'Most of the original sources of information were in the Russian language, in books published in Russia, and in documents lodged in the Russian archives; though there were, besides these, the Alaska archives went from Sitka to Washingtan, the narratives of explorers and travellers, and the testimony of living witnesses. Able and honest men were employed, and sent in search of the required material, which was thus literally gathered from the four quarters of the earth. To a devoted friend, M. Pinart, a thorough Russian scholar, and one no less enthusiastic in his work than liberal-minded and conscientious as a man, the author is indebted for much of his material from St. Petersburg. Three several times Mr. Bancroft sent another agent to Alaska to explore the country and write out the experiences of men living there. One of his assistants, with a stenographer, spent over two years going through the Alaska archives in Washington. And all this was but preliminary work, which, when done, only placed the necessary information in the hands of the author, thus enabling him to begin his work. The collecting done, years of labour followed, translating, extracting, arranging, end writing, and this volume is the result. It is the first volume yet issued in this Historical Series which is complete in itself, with preface and index, taking up events from the earlier records and bringing them down to the present day.' Of course, it is impossible for Mr. Bancroft to do the work he is engaged n without the help of many assistants; but the degree to which he attains unity of style and treatment indicates how thoroughly he submits everything to his own final manipulation. The account of the Russian Exploration at pp. 306-334 is in Mr. Bancroft's best style-clear, unaffected. effective. The list of authorities given for this volume is conclusive as to the laboriousness and thoroughness of the work. History of Rome and the Roman People, from its Origin to the Establishment of the Christian Empire. By VICTOR DURUY. Edited by the Rev. J. P. MAHAFFY, Vol. V., Parts I. and II. Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co. The fifth volume of this superb work includes the history of the wise and peaceful reign of Hadrian, of that of the beneficent Antoninus, and of that of Marcus Aurelius-the ideal hero of pagan antiquity. Of the policy of the latter towards the Christians, and of his general character as a man and an emperor, M. Duruy forms a wise judgment. Conceding that his is the purest name in antiquity, he yet thinks that, unduly influenced by this, history has estimated him on the whole too highly. In this reign of nineteen years we find neither new institutions, great feats of war, nor an advantageous peace; simply a fine book that is sufficient for the thinker, but too little for the chief of an empire.' The man, he thinks, claims more respect than the prince. The second section of the volume is an analytical account of Roman society, as exemplified in the family, the city, the provinces, government and administra tion, manners, and the spirit of the age, which is written with great fulness. The latter section, especially, giving'an account of philosophical and religious thought, culminates in Christianity. As with the history, while M. Duruy can boast no special mastery of either thought or style, he writes with great lucidity and with careful judgement, informed by assiduous and learned research. His facts are carefully ascertained and examined, and his judgments commend themselves by their conscientious care. We read, therefore, with unflagging interest. The illustrations are, as usual, lavish, artistic, and instructive. The History of Catholic Emancipation and The Progress of the Catholic Church in the British Isles (chiefly in England) from 1771 to 1820. By W. J. AMHERST, S.J. In Two Volumes. Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co. To write the history of the struggle against penal disabilities maintained by the Roman Catholics of England and Ireland is a task of no small difficulty. For though, in the eyes of the law, the disabilities of Catholics are no longer existent, the old sore is very far from being healed up-—indeed, the feeling of antipathy is perhaps at the present moment more active than ever, in view of a wide-spread notion among ultra-Protestants of an extensive Catholic system of proselytizing. There are thus two things which Mr. Amherst has had to keep very clearly in view. While not foregoing his convictions, or seeking in any way to moderate the vigour of his Catholic sympathies, he has had to avoid any violent or bitter reflections against the other side; and in this, we may admit, he has on the whole succeeded. Though he has not altogether abstained from the expression of strong feeling on some points, it is in cases where such may be justified. For certain aspects of the severe treatment of Catholics throughout the whole of the eighteenth century, it is impossible for any English Liberal, even though a staunch Protestant, to feel anything but pain and humiliation. Yet, Mr. Amherst does not let himself be carried too far in his