Books of the Month

History. The third volume of the Narrative and Critical History of America, edited by Justin Winsor (Houghton), is now ready, and is given up to English Explorations and Settlements in North America, 1497-1689. There are some important chapters, notably that by Dr, Deane on the Voyages of the Cabots, in which he fortifies the position of the elder Cabot as an original discoverer. Dr. Ellis’s chapter on The Religious Element in the Settlement of New England seems to us somewhat less satisfactory. Possibly this chapter was not the place for it, but we looked in vain for any clear statement of the course of the first settlers in Massachusetts in quietly ignoring the Church of England. They were not all open separatists when they came over, but the absolute transfer of themselves to separatist ways is not always accounted for by historians. As this great work goes on, we are constantly impressed with its importance and with the editorial skill and ability displayed. We cannot too earnestly remind its conductors and coöerators that much depends on their accuracy. It will be the fountain-head from which the great stream of school histories and popular articles will be drawn. — The Great Conspiracy, its origin and history, by John A. Logan. (A. R. Hart & Co , New York.) Mr. Logan is one of those who like to find an explanation of historic movements in the nearest and most legible causes. His title indicates what he is driving at in his book. He has been so long in politics that he can scarcely conceive of the country except as a field for politicians and their games, and his history of the conflict which resulted in the last war is simply a reference to the political side of it, and that in a very narrow and limited conception. His book is most useful as a reflection of the historical habit of a politician.