The Portland daily press., 1878-03-16
Recent Publications.

ny LIE SAdupity oo a. Dldfo dS ue anu eX-
hibit no emotion either.
.af Recent Publications.
A History Of England In the Eighteenth
Century New York D. Appleton 8 Co.: Port
land: Bailey & Noves) is the title of the latest
work Of W q Fl. Lecky, the brilliant author Of
"Rationalism in Europe" 1t does not profess to
be record in chronological order of the nosa-
BILE events which occurred 10 England during
that century. Indeed it extensively and Affect
edly disreaards chronological order; nor does it
pursue any logical order of TOPICS the author
displaying all the agility Of flea without any
Of its reason in jumping from one thing to an-
other. 1t seems to be thought that neglect Of
the ordinary methods in which men tell history
is sign Of superior wisdom. However, the
work @is, despite this sffectstoD, eminently
readable and of very consid rable value. 1t will
certainly provoke warm discussion. If one
does net look for q chronological record (which
be can ind In. his dictionary OF dates) and is
content with series of brilliant disquistions
upon the social and political life Of England
in the eighteenth century, he will find excel
lent entertainment In these two volumes and
rise from their perusal with some increase Of
knowledge and many new ideas. Mr.. Lecky
sets forth his theme In the preface in these
words: 'The growth or decline Of the mou-
archy. the aristocracy and democracy, of the
Church and Of dissent, Of the agricultural, the
manufacturing and the commercial interests;
the increasing power of Parliament and of the
press; the history Of political ideas, of art, of
manners and Of belief; the changes that have
taken place In the social and economical con-
dition Of the people; the Influences that have
modified national character; the relation of
the mother country to its dependencies and the
causes that have accelerated or retarded the
advancement of the latter, form the main SUBJ
iects of this book
This really covers all that we care to ponder
over 10 that century, bat it presupposes
knowledge of the environments and some &C
quaintance with the doings Of cabinets and
parliaments duriua that time. II one has a
"spsating acquaintance' with Eoglish history
from the accession Of Anne to the union with
Ireland one can enjoy Mr.. Lecky's volumes
The work Is throughout colored by his "ration-
alistie'' psaposessions. and bis treatment of re-
ligious topics must Certainly offend the larger
portion of the great audience to which he ap-
pesls. This offsnsivensss is especially felt in
the socount Of the great revival which White
field and Wesley led. But one Is inclined to
forgive bis unsympathetic tone in consideration
of the minute attention he gives aud the i'm
portance he attaches to the dissenting move
ment, which has never before been adequately
treated although 1t has exercised so power
full an influence upon the course of Eagli.h
history and to-day obviously inspires the atti
tuds which England has taken in relation to
Enropean politics. Mr. Lecky has but harsh
words for 1t. "The great majority Of the
pre.chers," he says, "were hslf-educsted map,
and those who we're not so discouraged aud de-
cried secular learning. Human science was in
deed ,one OF their favorte topics of abuse. Their
theory Of religion lad no stress upon the voice
OF antiquity. They 6rmls believed in an Ever
present Divine Spirit, illuminating an inspired
page, and they looked with suspicion and dis
like upon every voluntary pursuit which was
not directly subservient to religious ends
They soon discovered too, that the most Guilt
vated minds were precisely those that were the
least susceptible to those violent and unreasou-
ing religious emotions which they ascribed to
the direct action Of the Holy Ghost.
Regarding all doubt upon religious matters a.
criminal, diseouragiDg every form Of study that
could possibly produce it, defying strong inter-
nal persuasious and shutting its eyes on prin-
oiple against every discovery that could impua
its tene,s it has been continually the school Of
those who form their opinions rather by emo
ton than by reasoning and who deliberately
r-fuse to face the Intellectual difficulties Of the
ouestioo, In the face
of physical science, Of modern Biblical criticism
aud OF all the light which history and compare
tive mythology have of late years thrown upon
the genesis Of religions, the old theory Of verbal
inspiration, the old methods OF Biblical inter-
probation and the old pre-scientifc conception
of world governed BY perpetual acts of super
natural interference still hold their ground in
the Evangelical pulpit. TIE incursions of hos
| tile science have been met by barrier of 10
vincible prejudice. The Evangelical move
| ment has seriously aggravated the dangers of
| . period of great religious transition. It has
| weakened the love of truth and the spirit of in-
| qairy wherever it has passed. 1t has also re-
| vived religious animosities, brought semi-theo-
| logical questions into renewed prominence in
| politics and in many ways strengthened the
| spirit of intolerance" These words however,
were to be expec ed from the apostle of ration
alism. They are certainly of interest as the
best words that can be said on that side of the
question. We can reject them and yet learn
from Mr.. Lecky much that we cannot find
elsewhere concerning the progress Of thougbl
and development of civil and religious liberty
In England during the last century.
Two years ago Green's Short History Of the
English People took the resding world BY
storm. Making its appearance unheraldet
aud In most unattrsctive gsrb it won plsc.
for itself at once-not only In the kindly re
CARDS Of critics but also in the affections o.
readers. Many in their enthusiasm said it wal
the onlyshstory Of England that had ever beer
written. 1t was certainly notable book, ad
mirable not only for its style but for its breadth
of view and it's sense of proportion. Qaite as
remarkable too was its thoroughly modern
sentiment. 1t gave far more attention to the
story Of the social and industrial progress o
England. to the growth of her liberties aud th'
develspnent Of her literature, tban to her dip
lomacy and her battles. As the author said l.
his ofteu-quoted preface he devoted NOR,
space to Chaucer than to Cressy, to Caxtor
than to the petty strife of Yorkist and Laucas
tran, to the coor-law of Elizabeth than to he
victory at Csdiz, 20 the Methodist revival tina,
30 the escape Of the Young Pretender."
The wish was frequently heard that the au
thor would treat his SUBJECT more in detail, ant
give to the Eogsh-speaking world a history o
l England which ahonld tuta Tho ,,,ooa Of al
other histories in amplsness of treatment al
well as In Beauty of style and breadth Of judQ
ment. This wish he seeks to crafty, and VIZ