21 JUNE 1902, Page 24

• THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

A History of the Nineteenth. Century, Year by Year. By Edwin Emerson, jun. 3 vols. (P. F. Collier and Son, New York.) —Mr. Emerson prints by way of introduction an essay by Pro- fessor Georg Gervinus (of Heidelberg), which was condemned when it appeared in 1853. It may be doubted whether, in view of all that has happened since that year, he would have expressed him9elf in the same way in 1902. Anyhow, it is very interesting as showing the view of a philosophic German Radical half a century ago. There is no need to follow Mr. Emerson through his narrative. We have found it, as far as our examination has gone, carefully put together, and maintaining a fair sense of pro- portion,—no easy matter when the events of a century so full of a variety of interests have to be crowded into an average of less than twenty pages for each year. (We must point out, however, a very serious mistake on p. 968, where there is a strange confusion between Gwalior and the Pun jaub. The Sikhs are said to have fought against the British at Maliarajpur, while

"all Sindia made common cause against the foreigner.") Mr. Emerson's tone is often neutral ; when he has to declare himself he seems reasonable and candid. His work will be found useful as a book of reference. We would suggest, if it attains an adequate success, the publication, by way of supplement, of a really effective index. Twelve pages are not sufficient for a century. "Andr6," "Ashburton," "Venezuela" are missing words.