The Wars of Succession in Portugal and Spain. By William
Bollaert. 2 vols. (Stanford.)—There can be no doubt that the civil wars which troubled the Peninsula during the years 1826-40 have a very considera- ble political importance. The Legitimist principle made what was to appearance its last great effort and was defeated. And Mr. Bollaert has qualifications for the task which he has undertaken. He took a part in the conflict on the absolutist side ; at the same time he manages to be laudably impartial. Nevertheless, these volumes are very dreary— materials for history, perhaps, which another generation will probably find valuable, but not history itself. Mr. Bollaert has not, it would seem, a very thorough acquaintance with the English language, and he certainly does not possess the art of making his subject attractive. And the subject requires this art to be exercised. About most of this fighting there was something petty and mean. This is especially true of the Portuguese war, in the course of which scarcely a single name emerges above the dead level of mediocrity. This is not indeed equally true of the struggle in Spain. It was fought out with, savage energy ; and one man at least, Zumalacarregui, made his mark as a leader of the first rank. The sphere of his operations was so small that his fame must always be circumscribed, but it has seldom happened that the death of a single man has so changed the prospects of a cause. On the
whole, we feel inclined to recommend this book to posterity, rather than to the readers of the present.
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