Page:American Historical Review vol. 6.djvu/577

» Dnnlop : Daniel O' Council 567 use a pen. His views of what he might have accomplished in the Orient by heading a Mahometan movement were vastly exaggerated. His supreme regret was that he had not fallen at Borodino or Waterloo — death on the field would have rounded his career. Not lacking in kindly virtues, Napoleon, though he possessed devoted followers, had no friends. As Emperor, his test of friendship was utility ; afterwards it was too late to create friendships. As with most very great men, the world either worshipped or hated him. Lord Rosebery's summary, in the last chapter, of Napoleon's char- acter and powers is strong and judicious. That he so markedly over- comes his English prejudices reminds one that the century, in the first years of which Napoleon rose to supreme power, has passed away. In a recent article in the AthDttic Dr. Goldwin Smith gives us the old-fash- ioned British view, and its bitterness stands out in marked contrast to Lord Rosebery's equipoise. The book is luxuriously made up, the paper being almost inconveni- ently thick ; the type is large and clear ; and the manufacture worthy of the distinguished author and great subject. Theodore Avrault Dodge. Daniel 0' Cunnell and the Reviv.il of National Life in Ireland. By Robert Dunlop, M.A. ["Heroes of the Nations" Series.] (G. P. Putnam's Sons : New York and London. 1900. Pp. XV, 393) This volume appears to the present reviewer to be fully up to, but not above, the average of this series. We are not justified in looking to publications of this kind for additions to our knowledge, and none such seems to be attempted here. But it is a clear and interesting treatment, based apparently on a considerable knowledge of the secondary material and on some work with the sources, O'Connell's letters and speeches being used with good effect. The critic will be somewhat embarrassed by the total absence of all references or bibliographical indications, and in connection with this it might be said that even if the writers in this series are debarred from foot-notes, there seems no good reason why a a slight sketch of the material used should not be given in some other part of the volume. The amount of space thus taken would be imper- ceptible, and it is difficult to see that even the most delicate sensibilities would be unpleasantly affected. The author's treatment is closely chronological. Although written with strong Irish sympathies, the narrative is usually an impartial one, and little indication is given of personal, political, or religious views. The reviewer indeed feels that justice is scarcely done Peel, but is ready to believe that what seems to him somewhat misleading references are due rather to inadequate study of the Peel papers and to limited space than to any wilful blindness to Peel's energy and earnestness in Irish affairs. O'Connell's principles and methods are brought out very clearly ;