The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-11-23

eriul 1lit.ito oDIItc. nui for tho Au thentclty
Of tho Biblical illusions to its long con tinusd
dominance in Syria.
AOnirulni nuI Wolfe.
Mr.. FRAGcls PAnKMhH. who has given his
life TO tho portrayal Of the aso-lonG contention
between Franco and England for dominance in
North America. has passed ovar. for the pres
ont tho period intervening bctwcon 1900 and
lTis. and in tho history Of which ;hs first in
slallmcnt is before us has undertaken to do
pict the fifteen year. between TIA peace Of AK
Ia Ghopeile and tho rdace Of Paris which bo-
held the final stage OF tho long struggle. lie
has, in other words de cided to present the fifth
before tho fourth net pfthe intcrnr tional drama
AMI IL tho tito Of his narrative. WnHt,V!,u ami
HOte Little. Brown < Coz hs has appropri-
Gtoly coupIcd tho names OF tho two conspicu-
GUS ANA repre- sntative figures on wnom ri lust
depended tho issue Of tho contest and who fell
Simultaneously patriots and bravo men
should wish to die. We need not Point out TINT
tho theme is of incomnurably dcepar interest
nm! moment than any which his hitherto en-
gagged MS pen. and American literature will
long have reason 10 bo thankful thu. n taak so
important hes been assumed by hands
So -kiiul aud so strong. Neither Of Mr. Park.
man nor OF auy other eminent man OF letters
can 1t be said thai n tho broad and varied ap-
iIcaliOn OF MS ibllltIrS ne has at oil times
fully answered the readers expectation or
proved quito equal 10 himself. and all that we
can ask ui any writer is that he shalt rise to
every suporlative occasion. and DO found In
hryden's phrnse. alwGys great Whenever n
gree opportunity II off.rod him. in Montcalm
ana Wolfe tho author has discerled his oppor-
tuhty. ind all the admirable qualities. the in
dusiry and tho learning. the literary training
and sxrnrtness which gave charm and value to
HIS earlier narratives have been concentrated
with augmented energy and rare felicity. Ia the
presence OF such a composition doubt will bs
10 longer tenabe. II. indeed. any doubt yet lin
gers. touching Mr.. Parkman's right to the fore
most place among American historians. and to
IN i'lustrious station in the very front rank Of
those whose imperishabo contributions to the
mastorworks of narrative have digniiied tho
English language. From the point OF view OF
style indeed. lie may be doomed the lineal sue
"assor oil Prescott, for his diction is more oven
and correct than Motley's and more lively and
picturesque than Bancroft's. But his matter
is Gar moro durable his judgment far less open
to appeal than PrescOtt's. some OF whose sub
Ioc'B have boen often rohGnllod since his death.
whereas the ground travcrsed by Parkman ia
impreEnabiy pretmpted ard owned in fec.
The present volume br!nEa us down to tho
midsummer of 1857. and. besides succinct
ana luminous review ~ the political and mill
tarr situation and Il sufflciSntly detailed chron-
icle of minor incidents. it dweis with due
emphasis upon three events ~ which contsm-
porary observers were most profoundly wrought
70 apprehension or to sympathy. These were
the rout Of BradGock's expedition. the compul-
sorry deportation of tho French settlers from
Acadia and the capture OF Fort William Horny.
followed the surrender was by shock ing
atrocities on tho mart of IN. Indian al,ies ot
soma prominently concerned I'm them tina yiow
pronounced in these pages differs sonsiblv
1t will be noticed. from tho impr.ssions
which have hitherto been current INT thew
who appreciate the rnnge OF Mr.. parknap,s re
searches N tho manuscript records OF thu
French ard British archives will hsrLIv cho,.
!enye his authority or Jisput. hi. conclusions
even where they annoy the scntimepta,ist and
dspel illusions which hayo LON, supplied tina
lmsy staple OF poetry md OF romance Wa
now learn for the first time that tina nonu,,r
contempt for Gen. Braldoek is far from baing
justified thnt his arrangements for thu ,norch
on tho day of the supposed surprise and his
conduct on tho fold Of battle ref,ectca b,.b
credit on the skill as we'll AZ tho co,lr,oo n,
the commander: and tho conv,ction is
planted in us by tho historian that
although IL was oasy afterward to proBt
10y his expc,ience England them nossessod
no officer. with tho possibls crcnn,ion ~
Wolfe himself who would have come of b,tt.r
than Braddock from the ll,ht at Fort Dunnoene
The simnIo truth ia ,,a, or,ono tho s,r.,',s"
and appniIinu conditions of Ioras, corNiot ~.
British so,diars w,.ro onoodi,, ,or,,,.,I ~.
p,nic and th.ncetort, tho orn,,, ,o,,I, L
he.n sav,d from ruip oni, hy n nrooI,i,ato
withdrawal ocross the river ovor which ,hn,,
had lstalv nasaad nut bowwo D,oIln,,, -,
know tbIs aud avon baI liza ,orooiy.1 ~ Ia