enthusiasm for his subject, and we do not think there are any of his statements which are open to any doubt, even though, as Protestants, we may be compelled to believe many things not altogether redounding to our credit for wisdom or humanity. In short, the old thoroughgoing Protestant was almost inclined to be as tyrannical and bigoted in his hatred of Rome as Rome towards him. Mr. Amherst instances the state of feeling in Scotland, where, he says, the attitude of the people towards their unfortunate Catholic brethren was almost fiendish; and that there was amongst early Presbyterians a stern and fanatical reprobation of the smallest suggestion of Romanism, is certainly true. Mr. Amherst, of course, has something to say about the riots of '80; but we, on our part, should be very chary of accepting the acts of a brutal and ignorant mob, led by a crazy fanatic, as the normal attitude of Protestants, or of believing that there was any sympathy amongst the mass of Englishmen, of whatever religion, with those disgraceful proceedings. In his introductory chapter, Mr. Amherst brings the attitude towards the Catholics into blacker relief by dwelling upon their loyalty to the throne and country, of which he thinks that their share in the Jacobite rebellions cannot he held to have proved the contrary, as Protestant Tories were also represented amongst the Jacobites. But when Mr. Amherst comes to say that he can defy us to bring a single charge of disloyalty or treason against the Crown by Catholics, we may ask, What, then, of Guy Faux and of the Irish Rebellion of 1649? Surely these were not myths invented merely to please children. We think that in making so sweeping an assertion Mr. Amherst was ill-advised; inasmuch as it is beyond dispute that Catholics were implicated in plots during the reigns of both Elizabeth and James. We, as Protestants, are now willing frankly to admit the errors and wrongs done by our Protestant ancestors; but, at the same time, Catholics must be as willing to do so for their side, and to remember that when they had the power they undoubtedly used it with merciless force upon their future oppressors. Mr. Amherst does ample justice both to Pitt and Fox for their efforts on behalf of the Catholics, and we think his remarks on this point are particularly good. He also does full justice to the personal friendliness of George III. and his family to Catholics, though the old monarch so sturdily stood out against any concession. The influx of the emigré French priests is an interesting chapter in the story, and the reception accorded to them must reflect credit upon the liberal spirit of that day. Mr. Amherst has much to tell us of Milner and O'Connell, the great Catholic champions; and though of O'Connell we think he judges rather too highly, his remarks on the Irish side of the Catholic question, especially in reference to the insoluble Irish problem, are well-timed and just on the whole, and he caps them by giving an extract of a letter from the Princess Charlotte to Lord Albemarle, which shows an insight and appreciation of the true points at issue truly remarkable in one so young. But we must note, as a singular discrepancy, that though we have professedly a history of Catholic Emancipation, it brings us no further than 1820, and thus leaves untouched the great and crowning act of justice of 1829, which seems-to repeat what Mr. Amherst says in his preface-like playing Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark. The book is interesting and well written, and, on the whole, impartial. Mr. Amherst has done a difficult undertaking in a creditable manner; but we must at once declare our inability to share in his sanguine hopes for the future of Roman Catholicism in England. We believe that the growth of the spirit of liberalism and democracy and the spread of Roman Catholicism are incompatible. Reminiscences of Yarrow. By JAMES RUSSELL, D.D., late Minister Yarrow. With Preface by Professor CAMP- Such books as this are a rare pleasure. There can be no suspicion that they have been thrown off to meet the demands of the market. It pre sents us with the experiences of two Scottish pastors-father and sonwho for a long period were ministers of romantic parishes-the father first for a short period at Ettrick, and then at Yarrow, in which living the son succeeded him. The whole life is presented to us with admirable simplicity and grace. There is no affectation of culture; and yet the very essence of culture pervades the whole book from first to last. We are carried back to a time when Ettrick and Yarrow were absolutely primitive, when the minister's stipend was only forty-five pounds, out of which he had to pay five pounds for a 'man,' and as much for a housekeeper, and to keep a horse-which was absolutely essential, for the roads were primitive, and all had to be carried on horseback. As Professor Fraser says, 'The greater part of it represents the parish as it was in the last decade of the last century and in the earlier part of this century, when the "Ettrick shepherd" (James Hogg) and Sir Walter Scott were among the parishioners, and when it was passed by "unvisited" (1813), then "visited " (1814), and "re-visited" (1831) by Wordsworth.' How funny it is to read of the faithful minister's man interrupting the proprietor, the duke and his daughter, for trespassing with their horses and carriage on the minister's grass, and how pleasant the way in which the thing was taken by the big folks; how laughable the stories of Mad Bet,' and her escapades in church and otherwise; and how odd it is to read that, in the earlier days which are here described, the people would not put up with a pulpit-gown-even the black gown of Geneva!