A History of Modern Europe. By the Rev. H. Steinmetz,
Ph.D. (Longmans.)—In how many volumes does the reader suppose this work to be included? In one of moderate size, containing about four hundred pages. That allows somewhat less than thirty pages to a century. A book of this kind naturally gives little more scope to criticism than does a chronological table. We do not notice mistakes in the facts or dates ; but the reflections for which Dr. Steinmetz con- trives to find room are not very useful or profound, nor is the arrange- ment perfect. We may take exception to aomo of the author's judgments, which strike us as being occasionally patriotic rather than correct. We do not allow, for instance, that in " polite literature" it can be said that "Germany takes the lead." We should decidedly assign the "lead" to our own country, and even fancy that France might not unfairly claim the breurepei-a. Dr. Steinmetz' use of English is not irreproachable. He talks, for instance, of the "stipu- lations " laid down by the Council held by Innocent III., and of the Council of Trent being the last "diet" ever held.
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