The French War and the Revolution

THE works of Francis Parkman form a complete and exhaustive history of the French in America. The two portions, entitled respectively Montcalm and Wolfe, and The Conspiracy of Pontiac, cover the period of the Seven Years' War in America. They are admirable in respect to thoroughness, reliability, and style.

The general histories of Bancroft, Hildreth, Lord Mahon, and Lecky are accessible to all. Bancroft's is a monumental work of the first importance, philosophical, yet minute and painstaking. Its faults are those of style and sometimes of bias, which, however, is never sufficiently concealed to be dangerous. No one has so conscientiously used the original sources, nor had access to so many and important ones as he. The student must use the original as well as the revised or centennial edition. Lord Mahon is the contemporary representative of the English view, and is quite as polemic as the American statesman. The portion of Lecky's great work relating to American affairs is concise and has the appearance of impartiality, though written with a tinge of Tory feeling.

The huge volumes of Justin Winsor Narrative and Critical History of America are very valuable to the student for their full references to books and sources. The plan is confusing to the general reader, and while many of the monographs are fine, there is a necessary diversity in treatment and style which shows the dangers of historical dissection. The Reader's Handbook of the American Revolution by the same editor is an excellent bibliography and indispensable both to the investigator and the reader. Its use will obviate the necessity of any other, except for works published since 1879.

The three volumes of John Fiske, two on the Revolution and one on the Critical Period of American History, can be recommended almost without a reservation. The style savors a little

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