The Portland daily press., 1874-03-07
SPECIAL NOTICES.
A Great Publishing Enterprise by
Estes a. Eaurias.

The veteran statesman, historian and Chri .tian
philosopher, M. Guizot, as he completing his
eghty-second year, five years ago, was induced to
put in full form and to give the public mat rias
which he had prepared in slight notes. to be expand
ed from his memory in narration-fnr the simple
purpose of instructing, 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 Guizot essayed to deal in the same way
with the history of France The carrying out such
purpose, whether orally in writing, requires and
result in a work which comes just midway between
mere compend OF dates and facts, and elaborate
IT not exhaustive treatment of nations annals,
with disquisitons and minute investigations on all
complicated and controversial incidents in it.
M. Guizot had been furnished by the studies and
labors of lifetime for the new task which he under
took and bis busy and practiced pen had acquired
facility in style admirably adapted to the special de-
mands OF the work. When he made he made his
French translation of Gibbons great work. which he
Illustrated and some of the critical matters of which
he challenged to 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 France he had delivered many courses of
lectures on the history of civilization, which were
afterwards wrought into his admirable work under
that title. His labors have been faithful in many
other special and comprehensive fields of hstsricai
literature.
concluding to write out in more complete text
and with sufficient elabor alton the notes which he had
actually nsed for their first and only intended pur-
pose M. CT zot prepared ior publication in France
work to bear the following title: 1.-THE History of
France from the Earliest Times to the yoar 1882 Re-
lated for the Rising Generation" This answers to
title of a nonu1ar No hole
tending to three and possibly to four substantial vol
umes, is in the hands of the French publishers
translation of the first two volumes, by Mr. Robert
Black, has appeared in elegant form in London
Messrs. Estes & Lauriat of Boston, have under
taken the costly enterprise OF reproducing the Eng
lish translation in an even more sumptuous form.
The enterprise. so expensive in its outlay Them il
entered upon with confidence that it will be appreci
ated and well sustained in this community. Their
proposition is to issue the complete work in serial
semi-Enonthly parts, Of these eight have already
appeared, covering about four hundred pages.
The English edition is illustrated with two hun
dred new and elegant wood CUTS in the highest style
of the art OF these Messrs. Estes & Lauriat have
secured eleetrotypes by the famous artist, A. De
MELVILLE. In addition to these, the American pub
fishers propose, peculiar to their edition. forty
magnificent steel line engravings. The paper type,
and whole mechanical execution of the work make it
as creditabe, rich and luxurious piece of finished
execution as has ever appeared here.
This American edition will be comprehended in
between forty and forty-eght parts, issued, as we
have said two in each month, at cost of fifty cents
each. This price is reasonable that only gener
GUS patronage can remunerate the publishers. The
work is timely one for two especial reasons.
France before the eyes and minds of all Christian
people, as in state of chronic revolution continual
ly engaging our wonder and our sympathy. The
causes OF all the revelations and excitements the
tragedies and disasters the gories and the recuper
alive energies OF the nation lie back in its earliest his
tory. Filled as this is, with romance heroism and
the alterations of triumph and defeat it has all the
charm, fascination and absorbing interest which
ages of human activity and endurance can connect
with the scenes Of mans abode. And again. this
work fills great gap in our Astounding literature.
There is no good and trustworthy volume or set of
volumes on our shelves with which this can enter
into rivalry 1t has the field to ITSELF We have ex-
amined both the English edition of the first two vol
umes, and that portion Of them which has been re-
pr duced mere. The elegantly printed pages and the
Astounding anC beautiful Illustrations of stored
scenes, places incidents and persons all presented
in the harmonies OF time, scenery surroundings and
costumes have all the richness of the old illustrated
chronicles. While the publication is in progress we
would commend it to general readers and especially
to parents, as work which will renew in their house
holds repeated and fresh pleasure once fortnight.
There is just enough of the characteristic Qualities
OF an old age of wisdom and virtue in the venerable
writer to engage the attention of the young and re-
tain the interest of the mature reader.
Subscriptions received by
FRANCIS H. COFFIN.
100 Middle Street.
under Falmouth Hotel)
Genesal Agent for Maine mh7sn1t