we think, led just a little out of the line of moderation and candour by the tendency, so dangerous to the historian, to quote epigrams; but generally he is sound and trustworthy; a very thorough Liberal, we suppose, but able to appreciate in a quite remarkable way the action of all parties. The estimate of the Duke of Welling- ton is singularly well done.