The History of the (Ailed States of America. 33y George
Bancroft. (Alactuillan and Co.)—This is a reprint or "centenary edition" of a book which, has long been accepted, by Americans at -least, as the standard authority on the history of the United States down the close of the War of Independence. It is not merely a reprint, however, baying boon, we are told. in the preface, "thoroughly revised, at the cost of a " solid year of close and undivided application." For .English readers, the book has a rather verbose voluminenaness, which tends to hinder its wide acceptance, but the younger generation might do worse than study it. In spite of prejudices and occasional harsh judgments, it offers a faithful account of a long and, on the whole, heroic struggle. -We could have wished, however, that the revision had embraced same additions as well. The history closes with the year 1782, just, in fact, when the real political history of the American Union began. All the modern changes; the growth, the difficulties, and wars of the Union are ignored, oven in the introduc- tion, which still speaks of a country having no debt, of domestic peace "maintained without the aid of a military establishment," and of "at Constitution which engages the fond admiration of the people by which it, has been established." Phrases like these sound strangely in the ears of a generation familar chiefly with civil strife, a labouring con- stitutional machine, and the burden of a huge Debt. For what it does give, however, this new edition is welcome, and ought to be read, for we know too little of American history, old and new.
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