New-York tribune., 1876-10-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
HISTORICAI STUDIES. BY EUGUNE LAWRENCE. svo.
pp. Dos. Harper Brothers.


pp. 5Os. Harper Brothers
In this volume Mr.. Lawrence has collected
the remarkable series Of papers IN various branches Oh
historical research that attracted not little attention
At the time Of their original publication in HdrPes Nag
osine Although devoted to a variety Of miscellaneous
topics and of highly exclusive character in their method
and treatment they find certain unity Of scope in Their
Illustrations Of the struggles Of knowledge and freedom
with the pretcnsiops OF the Roman Catholic Church
The subjects Of discussion, for the most part pos
pess great popular well historical interest lh-
euding The Bishops Of Rome Leo and LutieI'
LOyola and the Jesuits,' tEcumencm NouIclis' anu
Others OF a similar nature Mr.. Lawrence eXceS II per
sonol Sketches HIS dcneations character arc high
colored with no afectaton Of impartaty, founded on
intense convictions, often glowing VAIN passion D'
always appealing to ample induction OF "e's ' n'"
support He doubt too ingenious N MS loi'
for the strict judicial tone OF history ana soino'
pcpds ON the power Of his cloQucnce for erect eter
than on hs nicotv Of discrimination. One OF the best
speceps OF his manner in this Kind is the skech oi
leo X which is presented as companion piece 70 '"'
nortralt of Luther. According 10 Mr. Lawrence heo
was model Of the seductive graces Oh Med4eFai Onui
manship He was the most polished and elegant Pre"0
of his time His disposition was gentle MS pes" gdee
fp his manners imposing ana his love OF letters gave
him an intellectual charm which could not be icse'eu
even by the cOarsest OF his cotcmpoIaIles' III ecos
astical career commenced with his carly chHnOou' "
the age OF seven he made an abbOt' ana N"7 Nv
of the eminent dlghllafi-s oi tic NA' -
When only thirteen he was created a cardhai "nu oe
oa,no ono of the chief priests Of ChristendOm' At
eighteen he seems TO have attained the "a'"I'S
of his physical and mental powers he ""S '"'i
in stature with rare intellectual beauty lac was se
go ,,en p, nrofnsion lavishing his ancestral wealth.
no less than the of the ChuTch III eAud'"sH
dpav in ieasts and professions together Win u''"S o
real bepcvolence He was pasSi0uatcJ found oi muc'
and devoted much of his leisure to musical perform
apccs Reading his chief pleasure ana ne seIu"4
sat down TO table without enveninc the reaSI Win
s,as from favorite poem or history. His reverence
for intellect was mb0urded and he resalueu 'i'e ma"
of letters with kind OF dOatry. His most sincere lu
rpIse was his homage toward every form OF
eontns His patronage Of literature and art was
liberal even TO extravaganza involving MN i'll
expenses which his ample wealth was uh"O'o
10 meet His life perpetual series OIlcNtl.IeS anu
rageans passed IN the society Of the rarost wis ana ne
greatest OF painters diversified with the government o.
u,tious and the defense Of Italy The Church was ON
npotent and Leo was the Church Rome was the center
Of civilization as well rcgiou money flowed N upon
II from all the world; ana the opeh-dah"e0 poh'iH
wasted the treasures OF the Church IN magnificent eA-
trayacancc TIE connection between the lavish eNpehd-
ue OF the pope and the Protestant Reformation is de-
scri,ed by Mr. Lawrence with mastery effect Leo was
always Impoverished, always in debt HIS wars MS n-
irieues his artists, and his friends exhausted MS aD-
daut revenues and hs treasury must be rcplehisAe"
st any cost. He was wholly unscrupuous as 10 the
begged. Suddenly new resource appeared IN me
doctrine of purgaory This placed in his hands the heys
of heaven and he'll. he seized upon the |iIo-oI'"h
notion OF tie schOOmcn, and carried 1t 10 an cNtIehe
which they had scarcely anticipated Hc pressed lAe
sale of his pdugerces upon the conscience Of the super
stt!ous lie offered full a0souton TO the criminal VINO
fortified his repentance by the payment OF money
The uaips of uuraatory s0itencd even to the I'M
,ctsut sinner who would purchase the lt by pecun-
iary remuneration. The scepter OF the poh'H was eA
tended over the shadovy lie O. tie future ara sI""u
otd immunity from e terrurs was sold 40 the highest
bidder Thus Leo made traffic ~ immortal hiiSs i"e
irdulgerccs at first sold well. chiefly in Germany Ine
whole country was divided into three great departments
for the purpose. Traders in the sacred commo"ly
raSscd from town 10 town and from Edr Co ialr ufshs
uon the i.uo.ant peasants tie vrtne cI their wares
Their sonorous eloqucrcc and coarse jokes attracted
great crowds o. people. and were attended with WONDER
fu succcse These licensed veuters were us1ay men oi
uul;cergcJ morals Illustrating the value OF the pienaiy
ip1uI-cucc v their bold aud vicious lives The 'h7 "i
the Pope received powerful check from the Lec'or"
saxony He was indignant at tie deception o.
Lis subjects by the Gcalcrs IN tie W"us if"lG~'
Bot the resistance o. the Eicc,or would have
proved OF no avail, lad he not been aided by
1l,e energy of Iutlcr II 10 am obscure monk ti"
Cruauv was indebted for hcr dtliycrrre from Italian
Iri,scrit Tie History OF this movement s na"te" ~
length fcrmng OF tie most vigorous portions ol 'ue
instructive voiunc. Tho remaining topcs, Tor the
mos part are treated win signal ability Mr Lawrence
is evidently scholar Of rare attanmenta lis "'i. is
the fruit Of "a natural taste for study, Of keeh
aua elastic intellect, and OF conscientious ana
profound research The composition - malned by
feryid eloqueuce but the collection o. iacts ana tAc
aualvss Of authcrlt.,3 have not been saeiibcei
10 tie enthusiasm Of tine GcDdter In some
,sta1c,- Nj Lawrence appears TO have accepted pop
uor traditions with 900 great facility without INC col
rccuss of the latest critical eXanr3tion But on the
whole III tAooU-ness Of research ia no less remark