The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-02
SOME NEW BOOKS.
France Under the Ancien regime.

Although many English and American
readers are likely long to derive their con-
0spoon OF the Significance OF the events
attending and following the overthrow
OF the dncien regime In France from Carlyle's
pdotorial and dramatic narrative, II not
from Dickens's Tale OF Two Cities no
tnoroughgoing student OF the subject
should fall to profit by the copious light
thrown upon all aspects OF the theme by the
contributors to the eighth volume OF the
Cambridge Modern History" which deals
with The French Reroiution (Macmllans).
II -, Of course, understood that the plan
OF this work, made by the late Lord Acton,
differs fundamentally from that of a con-
seoutive description by angle hand. OF
which Gibbons Decline and Fall" Offers
tho most memorable modern example.
Lord Acton held that " the Interpretation
Of epoch making events is to be- under
taken on scientific rather than artistic
principles, the exposition of any capacions
theme which naturally falls into many
divisions, and may usefully be considered
from divers points OF view, should be Ell
trusted, not to single author. whose
qualifications cannot he presumed to he
commensurate with all the requirements
of q multifarious task, but to group Oh
Investigators. each OF whom has proved his
competence in particular field. lhls IL
a scheme which, it will lie remembered.
was exempified in Justin Winsor's Nara
tive and Critical History OF America.
There is room, no doubt, for both types OF
historical composition, but ii will scarcelv
be denied that Lord Acton's method IS
the better adapted to an exhaustive ana
accurate marShalng OF facts. For ultimate
synthesis and philosophical elhcidation'
ON the other hand. a wide horhoned INTELLECT
like that OF lomte Buckle or Spencer
seems to be INDISPENSABLE.
The volume before us allots four preimi-
nary chapters to an account OF the political,
social and economical! conditions OF France
In the closing years Of the dncien regime
and then proceeds to analyhe the ptirport
of the successive phases Of the Revolution,
from the mee,ng OF the States-General at
Versailles ON May 4, 1859. to the nineteenth
Brumaire, which witnessed the subversion
of the Directory and the substitution OF the
Consulate. In pursuance Of Lord Actons
program the preparation of the twenty
five chapters devoted to as many sub
divisions Of the theme is entrusted to no
fewer than thirteen specialists. For in
stance, Mr.. +. c. Montague, fellow of
Oriei College. Oxford, and professor OF
history in University College, London,
has undertaken to depict the Government
of France az 1t existed under Louis AV.;
the extent to which it was modified during
the first fifteen years Of the reign OF Louis
XVI. owing partly to the pressure OF cir
cumst ances. partly to the sagacity OF certain
Ministers, and partly to the personal charac-
teristics of the well meaning sovereign;
the diverse regulations under which in the
several provinces the Deputies to the
States Gene raj were chosen, and the various
intentions which the Deputies brought with
them to Versailles; the original composition
and subsequent structural Transformation
Of the States General and the concomitant
drift toward anarchy; and. finally, the aim,
theoretical provisions and practical work
ing OF the Constitution Of 1871. To MIR. D. X.
Moreton Macdonald OF Magdalen College,
Oxford We are indebted for the four chap
tiers which treat respectively OF 1.-The Legis-
lative Assembly" Of THE National Con-
vention to the Fall OF the Gironde:' of THE
= Terror" and Of The Thermidorian Reaction
and the End Of the Convention Mr.. r. p.
Dunn Pattison of Magdalen College. Oxford.
discusses in some fifty pages the gene
war which began with the first attempt of
Continental reactionists to stihe the pro-
gressive spirit Of the French people and
which ended temporarily with the Treaty
OF Basel and the armistice arranged with
Austria; while to Mr.. j. Holland Rose is
delegated the treatment of such topics as
"Bonaparte and the Conquest of Italy.
"The Egyptian Expedition and The
Second Coalition Mr.. H. W. Wilson of
Trinity College, Oxford, describes in two
chapters "The Naval War" and The Strug-
gle for the Mediterranean, while the un
raveling of such complicated subjects as
Finance Under the .4ncien Regime and
Revolutionary Finance" is confided to MIR.
Henry Higgs of his Majestys Treasury.
We observe, lastly, that a topic which
scarcely could have received adequate
treatment from an Englishman. French Law
In the Age OF the Revolution H." is committed
to M. Paul Viol ct. member of the Institute
and professor Of the history Of civil and
canon law in the Ecoie dcs Charles at Paris.
We should add that besides general hibli-
ography there will be found in the appendix
a specific list of authorities bearing on each
Of the subjects separately treated and in
tended, OF course, for such readers as may
desire to undertake fult her and independent /
An ont ion