such direct contrast to the whole tone of the Ode, what does Dr. Laing gain by insisting on the evidence of identity of authorship from it? Does he really mean that Logan had become a fool to insert what was so clearly a discord?

that the word 'curious' should be reinstall- | it as a genuine part of the Ode, and claimed. Curious,' he says, 'may be a Scotti- ed it for Bruce. But that does not make cism, but it is felicitous. It marks the un- Mr. Laing any more consistent, when, after usual resemblance of the note of the cuckoo having made so much of Logan's additional to the human voice, the cause of the start stanza, he most maladroitly winds up by and imitation that follow; whereas, the endorsing the very opinion we have pro"new voice of spring" is not true, for many nounced thus: "The whole tone of the voices of spring precede that of the cuckoo.' Ode (exclusive of Logan's additional verse His lordship remarks, too, in the spirit of a in 1781) is in a strain of joyous anticipatrue observer of nature, that, as the cuckoo tion quite in contrast to Bruce's finest and comes with and not precedes the spring, the most pathetic composition, the "Elegy to original" attendant" is more nicely accurate Spring." But if the added verse is in than "messenger."' In not one instance do the corrections do other than mar the simplicity of the poem, and run into mere rhetorical affectations, the sharp edge of native observation being rubbed off.' To such an extent is this the case, that an argument as to the authorship might almost be based on the lack of discernment and truth to nature exhibited in these changes. Principal Shairp says that poets have often corrected their poems for the worse; but seldom surely have they so wantonly set aside terms that were specially expressive for more general phrases, often without any real meaning, and sometimes, in point of fact, grossly untrue to nature. In one word, we hold that an author who had once had the happiness of depositing, with unapproachable nicety, in new and true poetic terms, real qualities and marked characteristics of nature, could not have done such despite to his own observation and attainment.

Principal Shairp has well said, 'The added stanza is quite out of harmony with the Ode as we have it. It is a discordant note, jarring alike on the rhythm and the sentiment of the authentic stanzas.' The original poem is sweetly-connected, simple, fluent, musical; this added stanza is tense, close, personal, in one word, non-conducting, besides being disfigured by a coarse, untoward alliteration in the second line; and we do not think that literary critic ever committed more serious error for his own side than when Mr. Grosart actually printed

Really this is almost a critical comedy of errors. Mr. Laing is doubtless a most careful student and industrious bibliopole; but here either his criticism is unfaithful to his facts or his facts to his criticism. And though it is rather passing beyond the limit we had marked out for ourselves, we must say that Dr. Laing raises a false issue when he ridicules the idea of Logan's putting forward to Bruce's parents as an inducement to give him the MSS. the making money out of such a publication. The real point is not the actual prospect of money, but rather whether such a representation was likely to weigh with poor, simple country people like Bruce's parents, who knew nothing of literature or publishing affairs. And the same thing has to be said with respect to the fact of the authorship not having been challenged speedily after the appearance of the volume of 1770. How could the authorship be challenged? If but a couple of the poems included were not Bruce's, then the editor could justify himself from the very indefinite manner in which the preface was framed.

The next point we have to notice is one to which Dr. Laing does not refer; but it has a vast indirect value in relation to the whole question. In Logan's volume of 1781 appeared a number of hymns. On investigation we find some of the hymns with only a few verbal changes printed in old hymnals of 1745, with the venerable name of Doddridge attached to some of them, and these were included in Doddridge's own edition of 1755. John Logan was not born till three years after the former datei.e., in 1748-and certainly could not have sent the copy to the English printer. The annexed will serve as sample to show the sort of alterations that had been made:—

