The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-01

Netheriands," his last preceding work, and tho
history Of the Thirty Years. War, which he now
announces his intention 10 write. John OF
Barneveld was . conspicuous figure In the HIS
tory OF the United Netherlands" and In those
volumes his life is carried and the
complex web OF European history described down
to the period OF his execution In that age OF great
religious wars and complications the histories OF
all the leading nations OF Europe were SO inter-
woven that no one can be adequately written
without pretty broad survey OF the contemporary
transactions OF the others. Az Mr.. Motley apty
says. 1.-THE dividing line OF nations, at least OF
national alliances was q frontier not OF language.
but Of aith." The Protestants OF all Christian
countries were on one side OF the quarrel and the
Catholics OF all countries on the 0ther and there
was hardly any separate national history which
was not iLtertwined with the general affairs OF Eu.
rope. Except the period which followed the great
French Revolution, and not even that should be
excepted. the eighty years which Will be
covered by Mr.. MOtley's successive histories, when
he has completed his design by writing the Thirty
Years. War. are altogether the most important
portion OF modern annals. 1t is q great stroke OF
literary good fortune that an American writer has
the advantage OF treating IL with newly opened
sources OF Information and an equipment OF per-
sonsl qualifications which all competent European
judges recognize as adequate.
Az regards mere diction and style Mr. Motley Is
considerably inferior to the late Mr.. Prescott,
whose easy elegance and almost fautless taste
make him model OF narrative composition in
spite OF Halam's criticism that his language Is
sometimes too colloqual for the gravity OF history
But II colloquialism be a sin Mr.. Motley
can have little hope Of redemption. He
frequently descends to coarseness, and
sometimes to the verge OF slang, re-
NJ
wag that person he criticized seemed to try how
near he could come to treason without actually
committing it. Mr.. Motley frequently comes as
near as he possibly can to slang without actually
INDUCING in it. He calls the Cavinlsts OF Ho
land ''those hot G0speers - he calls the King OF
England 1.-THE slobDering James - he speaks Of
differing Christians stalking each other by the
throat;" ne says the Dutch Republic 'was like a
raft loosely strung together" that 'poor ex-
hausted humanity was essaying . feeble twitter Of
hope;" that the Spaniards meant to hold out It'll
the crack Of DOOM" that vileroy was "a political
hack" and he constantly INDUCES in similar
coarse vigor and expression. This is, indeed,
sometimes forcible and graphic, as. for ex-
ample when he calls Rudolph "a red
faced, heavy jawed, bald-headed, somewhat
gog0le-eyed old gentleman Mr.. Motley's style
also offends against taste by an excessive use OF
igurative language, which sometimes approaches
bOmbastic tnnation. His mind has q natural
bent towards intensity, and he seems to have been
seduced by admiration of Carlyle, whose huge gro.
tesqueness, however natural 1t may be as the ex-
preston Of his own peculiar genius, Is one Of the
worst OF all models for imitation. But, in spite OF
hts redundancies and excrescences, Mr.. Motley is,
on the whole. an animated, picturesque, engaging
writer.
Some OF the interesting episodes In this work
are remarkable examples OF lively, graphic story.
telling. We note particularly the three chapters
In the nrst volume, detailing the scaDdalous chron-
icle OF the last famous amour OF Henry w.,
or France, and ITS consequences, and
the cnapter In the second volume in
which he describes the amusing adventures OF
Grotius in his escape from prison. The latter Ia
interesting as romance; and the former related
as new and more authentic information excels the
widest and most romantic tale OF absurd and
crazy love ever imagined by the most extravagant
writer OF fiction. 1t is supernuous to recommend
these fascinating volumes to general perusa but
we render service in giving readers this early
notice Of their publication.
*The Life and Death OF John of Barneveld, Advo.
cate OF Holland; with View Of the Primary Causes
and Movements OF the Thirty Years. War; BY John
Lothrop Motley, ID. c. L. LII ID. In two volumes
With Illustrations. New York: Harper Brothers.