New-York tribune., 1876-09-01

THE HISTORY OF THE NORMAN Conquest or
ENGLAND. BY EpwARD A. FEEEnAN. Vol " l2mo
In the present volume, the great historical
work. TO which the author has devoted ten OF his
hfe is brought 10 close. 1t affords the leading
authority OH Norman Conquest correcting numerous
errors in the statements Of previous writers ON the sue
sec submitting the vast of materials TO fresh and
critical examination, presenting some of the most I'M
porans questions in the light of recent thorough research
a erbod the results OF profound study and touS
in an animated transparent, and agreeable narrative
One OF the most interesting chapters TO the general reader
in tins volume discusses tie effects OF the Conquest
on the English language and literature The notion
that vii lam the Cangueror set 10 wOrk with hNed
pursp TO roet out the of the English tongue is dis
carded by the authcr faEcui dream II arose from
the statements IN the work falsely ascIbed to lngGlhs
which until recently has been fruitful sorelOuse OF
errors concerning the history OF that time Men were
serkng for an explanation Of state of things which
they Egv around them. French was still the speech of
official documents and OF polite intercourse. This fact
was accounted for by the supposed deliberate policy OF
the ConquoroF whose speech was French Tie case
is the many in whch tho popular belief ascribe
o "a single the credit OF changes which were the
gradual work of general IL was argued thai
the lany use of French IN England as a polite and
Official tongue was among the fruits OF Williams personal
character ami influence. But all the evidence on the
subject goes TO that the legend OF Ingulphus was
a pure fiction No legislative measure was ever passed
against the use OF the English tongue. Inc cDan'es
which took place the natural and silent result oi cir
cumstanees. William made more change in his policy
than was essential for his immediate purposes that is to
say in the present he made no formal change ut
all But the transfer of political power to French
speaking persons, gradually led &c results OF the
highes; importance in the history OF oar language
French for a time became the language Of courtiy
intercourse aud the lighter forms OF literature as well
ma of Official documents Thus the French on the other
hand gradually to make English their common
speech, while the English on the other hand adopted
words aud idoms which were supposed 10 be from the
pclIter tongue Hence the native English received
greater Infusion Of foreign words than has been received
by any other European language The reader who Is
disposed 30 pursue the subject win find ample fund OF
curious information in Mr.. Freeman's instructive pages,
and viii greatly enlarge his mental resources If he
should thus he tempted 10 form sn acquaintance with
the entire work. Indeed the instructive quality OF Mr.
Freeman's writings constitutes their special pecuarity
He is never rhetorical addresses the imagination
never ke his MASTER Lord Macauay, seeks for sources
of fascination in other branches Of literature, but he con
fines himself 10 purely historical STYLE though, while
he eminently didactc, he is never dun, and without
courtiug races OF composition is always attractive
Dy his thorough knowledge, sOund sense, aud acute
discrimination