New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-02
THE FOUR GEORGES.
Mr.. McARTHYs GEORGE THE SECOND.

HISTORY OF THE FOUR GEORGES By Justin
Mccarthy, n. p; In four volumes. V'iume IL
12mo, PIP. 305. Harper Brothers
The method adopted by Mr. Mccarthy in writ
ing his history of the four Georges undoubtedly
affords special opportunities for the painting of
dramatic pictures and for the full expression oil
the writer's views and Judgments and If pictur-
esque and flowing narrative were all that this
kind of work demanded there would be no ground
Of objection against it, But to write history with
out referring to the authorities at all, and with
out furnishing the reader the means Of verifying
any of the historians statements or judging the
fairness and justice Of his conclusions and In
ferenees. is to trespass over much upon the con-
fdence of the public, and to detract sensibly from
the weight and permanent value OF the under
taking ThaclSeray in his lectures on the four
Georges and in his essays upon The Engnsh
Humorists of the Eighteenth Century, was care
full to fortify his positions almost at every step
by abundant and Apostle citations and illustra-
tions. Mr.. Mccarthy has thought such verihca-
ton quite unnecessary; and one consequence Oh
the free-and-easy plan is that, however agreeaOe
his narrative may be found, those who seek GER
tainty will still be compelled to consult more
orderly and painstaking writer's.
The second volume of his work covers the
period from the failure of the attempt to repeaA
the Septennial Act to the close OF the reign oi
George the Second. 1t is period full OF STIRRING
and important events. To these Mr.. MCCARTHY
has endeavored TO do justice, though survey OF
the time might well have embraced careful ana
somewhat detailed examination OF the STATE Oh
the English people at large 1t was an exceedingly
coarse age that of the second George, ana III Is
unfair to conclude that the manners of the Court
were responsible for this coarseness. In some re-
spects there may seem to have been an improve
men6 upon the morals of the Restoration, but the
change is perhaps apparent than real. Inc
stage indeed had become more decorous and less
profligate. The peculiar Gallicsm of the Resto
ration drama had given place to an access OF
sentimentalism and dulness. But the licentious-
ness of the press was never at greater height
and it is question for casuists whether the frank
and cynical immortality of Congreve, Farquhar,
Vanbrugh and Wycherey was more debasing than
the scurrility SANDER, open obscenity and fero-
cious malignity which characterized the political
pamphlet literature of the Georgian era. Swift
Bolngbroke, Defoe, Gay, and scores of lesser men
hesitated at no infamy Of ascription in pursuing
their partisan foes, and the condition of political
ethics was perhaps as low as it has ever BEEN
Walpole did not, it is true, assert that every man
had his price and it would not have been true if
he had asserted it; but there is no doubt that he
employed bribery and corruption without qualm
when it seemed necessary, and it is equally true
that the Opposition was shamelessy unscrupulous
in its methods of attack upon the Minister.
When Walpole's fall had at last been brought
about, when the attempts to impeach him had
failed, when he had passed to the grave, the men
who had banded together for years to destroy him
were perfectly frank in admitting that they had
deliberately illuminated and misrepresented him.
and that he had been right and they wrong in
the policy advocated. So dead were English
politicians and so-called statesmen TO the spirit of
patriotism that they fomented foreign war for
which there was no sufficient justification with
the sole idea of turning out WapOle. That Min
lister, who had by his wisdom, resoluteness and
patience secured TO his country twenty precious
years of peace, committed the fatal error of sur
rendering his deepest convictions for the sake
of retaining office. and failed to foresee that it
would be impossible for him to carry success
fully war in the justice of which he did not
believe. All that can be said in mitigation of his
mistake this occasion is, that he may sim
oerely have thought his hand at the helm neces
sary to the welfare of the country. This, too,
was an illusion, for his usefulness ceased with
the adoption of the policy against which he had
fought all through his long administration. He
should have resigned the moment he found popu-
lar sentiment determined upon war. Then the
NJ and Pelhams would have stood out in clear relief
AS it was he relieved them of their just RESPONSE
bility by himself becoming accountable for the
blunders and failures Of the war, and he lessened
the effect which their compulsory adoption of
his own policy would normally have produced.
1t is to be regretted that Mr. Mccarthy should
have repeated the story about Mr.. Walpoe's CORE
spondence with the Pretender, and this without
so much as intimating a doubt concerning the
alleged fact. He should have known that there
is sound reason for questioning the commonly
received story, which certainly demands the
severest analysis, If only because it is utterly
opposed TO everything else we know of Walpole's
character; and also because no possible benefit
could have accrued to him from such an alliance.
The story fits Bolingbroke well enough, but not
Robert Walpole, whose patriotism was tested in
every conceivable way and whose utter loyalty
TO the House Of Hanover none of his contem-
poraries, not even his enemies, would have seri-
ously disputed. In his account of the Court and
life of George the Second Mr.. Mccarthy can but
follow Thackeray, who has left picture of that
Court too vivid and striking TO be easily equaled
The second George had one virtue-he was physi-
cally courageous and his behavior at Dettingen
when he dismounted from his FESTIVE horse be-
cause, he said, he was sure his own legs would
not run away with him, presents him in the best
light he ever occupied. When it is said that he
was brave all is said on that side Of the account
On the other hand, he was Systematically profigate
selfish to the full extent of brutality, stubborn az
mule unintelligent, ignorant, hating culture
and all the arts, thorough Hauoverian, and moi
at all an Englishman in character, tastes anc
habits. What sort of reign 1T would have beer
without the helping and soothing hand OF The
Queen it is difficult to imagine. George, left t.
himself, was choleric, truculent little wretch
who was won't in fits of passion to dash his Wa
and even his coat upon the floor, and kick then
viclously about the room. Walpolc managed hin
through the Queen, who had all the stateeraf
of the ill-assorted pair, and who could caole hin
SO well that he used finally to believe he himself