The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-08
SOME NEW BOOKs.
Two Interesting Essays.

svor. 10 the case with the series planned by John
Morley. q cluster OF short works half biographi
cal half critical which aim 10 give the general.
that IL to say. the cursory reader some distinct
and fruitful notions respecting tho life and
achievement OF men conspicuously identified
with our English literature. Tho first volume,
by Leslie Stephen. on DR.. Johnson" not only
met its specific purpose but was invested with
much charm and somo useful suggestion Tor
those who had. or meant to have. more in
innate acquaintance with tho representative
man Of English letters during one-half OF the
last century Tho example thus set has been
croditably followed by two succeeding numbers
Of the series Edirdrd GibbOn. by JAMES G. Mon
RIsoN and SIR Walter Scott by RICHARD II. Hut
TON. For the host informed these little books
are not without substantial value. and for others
they arc almost Indispensable.
Since the widely-remarked essay which mp
pearcd some eighteen years ago in that short
lived but powerful organ OF London radicals,
the National Rerietr. thoro has been no such
acutc equitable. and impressive judgment on
the merits Of tho Decline and Fall " AZ that
pronounced by Mr.. Morrison. Nothing for in
stance. could be moro incisivc than the lattcrs
remark that the capital defects detected by the
reader Of our day in the grandest Of histories
intrusted TO the English tongue proceed from
the authors limited conception of society and
Of tho multimdinous forces which mould
md modify 1t. The surface OF events and
the fortunes Of individuals not only oc-
cupy the foreground. but may DO said
TO cngross the whole Of Gibbons can
vas. We have learned to think however
that the higher historical style demands what
Mr.. Morrison calls compound narrative. that
II. narrative having reference 10 two sets Of
phonomena-one the obvious. superficial incl
dents tho other the larger and wider but loss
conspicuous sociological condition. Thus
Grote tells in n few lines the story of the mutt
lation Of the Hermae. but devotes five pages to
the projection Of is meaning by helping us
60 comprehend the religious and political asso-
Citations Of the Mhenians with those images.
Not only is 1t unreasonable 10 compare Gibbon
with such writer's trained az they are in social
studies which. for the eighteenth century
scarcely existed in the germ. hut as regards his
toricnl perspective and suggestive background.
he has not acquitted himself we'll. even II
compared with predecessors like Montesqucu
and Noltaire. To cite q remarkable instance.
Gibbon knew as well any one that
the Western Roman Empire was never
conquered. in the ordinary sense Of tho
word conquered. This is plain from isolated
hints and detached passages but he has never
Het forth the precise truth with clcarncss and
prom hence. He never pushes to its ultimate
result and inner significance the age-long in
PRODUCTION Of the barbarians into the frontier
provinces. and their incorporation into the
lcgons. Aud yet this practice which Gibbon in
one place calls " n great and beneficial plan
and in another disgracefu and fatal eXpe-
dent affords master key 10 the transforma-
ton more apparent than real which western
Europe underwent in tho hfth century Yet
although bn ND
would have enforced them by admirable ar
rangemcnt and emphasis had ne seized the
necessary point Of view. yet perhaps the ma
Iority Of readers rise from his pages with an
impression thatth Western Empire succumbcd
10 the invasion OF barharians in the same way
and with the same effect a. Carthage had sue
cumbed to the Romans or as Constantinople
was TO yield 10 the Ottoman Turks. Something
eimilar may be said in regard 10 Gibbons dag
nosis OF the internal maadcs which prepared
the collapse OF the empire. II is plain that he
was not unconscious OF the profound economic
and social vices honeycombing the great fabric
of tho depopulation, decay OF agriculture.
fiscal compression and strangulation the uni
yersal atrophy and prostitution bcgotton
Of a reckless. ruthless. and irresponsible
despotsm; all the hideous symptoms, in
a word. of incurable social marasmus
which Guzot was to unfold with equal in
sight and research But the author OF the
Decline and Fall has not brought these
considerations together TO luminous point. or
made them yield clear and tangible deductions.
They lie scattered over three volumos-barren
OF suggestion and easily overlooked. These
STRUCTURES are we'll taken. and cannot be too
firmly urged upon impressionabo students Of n
most brilliant rhetorician. But to Mr.. Morri-
sons Just and appreciatiye mind these renec-
lions. however grounded. scarcely dim the
majesty OF the Decline and Fall" He does
not stint his admiration. but eeteems the book
fuch marvel OF knowledge. at once wide and
minute that even now after n multitude Of la
borers has gone over the same ground, each
contemplating but n small segment Of the great
circle which Gibbon fills alone the latters
word IL still one Of the weghtiest that can he
quoted among scholars.
Mr.. II. H. Hutton who is doubtless well known
20 many OF our readers as the long time editor OF
the London Spectator. has drawn the biographi-
cal part of his essay on Sir Walter Scott from
Lockhart's Life" 1t may be well to caution
the general reader that the source Of niorma-
tion TO which Mr. Hutton has recourse is open
10 grave question. that no work was ever more
fiercoly impugned on the score not only Of
honor and good taste. but OF candor and yeracity
by well Informed and reputable contemporaries
than was Lockharts biography With this pro-
viso. which bears chiefly on those sections Of
the book describing SCOTS relations with his
publishers and IN general the conduct Of his
business affairs. We have scarcely anything but
words Of commentator Tor this essay II con
tains some Of the most acute and Iudicious crit
icism which has been printed in recent years.
For example the writer suggests that SCOTS
bluntness Of organization in relation to the less
important senses The had no musical ear and
scarcely any sense Of SMELL Probably contrib
uted something 10 the sinRleness and INTENSITY
OF the deeper and more vital Of Scots romantic
Impressions including the marvellous lucidity
Of his landscape painting. Mr.. Hutton thinks
that "Marmion" registers the high-water
mark Of SCOTS poetical power, not only
In relation 70 the painting OF war but aso-and
here few competent students OF the poet have
concurred with him-in relation to the painting
OF nature. But many appreciatye readers will
agree that MQrmion 10 the finest poem Of It's
author. gauged 10y the test Of that which is pc
ouliar to SCOTS poetry, its Specific difference,
its Characteristic traits, namely the glow Of ma
iiOnal feeling the martial ardOr the uOignHnt