-because it savoured to them of popery. The book abounds with anecdote, with racy humour, with character, and with information about life in the old days in rural Scotland, and the eccentric habits which Presbyterianism tended to form. Had we space we could fill pages with reflections on the 'characters' we have here-those creatures compounded of strange clay,' which did so much to relieve the graver strain of life in such districts. Of the beauties of Ettrick and Yarrow we have, of course, a full share; and also of its legendary associations, its poetry, and tradition. Professor Veitch (whose volume on the Poetry of the Scottish Border' points him out as the man for such a work) has edited the book and added notes; and these, taken together with Professor Fraser's very tasteful and suitable Introduction, so to say, bring the book down to date. We learn that Professor Fraser does a good deal of his philosophic thinking in one of these romantic and pastoral vales, and we can almost envy him the quiet and glory of his summer retreat, where work and play with him go happily hand in hand. The illustrations are excellent and well done, and do much to bring the scenes clearly before the mind. We should not forget to add that we have chapters on Scott and Wordsworth, and James Hogg and Professor Wilson, embodying the literary associations of Ettrick and Yarrow; but these, whether because they are not so fresh, or because our tastes are peculiar, have not proved so interesting to us as the rest of the volume, which, on the whole, is delicious, quaint, and full of instruction, worthy to be set side by side with Dr. Norman Macleod's Highland Parish.' Acts of the Church, 1531-1885. The Church of England Her own Reformer, as testified by the Records of Her Convocations. By JAMES WAYLAND JOYCE, M.A. J. Whitaker. The idea of Prebendary Joyce's work is a good one-viz., to exhibit the character and history of the Established Church through the medium of her own self-legislation. His thesis is that her own synodical action has always preceded and, so to speak, authorized the legislation of Parliament. This somewhat astounding position the prebendary seeks to justify by citing and interpreting her synodical acts. To this he has brought great learning and industry. Future historians will be indebted to him for information concerning the relations of Convocation to the Reformation, the chief credit of which Prebendary Joyce claims for the Church herself. But the facts are too strong for the claim. Let any one, for example, take the facts of the settlement of the Church as they are set forth in an article on the subject in our last number, especially those in Elizabeth's reign, and he will see at once that only by a skilful elision of much, and manipulation of more, can Prebendary Joyce make good his contentions. He is judiciously silent, for instance, concerning the Bill declaring the Royal Supremacy, passed against the protest of all the Bishops; their refusal to take the oath of Supremacy, their consequent deprivation, and Elizabeth's arbitrary appointment of their successors. The Revised Prayer Book was adopted by Parliament without any reference to Convocation. ment. The first reformed Convocation met in 1562. So long as Convocations opposed the Queen's will she suppressed them; when they were willing to support her, she supported them even against the action of the ParliaAnd yet Prebendary Joyce pronounces upon her, on p. 130, an enthusiastic and indiscriminating eulogy. He is, indeed, more to be commended for his learning than for the judicial character of his judg ments. Thus, on p. 124, we have a tirade against Calvin; and on p. 131 a denunciation of Cromwell and of the Westminster Assembly equally hysterical and violent: these, as specimens of much more, do not indicate a very judicial faculty. The spectacles which the author wears give a very decided colouring to everything that he sees. He is essentially an ecclesiastical partisan. An appendix contains important legal instruments printed in extenso. What Does History Teach? Two Edinburgh Lectures. By JOHN STUART BLACKIE. Macmillan and Co. The veteran Professor Blackie, who is as full as ever of fire and enthu siasm for progress and liberal principles, delivered these two lectures before the Philosophical Institution of Edinburgh. They are marked by all the characteristics which we have come to know so well-fulness of knowledge, insight, and occasiobal outrèness of thought and expression. His notion is that no high development of nationality and of |