Book Reviews [pp. 443-448]

446 Book ]eiezvws. [
er type, much detail has been introduced. This con- shining lights burn across two centuries with scar
densation, however, while one of the most admirablle diminished radiance, can be studied almost as cl
features of the book, is at the same time its greatest ly as we can study the society of our own day.
weakness. The following passage, taken at hap)- a clever debater could go far toward lemolishing
hazard, well illustrates this strength and weakness: of the strongest arguments of the advocates of "
"Charles I. in dignity of person far excelled his man's Rights" — that the admission of woman i
father. He had more skill and more courage; but politics would tend to purify it-bya presentatio
he had the same theory of arbitrary government, and that curious mixture of love and political intri
acted as if insincerity and the breaking of promises which is exhibited in the history of the Fronde.
were excusable in defense of it. His strife with Par- But the period possesses a higher interest, and
liament began at once. They would not grant sutp- which the author of "France under Richelieu
plies of money without a redress of grievances, and Mlazarin" fully recognizes, in the fact that the
the removal of Buckingham, the King's favorite. administrations reviewed fixed definitely the cha
War had begun with Spain before the close of the ter of the French government for a hundred and f
last reign. An expedition was now sent to Cadiz, years, determined absolutism, and not constitutio
but it accomplished nothing. Buckingham was im- liberty, as the political system of five generations,
peached; but before the trial endled, the King dis- in the end made revolution, and not reform, the
solved Parliament. A year later he went over to possible means of national rehabilitation. It is m
war with France. He was then obliged (1628) to than doubtful whether, had earnest efforts been re
grant to his third Parliament their Petition of Right, made in the direction of constitutional developm
which condemned his recent illegal doings-arbi- they could have succeeded; the spirit of liberty
trary taxes and imprisonment, the billeting of sol- absent, the temperament of the people was not a
diers on householders, proceedings of martial law. erty-loving one. France had to drink the cup of a
A few months later Buckingham was assassinated lutism to the dregs. But-and Mr. Perkins is t
by John Fenton, at Portsmouth," etc. (p. 436). commended for the clear way in which he shows i
This statement, to one already familiar with Eng- no such effort was made. The civil war was a "
lish history, is excellent. All the facts of the sitna- lesque revolution," and neither nobility nor peo
tion are presented in the most effective manner. But had heart in the strug,gle supposed to be for pop
to one not familiar with the subject, it is merely a rights.
disconnected statement of unconnected facts. The Of the two great ministers whose administration
student would be confused by the overpowering ar- for in truth the rule of the latter was but the con
ray of facts, inless he was already acquainted with uation of that of the formier —this history records,
the generalincidents of the history. Before this book personality of the former is so much more strik
could be practically useful, the student would have so much nobler, than that of the latter, that our im
to master the individual histories of the different nation has glorified the "great Cardinal," while
countries of Europe and of the United States. The have grown to regard his successor as a meaner
difficulty, it will be seen, is one connected with the smaller Machiavel. Mcst of us, indeed, have ta
subject, and not with this particular book. And, our estimate of Mazarin, not from history, but f
indeed, after the necessary foundation has been laid, the romances of Dumas. But the impartial stud
we know of no text-book for this grade of work that of the period must admit this estimate to be wrog
would exceed this in utility and scholarly accuracy. covetous and grasping as he was, unattractive
were his personal qualities. we must still adm
France under Richelieu and Mazarin.t
great degree of practical ability in the characte
MR. PERKINS is fortunate in the period that he this wily Italian. Indeed, the time was not on