The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-09

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half pages. nm amount OF space dif1cult to
reconcile with Der Anal dictum that he
was essentially q writer OF the class
whose goods arc all exhibited In the
chop window. Her apology for his lack
OF accuracy 10 an odd one; facts. she
SAYS. as looked upon by q spectator whose
mind IL already made up. show the most
obliging readiness to assume any form he
chooses. She does not deny the literary charm
Of Green as exhibited in his picturesque style
and occasionally striking delineations OF char
acter. But she points out that this narrative
power is not sustained. like Macaulay's. but 10
confined to occasional episodes. between which
wo encounter intervals whore the intcrsst Ian
guishes. 10 IL docs not die. She says rightly
that the larger work into which tho snort
History" was expanded lost moro in viRor
than Il gained By the more minute presonta-
tlon OF evidence. A very different type OF his
torian from Green was James Gardner lof
course not to DO COMPOUNDED with Samuel II.
Gardiner who. like Palgrnve. turned to ac-
count special opportunities for investlga-
ton. having been for many years Assistant
Keeper OF the Records. He 10 little
known outside the narrow circle OF students.
but his lives Of Richard III. and Henry VII.
have made him one OF the greatest authorities
on the history Of England in the fifteenth and
the early part OF tho sixteenth century. The
comments on Prof. 8. II. Gardiner are COM
prised In about half q page. apparently be-
cause he cannot be described a. q brilliant or
even an interesting writer. II is nevertheless
recognized that his lutely completed History
OF England during the Seventeenth Century is
perhaps tho most punctiliously accurate his
torical work Of equal scope that exists In the
English language AS . work OF reference 1t
will probably DO without . rival Edward A.
Freeman Also, to tho nstonishmont OF his
admirers, is disposed OF In loss than q
page. Mrs. Oliphant bears Freeman a
grudge for insisting upon spelling early
English names as they are written In
contemporary chronicles. She says perth
nently enough that this sfrsctation OF extreme
precision with regard to early English appella-
tives is inconsistent with Freeman's practice
OF anglicising every French name no used.
She speaks OF his "unninching correctness"
md says that "the value OF his historical
writings cannot be disputed" The value is not
butt the accuracy has been In a recent
number OF the Quarterly Rerie,o. Still more
amazing than tho cursory way In which FREQ
man Is treated is'the fact that Just eight lines
are assigned to his intimate friend. DR.. Will
linn Stubs. now Bishop. who has. to all APP
pearances. presmpted very important epoch
in the annals OF his country by his Con.
~ hAihu " ~"
Origin and Development" Ono naturally
In connection with Stubs.
Thomas Ersklne Mays Constitutional
History OF England since tho Accession OF
George ILL.," which takes up the subject
whore Hallam left it. Another writer OF such
weight that he deserves to DO named with
and Stubs. is Dir Horny Sumner
Maine. the author OF Ancient Law" OF Village
and Of the well-known lectures
on the Early History Of Institutions" The
truth about Maine Is conclsely stated when
the author says thatthough in Ancient Law"
he was hsndling q very abstruse subject in an
unusual method. he nevertheless produced o
book extremely agreeable to read. The rank
OF John Hill Burton. whose elaborate history
OF Scotland carries us from the time OF Agric-
ola to tho rebellion Of 1745. is succinctlv in
dictated by tho statement that he wrote
wisely. but not we'll. His work Is difi-
cult to use even rs q book OF reference.
owing to want OF clearness and connection in
the narrative. Another writer who deserves
more popular appreciation. though he has not
received II. Is John William Kaye. who fol-
James Mills example in exploring the
history Of EnRland's great Indian dependency.
Both Of his best known works. the History
Of tho War In Afghantstan." and the History
OF tho Indian Mutiny." are wildly picturesque.
whilo the latter has the special merit OF being
in a case where fairness Of judgment
seems almost impossible for Englishmen who
were living in India while tho mutiny was GO
ing on. Another English historian who has
gone far aneld for his subjects. is James Bryce.
to whom Mrs. Ollphant by no means renders
justice. OF his Holy Iioman Empire" she
acknowledges hat tho study Is at once
and readable. but It seoms al
most ridiculous to dismiss his remark
able book on the American Common
wealths with the curt comment. "a valu-
able work." Sir Charles Dixie also gets
but scant attention. His Greater Britain
is termed remarkable" but nothing is said
about his later and much moro useful book.
Mrs. Oliphant does not overlook the "Renais-
sance in Italy," by John Addlngton Symonds.
In which not only tha political history Of the
period. but its society. literature. and art are
worthy literary skill.
".
We come to Froude. who. whatever may be
said OF his accuracy. must DO ranked with
and tuskln among the greatest mas
ters OF English prose style in our time. Mrs.
Oliphnnt comedies that his History OF Eng
land from the Fall OF Wolscy to tho De!eat OF
tho Spanish Armada is. perhaps. the most
written historical work TINT has
been added to English literature since Macau-
sho once had occasion to investigate
n little incident In Froudo's history.
and. having examined tho original doc
uments. was lost In wonder at tho extra
ordinary art with which he had developed the
dry bones nj n littlo considered incident into q
very picturesque passage: and also ut the
strange bent OF mind which had obscured all