benefits than this general advantage were, how- | in human affairs, was at its full in the reign of ever, to be expected from a History of England Queen Elizabeth, there was not any solution of during an important national crisis by so com- historical continuity through a wrench from petent an historian as Leopold Von Ranke. the past. The final uprising against the RoA life-long study of the forces that have mould- man hierarchy, which largely helped to deliver ed the character of Europe, and determined the Western nations from the Papal despotism, the distribution and relations of its religious was the culmination of a process that had been and ecclesiastical elements, has made him long going on before that time. Even in shakfamiliar with the hidden springs of the ing herself free from the Roman yoke, and in political and religious system of the Conti- thereby communicating an impetus to the relinent. That has not been made what it gious revolution throughout Europe, the Engis independent of the British Islands; for lish people retained, in the relations between their influence was powerfully operative at the the spiritual and temporal powers, much of periods when the Western nations were most what had been the common possession of plastic. Of the forces by which Europe has Christendom in the Middle Ages. The oppobeen most profoundly influenced, the Reforma- sition to the work of liberation that lay in the tion of the sixteenth century in Germany is circumstances and events of the period was the most central. Von Ranke has done more influential. The sacerdotal reaction directed than any other living writer to bring to light its greatest energies against England. The the part played by the Reformation, in its ori- fight came to be one for national existence, or gin and effects, upon the history of the Euro- for all that rendered existence worth having; pean nations. His 'Lives of the Popes,' his and the tendencies and forces that were poHistory of the Reformation in Germany,' his tently at work throughout the country in anwork on the Origin of the Thirty Years' tagonism to the national independence at War,' his Life of Wallenstein,' and other length precipitated the war, which, in its volumes, form a series bound together by unity turn, was made instrumental in giving stability of subject, notwithstanding diversity of treat- to the general political structure. Ever and ment and the variety of characters and inci- again in the course of the long drawn-out condents with which they deal. The development flict, dating from the time of Elizabeth till the of the European State-system cannot be view- consolidation of the authority of William III., ed in its completeness without tracing the part after the Revolution of 1688, England was played by England in connection with it. brought into contact with the influences on the Through its relations with Spain, with France, Continent, which were working out a similar and later with Holland, England's influence transformation there. Though the struggle in was a powerful international factor in produc- Germany assumed a different form, having ing some of the most important events in the more regard to doctrines and dogmas, while in European story. It reached a climax in the England it had mainly a political interest and eventeenth century, and the translators of the reference, the maintenance of Protestantism work before us are of opinion that Von Ranke's in Western Europe was the common concern History of England 'may well be regarded as of both; and it was through the united efforts the concluding portion of the author's cycle of of the English and Continental powers that works on the international relations of the the end was achieved. Continental States.' Although it is a history 'principally of the seventeenth century,' the writer does not confine himself to that period; but, more Germanico, traces the development of the elements that moulded the national character and story from the commencement. The studies of the epochs in English history which are thus introductory to the main work of the historian, are among the most valuable portions of his volumes, and bring into clear light the identity of the political and religious forces through whose action and counteraction the problems presented in England's career as a nation were at length resolved.

The work of Von Ranke ought, therefore, to be a powerful help towards the formation of that national self-consciousness which should be the final aim of all historical study and research. Englishmen will learn to appreciate what their country has been, and is, by learning what it has done at the epochs in which her influence was at its height. It was in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries that the national character assumed definite form, and the antagonistic elements which had been long at work in the nation were fused as within a common mould. Yet while the energy of a new life, for which there was a definite mission |

It would be a mistake, nevertheless, to regard the establishment of Protestantism in Western Europe as the motive always consciously present in the minds of those who were advancing that great object. What must mainly interest the English reader in a history of the period is the process of the national development at home. That was powerfully reacted upon by the foreign international relations alluded to, as these were largely affected by it in turn; but the great work of the period was the growth, through and by means of all the varied tendencies, opinions, and influences of the time, of the national character and constitution. Through the conflict and collision of the two constitutional powers in England in the seventeenth century—the Crown and Parliament-the end was at last secured of a balanced political system, in which there was a compromise between the traditions of the past and the ideas that were to mould the future. The English monarchy maintained its influence so long as it understood the necessity for this compromise; and when, under Charles I., it gave undue prominence to the reactionary elements which were in turn leagued, in nature if not always in existing circumstance, with the old sacerdotal system,

