The Portland daily press., 1874-03-13
A Great Publishing Enterprise by
Estes a. Laurial.

The veteran statesman, historian and Chri tian
philosopher, M. Guizot, as he was completing his
eighty second year, five years ago, induced to
put in full form and to give to tue public materials
which he had prepared in slight notes. to be expand
ell from his memory in narration-fnr the simple
purpose Of instruc'ing, while amusing, his own
grandchildren With spirit and intent like that
which prompted Sir Walter Scott to put the history
of Scotland into stories told to his grandson, young
Lockhart NJ Guizct essayed to deal in the same way
with the history of France. The carrying out such
purpose whether orally or in writing. requires and
result in a work which comes just midway between
mere compend OF dates and iacts, and an elaborate
IL not exhaustive treatment of a ration's annals,
with disquistions and minute investigations on all
complicated an controverted incidents in 1t.
NJ Guizot had been furnished by the studies and
abors OF lifetime for the task which he under
took, and bis busy and practiced pen had acquired
facility in style admirably adapted to the special de-
uands of the work. When he made he male his
French anslation of Gibbons great work, which he
Illustrated. and of the critical matters OF which
he challenged good purpose In his valuable notes,
he became master of the scholarship OF his present
theme. As professor Of modern history In the Uni
versity OF Franco he had delivered many Of
lectures the history of civilization, which were
afterwards wrought into his admirable work under
that title. His labors have been fai hiul in many
other special and comprehensive fields OF histsrcai
literature.
Concluding to write out In more complete text
and with sufficient elabo alton the notes which lie had
actually used for their first and only intended pur-
pose, NJ CT izot prepared publication IN France
work to bear the following title: 1.-The History OF
France from the Earliest Times to the yoar i7ss Re
lated for the Rising Generation" This answers to
our title Of popular history. The whole work. ex-
ending to three and possibly to four substantial vol
umes is in the hands Of the French publishers.
translation of the first volumes by Mr.. Robert
Black. has appeared in elegant form in London.
Messrs. Estes g. Lauriat of Boston, have under
taken the costly enterprise OF reproducing the Eng
lish translation in an even sumptuous form.
The enterprise so expensive In its outlay to them is
entered upon with confidence that 1t will be appresi
ated and well sustained in this community. Their
proposition is to issue the complete work In serial
semi-.nonthy parts, OF these, eight have already
appeared. covering about four hundred pages.
The English edition is illustrated with two hun
dred and elegant wood cuts, in the highest style
of the art " these, Messrs. Estes & Laurat have
secured eleetrotypes by the famous artist, A. Do
Newyille. In addition TO these the American pub
fishers PROPOSE as peculiar to their edition, forty
magnificent steel line engravings The PAPER, type
and whole mechanical execution OF the work make 1t
as crediable rich and luxurious Piece Of finished
i execution as has ever appeared here.
| This American edition will be comprehended In
between forty and eight parts, issued, as we
have said two In each month"; at cost Of fifty cents
| each This price is so reasonable that only gener
| Gus patronage can remunerate the publishers The
| work is a timely one for two especial reasons.
France is before the eyes and minds OF all Christian
people, in state of chronic revolution continual
ly engaging our wonder and our sympathy. The
causes of all the reve ,tons and exci,ements, the
tragedies and disasters, the gores the recuper-
ative energies Of the nation lie back In It's earliest hi.
tory. Filled as this Is, with romance, heroism and
the alterations Of triumph and Gefeat It has all th'
| charm, fascination and absorbing interest which
| ages of human activity and endurance can connect
| with the scenes Of m ans abode. And again, thii
| work fills great gap in abounding literature
There Is no good and trustworthy volume or Get o
volumes on shelves with which this can entei
into rivalry. 1t has the field to itself. We have Q.
amined both the English edition Of the nrst TWO 'of
umes, and that portion Of them which mas oee.
pr dueed here. The elegantly printed pages anu ,'
J abounding ant beautiful illustrations o. 500 -
scenes places incidents and persons all presented
in the harmonies OF time, scenery sur ~, ',,.'.->
costumes have all the richness o. 'a' a.,
ohrorio1os while the publication Is In progress W
-, .e.,,ord n To general readers, ana especial.
| ..o,.s "a n work which VIII rene" in ther h'use
-, .anoated an fresh pleasure once fortnigh,
noids ist enough of the characteristic quatie
nf en old age wisdom and virtue in the venerabl
Il an 70 engage the attention Of the young and re
d ta,n ~i,at, the interest of the mature reader.
!, subscriptions received by
, FRANCIS H. COFFIN,
40 Middle Street,
n under Fa mouth Hotei)
fSeuernl ueut for Maine,