The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-12-01
Recent Publications.

e. H. Lecky, M. A. Two vols 8yo New York:
d. Appleton and Company
To write the history Of the spirit of Rationasm in
Europe as that subject is conceived by the author oil
the volumes before u.s. is to undertake task OF very
formidable proportions. For by Ratonaism, ne uoes
not, ne tells us, understand 'any class Oh aoiu'o
uoctr1nes or criticisms, but rather cef "sA 0"'' "
thought, or bias of reasoning when mas uuiis INC
iastthree centuries, gained malAeu aSoenuon'' AL
Europe" To record, therefore, the rise anu
of what il not mere set OF opinions, but univer-
sal tendency is to trace the whole of
tho intellectual development of our race to
tot; what are the laws which govern the successive
notifications of belief; in what directions, toward
What conceptions the mind of man advances with the
advance of civilization; to show how, from age to
age, opinions are shaped by a myriad of moulding
causes; and by study of these gradual, predispos-
ing causes to reach the origin of existing opinions
Adequately to perform task like this required
much patient and laboious research, many years of
study and reflection, mind impartial free fom
prejudice, capable of severe analysis, imbued with
the dispassonate spirit of philosophy, and animated
by sincere love of truth. .'-LH
To say that this writer has fulfilled, in all respects
these high acquisitions, would perhaps be going too
far; but we may truly say that in no point has he
fallen painfully short OF what might be demanded of
him; and he has produced a work which must take
'front.' rank among the intellectual triumphs of our
time. The reader will constantly find himselftempt-
ed to compare with Buckles History OF civilization,
to which masterpiece it has indeed, many points of
resemblance The style of the writer is perhaps less
nervous and dazzling than Buckles, but it has
"ohuer'ui precisoh anu 'orce ana kiho e' msvesuc
era0e' uN''eu win ipiu oieailess u eApresSion'
WHICH susees. some Oh .ne pest passageS o' DurAe.
III extent anu variety Oh iearnihg' vigorous grasp
Oh suu9cct' anu LII the power Oh seneranzauon m.'
Lecky ~ scarcely surpassed Dy Duckiei wniie ne ID
vaSuy superior 70 the ia'eer IN ireeooi HUN pr'u-
uioe anu from aiiosa'i' uosiia'lSin
ne 'Aeoiy " ~' "oon - ina. 1'e p,osioss VI "a
1'o.a'sn ,uen.a' "i'i, 'n"' " .isi.Aauon' ~
VIC, 'na' w y DeAo- Al o.o.oS'''e
peiiou' . ~. ~ '.o IN Arising ou'
=. any ono "a in'oAo0.' 0u1 W INC oo.i-
" ".' ~'e i'.e.oo'"a. anu eos."i .enue"oieS
=, VIC aeo as Aion "u'no0 i,oii al, IN 'ee' "
n'sno. my 'uO.n"'o anu 10
ne 'neis oieou io'noS0 WIZ "o"iu 'hVeStiea'e 'iie
oauS0. u opiiions' ING S'uuy u pfeuisposi-
uoiiS rs ina'n niore 'pah tne STUDY Oh ar
gumeh's' Denniee arguments can nave Dut smaii
nhuehce Ia ae'ermihing tne opinions either OF an m
oi'ru,oi vi na'ioh, anu 'iie cohfoVers'ahs's u
successive ages are pu' 'ie puppe's anu the nhcon
+;ma ola ha,ae, ~. a, ~ ,,,,, ~ " ,;ro.oot I
loo, nroof. hrt No 80 .,,a .hoedo, 49,,
,hroo ;nd,faroroa ~ Az o,troo+io,, ~ o1 ono1o-
49, NV. -. - w -
SO s.ssp, u snooo oas -. 'e.'eo0,es VI
- @,uasn', inc eAan'saeon ~ .ne successive
" "s"cn men naVo I'm INC srosS
feticism OF The early ages to the Intelligent Chris
tiany OF to-day which have led them to expect the
manifestations Of the power of God through the sure
onerat;ons Of law rather than q, tho .hnorno, e-,,,
oo,tia,, ~ 80, s,,,o g. 49,
oorao~4,o., 60 AZ, -. 90 ~
49, 30 .,,s.s.,'.. nv, ~ .lo .uD-
-. :, '''0 -, rv-s Ae WIN 10 u'Aueu in'o
=. .,s' IVY "'e uoso.eu - Inc De-
os oon'v :. 'ne mii'c'ioas' ANU reiaee 20
anu "i.'no,s'' anu Inc hiracies o. tne
0apoi .oo 'iea'' " 'ie HTsClie'c,
oi'ii'ino, anu lA Deseiopneh.s OF hatlonalisin,
onap'e. roui VI refsecu'ion' whiie 1ne rn'n anu
oN'n OhapeerS are ueSoted respectively 10 line
oe %. OF rol'ics, anu 70 ine industrial
nis.ofy u na.,oiiis,l In eaen 81 tneSe DIVISIONS
Vi inc suleo' Inc io''uer win hhc ene same oreadth
VI ne Same oi ieafnng ana inc
Ss'ino anu iao.y Vi eAPressioh Inc autn-
OK wees rom nun mind put one whlch mas assini-
extent OIL ms erudtion rathef nom the rich sug es-
i,,ustrat;ons than fo,, orv ,,.rado 80 Iso,n
His work is one which cannot fail to have a marked
effect upon the intellectual development Of our time
1t is book which no thoughtful student and in