New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-24
ALIsON'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
,t,TH CURIOUS GLIMPSES INTO THE
WRITING OF HISTORY.

pFG
pho" LONDON. December 5.
The dauehter-in-law of the late Sir Archibald
Alison has edited his autobiography, and Messrs'
iRlackwood have published it in two we'll
,or,pted and far too costly octave volumes, under
. itbe title "Some Account OF My Life ndWrtings"
A Journal it is not. Alison seems to have written
ont his story at odd moments, but In form IN
tended to be final and intended for pubhcatioh
His will directed that it should be published as
soon as his son. the present Sir Archibald, sue
cessful soldier should think advisable.
The son being too busy with conquering Egyp-
tiaus and with other professional OCCUPATIONS, Lady
Alison has undertaken the pious duty. few pas
cages haye,been omitted but the autobiography ap-
nears substantially as ii came from the author $
pen. People who expected piquant gossip VIII DC
disappointed in the book. A vast number OF per-
sons are named and written about, but almost al
WAYS with discretion, and seldom with much insight
into character, There anecdotes; there is page
upon pag of weary pressing, as In the HISTORY
There is good account of some really interesting
passages III Ahson's life. But what Will most lhteI
est those interested in literary work is his narrative
f the cono,tion of his history and of his life IN
connection with it. This is not told as whoie ouV
IL scattered up and down his pages, whence u Is
we'll enough worth collecting and putting together
Alison's account of the beginning OF his history Is
,ne of the most singular confessions on record no
had been engaged on book about Population, III
answer. as he fancied. to Nautilus. This he hnisheo
OH December %. 1928, and hattered hlseh 'n"'
bo might benceforward treat " literature as an
omnsement or relaxation. Mrs Alison said no, he
would never be happy without writing AFTER a
day or two he agreed with hers after weeks rest
he resumed his labors, land on January /, 1873
the first three pages of my History OF the french
Revolution were written!" That was the amount
opA
Alison thought necessary for beginning
historical work which, In respect OF bulk Is cer-
tainly one of the greatest now extant somefurther
exclamation of this headlong zeal Is given later.
Alison assigns three motives as influential with him
In undertaking this work. l. enthusiasm for the
"milltary events of the war ~ 2. sympathy with
the sufferings of Louis XVI, in the Temple; B. his
desire to dish the Wings. This last reason he
vells at first under the more decOrous phrase which
describes his clear perception of coming social ana
political convulsion in England, which he hoped TO
arrest by picture of the horrors which attended
the Revolution IN France. But little later Alison
saws blurtly that his history great effort made
in favor of the Conservative cause at the period OF
its lowest depression. Lord BeacOnsfeld summed
the matter up with his usual point; "A history in
twenty volumes to prove that Providence was on
The side of the Tories"
The immense popularity which Alsons history
achieved, and for some time maintained, has long
since faded away and the book has ia len into de-
served neglect People will not forever continue
reading Tory pamphlet in twenty volumes. But
the history of the History, now told Tor the 1lrst
time may revive attention 10 the " great work. or
NAV not Alison has told it with frankness and In
mpcb detail lis creditable to his industry, to his
force of WILL to his fervor as partisan 1t Is
tale which may long be quoted to show how man
ff+o ryfft Will no tfp
of the function of history with superficial kuowl-
edge without military or political training or apt-
tudes without capacity for any but the most
obvious reflections the events he has to describe
and describing them in ponderous and slovenIy
STYLE. may win fame and fortune as a historian OF
the most difficult and critical period in modern
affairs.
When he began writing this book, Alison was
Advocate Depute at the Edinburgh bar, post Oh
great labor which answers pretty nearly TO that OF
Assistant Distrct-Attorney in the United States,
or in some of them. When he lost that Office, he
continued IN large practice at the bar, wrote two
octave volumes on the Principles and Practice Of
Criminal Law. and became a contributor to black
,rood for which be wrote during considerable
time always one and sometimes two articles
month Four years later, in December. 1854, be
was appointed Sheriff of Lancashire, an Office
combining judicial and executive duties requiring
oil the attention aud energies of the holder FOR five
or six hours daily and sometimes for twice that.
He tried on an average $50 civil causes week.
lasting often till Dor 10, or even - at night He
was responsible for the peace of the county,
member of numerous official committees,
conducted the education of his son, went much into
society and entertained much at his own house.
What was left of energy after this, be gave to his
history-the dregs of his mind. Thursday and
Saturday of each week were wholly occupied in
court. OF other days his account is as follows:
II rose at and heard my son his till half
mast O. Breakfast was over al 10 aud from that
hour till half-past IL wrote at my History then
walked In to Glasgow, which l reached at II, and
worked at my law till halfpast or ., when
walked home and dined at g. Between dinner
and tea | walked in tine 1ower-garden in winter
read the newspaper or some light work. and at
o'clock began again to write my History, and
wrote till 10 ard sometimes l l."
With al this he expected TO finish the work in
two or three years and four or five volumes. In
treating of the Revolution his principle was TO
avoid all disputed points," BY and by he found
out that be was In need of books. The public libra
RES of Edinburgh had few, and even by avoiding
disputed points it not possible to supply ali the
facts cut of bis own consciousness lie discovered
that il was necessary to read carefully through sew
eTal works relating to each period dealt with, and
mark passages in them, even If they had only an Ill
direct bearing the subject, such as statistical
facts of value" or geographical descrip-
tons of countries or places treated of
nay, even possibly quotations in prose
or poetry which NAV be deemed ornamental"'
So he began to accumulate books, and as they in,
creased his appetite for reading increased; not an
uncommon occurrence. The final reason, hOweve 7
of the necessity" under which lie felt himself OF
buying reading is thus stated:
al knew if one of the race of critics had discov-
cred in the corner Of a public library an obscure