it suffered defeat and overthrow. The Eng- | outlines of Von Ranke's plan, our readers will lish people were working steadily, even when be able to form a conception of it for themunconsciously, at the national transformation selves. Our German friends often reproach us which was to ensure the undisputed supre- that, as a nation, we are insensible to ideas; macy of legislation, and the legal settlement but the history of England by their own great of the home affairs of the country on a firm historian must teach them that if, in the course basis. This was the final object towards which of our national development, ideas have been all energies were directed, and all movements, little spoken of, they have been powerfully political and ecclesiastical, peaceful or revolu- operative, and have been realized through practionary, contributed. The cardinal distinction tical labours and efforts. While there is a between English and French policy in the last sense in which it is true that compromise is two centuries-Von Ranke remarks-consisted the essential character of English history, there in this, that the glory of their arms abroad lay can be no doubt of the reality of the delivernearest to the heart of the French nation, and ance which has been the issue of the long prothe legal settlement of their home affairs to cess. Under the existing circumstances of a that of the English. In England, in the seven- complex national situation, influenced by powteenth century, the Crown and the Parliament, erful antagonistic forces both from within and which had often before contended with each from without, the course of our national story other, combined together in the religious strug- shows us not the direct action of simple causes, gle, and were both strengthened by the union. but the collisions and counteractions of a large After a time, however, we see them coming number of diverse elements. The motive into collision over ecclesiastical affairs, and a forces which lay at the roots of the national war of life and death over the character of the transformation effected in the course of two Constitution ultimately followed. The issue centuries are not always easy to trace; and it was the break-up and overthrow of the old is distinctive of Von Ranke that he has set system. Vigorous efforts were made to supply himself to the task of unravelling the tangled the want thus created; and in the Common- skein. No careful reader of these six volumes weath-thanks to the genius and practically will fail to observe that a large measure of conservative character of the Protector-the success has attended his attempt. In the transition was so regulated that the nation was manner of his countrymen he has, after a long saved from the anarchy which threatened. and careful research among the illustrative The Commonwealth was only transitionary, original documents, arrived at a general result, and the deep conservative instincts of the peo- which supplies a comprehensive explanation ple at last drove them back to the monarchy, of the course and results of English history and those old historic forms of Government and during the seventeenth century. Seeking to Constitution characteristic of the German, and, interpret the separate chapters of the national above all, of the English race. This was no story in their connections with the whole course final solution, for the old elements of discord of national development, to view each event as a were still present, and soon broke forth afresh. political and religious whole, and, at the same Continental affairs, while England remained time, to estimate it in its universal historical occupied with her domestic concerns, grew relations, he has produced a history of which more and more threatening; and the represen- Englishmen have every reason to be proud. tative of the monarchy, allying himself, as was There may be differences of opinion regarding the manner of the Stuart race, with the reac- Von Ranke's estimates of the great historical tionary and sacerdotal forces alive on the Con- characters who adorn our story, and a minute tinent, brought vividly home to the English criticism will be able to fasten upon inaccurapeople the sense of their extreme peril. The cies regarding matters of detail. But it is martroubles at home and the events abroad com- vellous with what mastery the historian moves bined to bring about another result; but in along his course, how sound his judgments the Revolution of 1688, thus fostered, there are as a rule upon the most controverted issues, was at length a decided change effected in the how broad and inclusive his expositions of political constitution, for the centre of gravity principles, and how exhaustive his analyses of of public authority finally reverted from the fundamental motive forces. The complexity monarchy to the parliamentary side. At this of our history in the period under review was time France, by consolidating absolutism at greatly increased by the relations of England home, and by brilliant military conquests and Scotland, and also, though perhaps to a abroad, succeeded in re-establishing on the less degree, with Ireland. The union of the Continent the reactionary influences of the old two nations in 1603 brought a new set of forces system. England felt compelled to contest her to bear upon English history, and upon the political supremacy, and two rival forms of home and foreign politics of the realm. Engpolity faced and fought each other in the long land had become Great Britain, and the oppoand bloody war that followed. In the end the sing influences at work in the two parts of the one form was fully realized in England, while island had important bearings upon the whole the other secured more or less complete sway course of the national development. Von on the Continent. Later the English influence Ranke is nowhere more successful than in produced imitations on the Continent, and tracing the effects of the Scottish influences, between those differing tendencies, these op- with their Continental relations, upon the posite poles (says Von Ranke), the life of Eu- home conflicts of the nation. His treatment rope has ever since vibrated from side to side.' of Irish affairs is not, perhaps, so brilliant, but From the sketch we have given of the broad it is, on the whole, satisfactory.