New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-12
Then let me seem, until / be;
Wuy siiip the Whltcd robe iron
TIMES ANCIEN REGIME.

Henry Holt g. Co. will publish on Saturday
Mr. John Durands translation OF Taine's The Ancient
Regime" the first volume OF hi work on The Origus
of Contemporary France" 1t is volume Of 400 pages
in the handsome style Of the uniform edition OF TGines
works. The plan of the volume includes five books,
respectively upon the structure OF socety especially
the privileged classes: "habiis and characters" In
which the regal and drawingroom life OF the day is bril-
liany pctured the spirit and the doctrine" OF the ante
revolutionary period including remarkable studies OF toe
philosophers 1.-THE propagation OF the doctrne ana tine
people in which he dwes upon taxation as the principal
source OF misery The appended notes contain many
facts and schedules bearing upon this latter question
and there an index which guides the reader to any
subject treated Of by NJ. Tame. In the preface, he
states fully his method and intention, setting forth po-
itcally the theory of the ndiet so prominent in hs
English Literature" AS to forms of government, he
says: &" Each asserted OF his model: This Is the
true abode Of man, the only one a man of sense
can dwell in To ask the opinion Of the owner, TO
submit plans to the French people Of its future dwelling
was evidently parade or deception; In such cases
tho question tantamount to the answer and besides,
had this answer been uncondoned France was scarcely
more at liberty give than ten million gno-
rant men cannot constitute wise one people, on
being consulted, may, indeed, tell the form OF govern
they like but not the form they nced ihls Is
possible only through experience tine is required 70
le proof aant incomencies suited TO the occupants
habits, pursuits, character, Wcularitcs, ana capilce
In event. came 10 INC conciu.iou id II ~ sHuiu
ever discover The need II viii not lie by The means
in practice The point TO discover IT, II II exists, ana
not 10 put 1t vote. In this respect our preferences
would De frutess; and history have chosen for
us advance il is for as 10 adapt ourselves 4" them
they will not accommodate themselves 10
us Tie social and political mold into which nation
nav enter and remain il subj 81 10 It's viii, but de-
teIinined by It's character and its past"
ACCORDINGLY. he will study tine facts: "Ancient
regime, revolution, new regime am going to Try TO
describe these three conditions with c1acuess MS
tOran may be allowed 10 act naturalist; have con
froucd my subject as would the mcamOrphosis OF an
Iftg
universe of documents, OF which his indication nils a
page" documents so unknown and 80 instructive tha
indeed the history Of the Revolution seems SIN unpdb
lshcd These only enable us 10 see
nearly in detail the condition OF men, the interior OF
parsonage Of convent, OF town council, the wages Oh
workman. the produce OF hcld The taxes imposed on
peasant the occupation 81 collector. the outlay of
noble or OF preate the budget, the retnue aud cefe-
nonal Of a court. with such resources con
clues he becomes almost the contemporary OF INC
men whose history writes, and, more than once az
the Archives, in tracing their handwriting ON the yellow
paper was tempted To speak TO them aloud"