Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-04-12
New Publications.

great field of the worlds history for his In.
designations, only incidentally touched upon
by the other historians of Europe, and 50
his discoveries have the additional merit of
novelty.
In the light Of Mr.. Motley's works, the
confederation Of the Dutch States assumes
an importance not hitherto accorded it and
their firm resistance to the power of Spain
is shown to have been really the bulwsrk of
all the liberty and freedom of conscience now
enjoyed in Europe. Mr.. MOTLEY has had
free access to archives of the Spanish govern
ment as well as those of Eng land and the
Low countries, and he fortihes by constant
reference and quotation the position he takes,
riz that to the Netherlands alone is due the
credit of having prevented Spain from con-
quering England, and establishing the In
ouisition in all it's horrors over the whole of
Western Europe. For he shows very plain
", that Queen Elizabeth and her councillors
were completely deceived as to the plans and
purposes Of "the elderly letter writer in the
Ercurial, 1.-the great father Of lies, - Philip
II. of Spain, who, patiently working IN his
cabinet, was for years busy with his schemes
Of aggrandizement-kept France in state
OF civil war-turned the Netherlands into
shambles, maintained Ireland in state Of
chronic rebellion organized and paid for 4
steady succession of internal ieuds in Scotland
and all with the fixed purpose to subdue Pro
tostantsm and conquer the World. Ably
seconded by Alexander of Parma, the great
est general of the age, he carried on his plans,
and as it seems to us looking back upon the
whole scene, was assisted by his enemies even
more than by his own skill towards the con-
summation of his hopes.
Queen Elizabeth saw at one time that the
only safety for her and her kingdom against
the designs Of Philip,lay in giving prompt as
sistance to be Netherlands then struggling
terminedly against their powerful enemy.
And she went to their help, but in such
wise that it well nigh proved her ruin. Send
ing hundreds Of soldiers where she should
have sent thousands. shillings where she
should have sent hundreds Of pounds, fight
ing with Philip and treating of peace at the
samo time, giving orders TO her generals and
ENJOYS and abusing them for obeying, reius-
Ing or neglectirg to send orders, and scolding
violently that everything was not done,-lt
would have been small wonder If tn Meth
eriands in despair had given up the unequal
contest, and permitted the Spanish power TO
overwhelm their land like the breaking OF
the sea through their dykes. But they res
olutely and bravely held their ground amid
all difficulties and trials, and had the salts
action of coping up their immediate foe, the
Prince of Parma, while the famous Armada,
deprived of its main reliance. attacked by |
the clustering wasps Of Drake and Hawkins |
fleets, and broken by the storm that drove |
the cIumscy vessels into the Northern Ocean,
went utterly to pieces and failed to accom-
plish a single one of it's masters mighty |
plans.
a little patch Of half-submerged terrific |
~, without a ruler, successfully resisting /
the most powerful Monarch and the greatest |
General of the!time, is spectacle of deepest
interest and this is, as it were, painted be
fore US in the page, of Mr.. Motley's works.
We DO not remember to have read any work
OF history with more highly excited inter
est and attention than the t1o works of
Mr.. Motley. We call them two works, be-
cause they have appeared separate times,
yet in reality they are parts e one great
work not yet fully completed. The present
two volumes cover only space Of about
TX years-from the death Of WILLIAM THE
SILENT by the hand Of Philips assassin, to
he destruction Of the "Invincible Armada
md the closing scenes of that mighty wreck;
out period which for its stirring scenes
md their important consequences, is one Of
he most important ones in the history Of
)hrist endom. In due time, we are informed
n the preface, two more volumesswill bring
he work down TO the time Of the Synod of
)ort and the beginning Of the "thirty years
var
The style Of Ma. MoTLEr's work has not
he honeyed sweetness of that of IRvING, nor
he high polish Of that Of PREscoTT, nor yet
be sententious gravity seen in the writings of
BANCROFT; but to our taste, it has qualities for
historical work, more desrab than either
'uli of the greatness Of his subject, having
1atured its details by familiar study Of
riginal documcn ts and q personal inspection
the chief scenes Of action, be writes as if
ctors, places. plans and results were all be-
ore him and as if be had no other thought
ut to bring the whole before the mind of
is reader, as it is before his own. His mar.
alive sweeps along like the flowing Of
reat stream, occasionally with broad and
mooth expanse, and anon with swelling
Irface; but all the while its deep and resist
~ flow, its powerful eddies, and even the
pples on its surface, all conspire to chain
ne interest Of the beholder, and impress him
18th a sense of it's volume and power
The work is brought out in fine style
= the Harpers and is embellished 10y finely
lgraved portraits Of Alexander of Parma,
ID the Earl Leicester. {
Fuller has it. 1
LINDA. INCIDENTS IN HE LIE OF SLAVE }
IRL. Written by herself. Edited by L. /
aria Child. Boston. Published for the G
lthor. 1861.
The title OF this book indicates its charac- :
+ in general, but it is only by perusal of Il
details that an adequate conception of it v
IN be obtained. A full confidence in its q
atements is expressed by the Editress and .
hers who assert an ample opportunity to b
now the author for many years. The in j.
dents of her early life, and her escape T