New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-27

THE COMING OF PARII Aa61iS Ees s1 of e Sbe
lo @ leo y 4 Ssoi r Jaw % Tvi. sS O. p
Putnams Sons.
It IS a remarkable fact that notwithstanding
all the activity IN historical work In England IN
recent years there is as yet no popular history
Of the British Parliament-nO work IN winch u
embodied the new material which has been uii-
earfhed in such enormous quantities during the
last thirty years. and OF which 50 much Is TO DC
found IN the reports OF the Historical MANU-
scripts Commission. There is q good ana sclO1-
arly history OF the House OF Lords. OK oonp1t-
atively recent date: and within the last nVe
years there have been written several DOCKS O1
much value dealing with particular phases Of
the history OF the House OF Commons But there
Is no popular book which. while popular Is
based on scholarly research covering the history
~ the House of Lords and the House OF Com
mons: for Il must not be forgotten that the
British Parliament IS OF two chambers. and that
any good history OF Parliament must treat IN
due balance OF both the House OF Lords and the
House OF Commons.
The title which Mr.. Jane has chosen for the
latest addition TO the "Story OF the Nauohs
series. The Coming OF Parliament" suggests
q ,orl, which would meet this obvious need; ana
the brief preface supports this expectation; TOT
the author describes his work as an 'atpeHlpt
70 trace the steps by which Parlls1neh' az
tasned 10 a permanently important share IN
The government OF England" during the three
centuries which intsrvened between the Black
Death Of 1850 and the Restoration OF the
stuarts in 1860 II he had written principally
Of Parliament and its place IN national life IN
these three centuries his work could not have
failed 10 be welcome; and It would have proved
as serx1ceable an addition 20 the STORY OF the
Nations" series as several OF the British vol
umes which have preceded it.
Had Mr.. Jane carried the story OF the develop
rnent OF Parliament down 10 the Restoration
exoept for the reforms made IN 1882. 1857 and
s4-'s5-refor1ns which affected only the House
OF Commons and only the franchises on which
the House OF Commons is electec-there "0ulu
not have been much more OF the story 10 WTlte-
There would have been but little 10 add 10
popular history OF the subject. because the
House OF Lords to-day differs scarcely at all as
an institution from the House Of Lords OF the
early years OF Charles IFS reign, while as con-
Germs the House Of Commons. except that gov
eminent by cabinet was not yet established
as a legislative institution the House had then
nearly reached its present day development
Nearly all the history Of Parliament-internal
as well as exteruaI-which is of abiding inter
est belongs TO the period between 1850 and 1860.
II M Jane purposed to deal with THE Coming
OF Parliament he marked out his period with
Judgment and discretion But 1t cannot be said
that he has made good use OF the opportunity
which he thus created for himself. He has
failed 10 live up TO the title he has chosen,
chiefly because OF his effort 20 include IAN out
line Of the general history OF the period. that
the readers memory may be refreshed as to
the principal events"
The outline Mr. Jane has included is good
enough IN its way-fairlY well written and evi-
IDENTIFY the result OF wide and careful reading.
The fault with the work is-always bearing in
mind the kind OF book that the title suggests
that there is too much outline OF general history
and altogether too little Of Parliament. There
Is so little OF Parliament that MI Jane really
ought 20 have extended his preface in order TO
give his readers a hint or two as to where they
find some of the elementary facts in the
history Of the House OF Lords and the House Of
Commons. Nowhere IN these four hundred
pages is there given even the date at which
Parliament came into beinE. There Is not even
an abusive reference 10 the way IN which peers
became members Of the House Of Lords. There
is little or no exact information as TO the tran
chises on which the House OF Commons was
elected between 1850 and 1900. and absolutely
nothing about the organization OF the two
Houses for business Even when Mr.. Jane does
methods by which the Crown secured control
Of the House OF Commons. his statements are
so little marked by scholarly 10 be alto
gether wrong in such details the number OF
borouKhs which were created in the reign OF
Queen Elizabeth TO secure subservient House
OF Commons.
It must be admitted that Mr. Jane does make
clear the gradual and at times uncertain move
ment OF Parliament toward the position which
u has occupied since the Restoration or the
Revolution. But again this part OF the work
1s done with no special fulness: for there are at
least half q dozen standard general histories OF
England In which the vicissitudes OF Parliament
can be followed with more ease and satisfaction
Than IN the present work. From any point OF
view. The Coming OF Parliament Is OF no spe-
cial value. II It has any usefulness, It is as a
general study OF the political and social changes
which came over England between 1850 and
1900 study OF the decline OF feudaIIsn; OF the
religious. political and social changes which
came In the train OF the Reformation; OF thu
rise OF Tia middle classes, and the beginnings Of
England's greatness as a commercial and man
ufacturing nation. Green treats Of ali this in
his authoritative ana peculiarly attractive style:
but students who are familiar with Green may
enjoy rereading the earlier part OF Green's
period as II Is treated in Mr.. James work: and
here and there are glimpses of phases and con-
oinOns IN the great formative period OF English
pational life which are interesting