New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-09

The Grozcth of the Revolutionary
Shirt IN america

THE AMERICAN NATION: a HISTORY. Edited
by Albert Bushnell Hart In twentysey s Vol
800; xviii 359 Harper & Bros.
These three volumes Of Professor Harris CO.
operative history. with two to follow. will
form the second group of this scholarly work,
covering the period of the Transformation Into
Nation of the English colonies from Maine to
Georgia The first e-volumes Foundations
of the Nation have already been reviewed in
| these columns. and the books under con-
sideration of the high standard of his
torical and literary excellence az those pre-
viousy noticed While each is by a different
hand. in accordance with the plan Of having
each topic treated by historian who has made
a special study of the phase or period on which
he has been invited TO write. evidence of the
guiding and delimiting supervision of the editor
is sensibly apparent. It is everywhere clear that
his work has been mere perfunctory assign
ing of subjects to number OF selected special
lists but has involved a careful constant and
thorough cooperation with and between the
rious authors, by means of which the interrela-
ton of the separate volumes has been system
atically preserved without sacrifice Of the in
dividual points of view of the writer's.
In Volume VI Provincial America $780, 740."
Evarts Boutell Greene, Phi. D, professor Of his
tory in Illinois State University, takes up the
story of what has been termed the forgotten
half century of American history. It is time
comparatively barren of striking events. and
consequently OF slight appeal to the general his
toran, yet interesting to the student of consti-
tutional development, which was going steadily
from the English Revolution of 1859 to the
years Immediately preceding the American Rev
olution, when it began to take on a more rapid
If not necessarily more significant growth It
was, as the author states, "a time Of marked ex-
pansion: the seventeenth century stocks were re-
fnforced by large numbers of immigrants the
areas Of settlement were extended, and there
was also important development of industry
and commerce." the material expansion leading
up gradually TO the struggle for the mastery of
the continent. Professor Greene lays the foun-
dation for his consideration of American affairs
IN study Of imperial conditions in 1859 and
the tendency of the mother country to tighten
the reins Of imperial control" by bringing the
chartered and proprietary colonies into line with
the royal provinces. He shows how the uniica-
ton Of provincial life thus brought about to-
gether with the efforts of the colonsts to pre-
serve within that system the largest possible
measure Of self government" interacted to pro-
duce the radical issues of the Revolution The
volume fills a gap-which has never been ade-
Quatey bridged-in a comprehensive and
satisfactory manner. The concluding chapters
are devoted to a survey of the commercial and
cultural development of the colonies during the
period, both of which were promoted by the fill
Ing in of the settled area and the growth of in
tercolonial relations. Culture. while undoubt-
edly provincial became more and more infu-
enced by Europe. and the profession Of the law
gained increased Importance
There are many evidences of increased refinement
and of genuine intellectual interests. 1t has been
said that New-Englanders of the early eighteenth
century showed little appreciation of the conenl-
is
true for instance, that the Harvard College library
of Anne, Nevertheless, Franklin. while a boy in
Boston, undertook to form his style The Spec
show clearly the influence Of Addison and Steele.
The historical separation of French and Eng
lish colonization, with only minor points of con-
tact, until both had advanced well into the
eighteenth century, has necessitated the consid-
Grafton Of the former in a special volume cover
ing the entire period up 10 the date of the
Treaty of Paris. in 1763. This volume has been
ntrusted to Reuben Gold Thwaites Ii. D. A
scholar eninently equipped for the task of
briefly, yet without disregard of essentials.
treating a subject that has been so exhaustively
and intimately handled by Parkman. Much
material has happily come to light in the
shape of documents. correspondence and for
gotten records, since the publication of Park
mans illuminating work, and of these DR.
Thwaites has fully and discriminatory availed
himself The Western explorations of the
French have especially interested him. and he
has included number of original maps to Illus
trate the vast field covered by the intrepid seek
ers for the China Sea-a territory so extended
that they were unable retain il against the
steady encroachments of the English who
pushing westward from the Atlantic settled
where the French merely travelled and ex-
plotted for purposes of trade. II is to be noted
that the author discounts the claim of Radisson |
Endorsed by Miss Laut and DR.. Dawson TO have |
been the first white man to discover the Mssis-
sippi and TO penetrate the country beyond Care
has been taken 10 prevent the volume trencbfnq |
the ground OF Professor Greene's ..ProvipcfaI |
America and the other books in the series |
treating of contemDoraneous events in the |
English colonies, and vice versa. The last chan |
ter carries the French settlers In Louisiana |
through the period of Spanish rule to 1909
The twelve years of activity and agitation H., |
the English colonies. from 1853 10 1775 have
been studied and written about as industrIousI,, |
the preceding fifty years have been neglected |
and there was ample material on which Profea |
sor George Elliott Howard. Of the UNIVERSITY 90
Nebraska. could draw fer his volume on The