behalf of one side or the other, rather than the candid and straight-forward narratives of actual facts which students require, and which alone can be of permanent value. In this endeavor the author seems to have been entirely successful. Authorities have been carefully examined and judiciously used; doubtful questions have been studied in the spirit of an antiquarian, rather than a partisan; and the narrative sets forth, simply and clearly, the actual doings of all parties, while it shares in the zeal and prejudices of none. The pictorial illustrations in this department are exceedingly valuable, consisting of portraits of the prominent actors in the events described, drawn from authentic and reliable sources; sketches of the actual scenes upon which these events occurred, accurate representations of the weapons, coins, ships, &c. of the Period, and spirited delineations of the most important scenes, copied from historical paintings of celebrated artists of acknowledged merit. This portion of the work, constituting the first chapter of each Book, and extending in all to above two thousand pages, was furnished by Mr. CHARLES M'FARLANE.

11. Following this, we have, in a second chapter of each Book, a history of Religion, written, with one exception, by Mr. THOMAS THOMSON, in which the progress of religion, from the earliest period to the introduction of Christianity, and then the changes which took place in consequence of the prevailing religious conflicts, are clearly presented and illustrated by pictorial representations.

III. The third chapter of each Book is devoted to a history of the Constitution, Government, and Laws of the Period embraced in the general division to which the Book relates. This portion forms, more strictly, the constitutional history of the empire, and gives a clear, connected, and elaborate view of the growth of the Constitution of England, the rise and progress of popular liberty, and all the changes which have taken place in the legislation and government of Great Britain. This is one of the most valuable and important portions of the work, and was written by Mr. A. BISSET, barrister-at-law, with occasional and inconsiderable exceptions.

IV. The fourth chapter of each Book embraces a history of the National Industry, the various occupations which chiefly prevailed in the successive Periods, the methods of agriculture, of mechanics, of all the useful arts, and the gradual progress of the people from the pursuits of a rude and semi-savage state to the refinements and diversified industry of later and more cultivated times. This department forms a very curious and valuable portion of the work, and will be still more highly prized from the fact, that it is the first attempt ever made to present a history of the industry of the nation. This chapter, in the first Book, which contains an immense amount of recondite and most curious information, was written by Mr. PLANCHE, and the corresponding chapters for the succeeding Periods by Mr. J. C. PLATT. The narrative is illustrated throughout by pictorial representations of every portion of the subject-the methods of ploughing, sowing, reaping, digging, spinning, weaving, threshing, and, indeed, of every department of agricultural, mechanical, and domestic labor, copied from pictures of the date to which they refer.

V. The fifth chapter is devoted to a history of Literature, Science, and the Fine Arts, according to their development in each of the successive Periods. In the second Book this chapter embraces a full and admirable history of Saxon literature; and the same chapter in Books third, fifth, and sixth, contains arranged specimens of language and style, which cannot fail to be highly interesting to scholars and historical students. These portions of the work were written by Sir HENRY ELLIS; Mr. POYNTER contributed the history of Architecture in the fifth chapter of the second and following Books; and Mr. AYRTON has furnished, in the same chapter of Books fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth, a history of Music.

VI. The sixth chapter in each Book contains accounts of the costume and furniture in use at the time, furnished by Mr. PLANCHE, and a history of Manners and Customs by Mr. THOMSON, copiously illustrated by well drawn and authentic pictorial illustrations.

VII. The seventh chapter in each Book comprises a history of the Condition of the People, and gives a comprehensive view of their Social Position. It embraces facts which could not conveniently be introduced into any of the preceding chapters, and treats principally of the National Civilization of the Period-the proportions of the different classes into which the population was divided—the incomes and costs of living of each class—the state of health of the community— ordinary length of life-statistics of vice and crime, and some account of the judicial institutions. for repressing and punishing violations of the law.

This detailed statement of the contents of the work is here presented, in order that an idea may be formed of its general scope, and the comprehensiveness of the plan upon which it has been executed. It gives a complete history of the People, as well as of the Government—of the progress of Arts, as well as of Arms-of Manners and Customs, as well as of Laws-a picture of the Pursuits, Habits, and Condition of the great mass of the People, as well as of the more dazzling and ambitious achievements of the Warriors and Nobles. Little reflection is needed to convince any one that this is the only way in which the actual progress and growth of a nation can be accurately and satisfactorily traced. The true life of a nation lies in these details. Its well-being is involved in them, far more than in those military exploits to which historians in general have limited their attention. They furnish the elements of national power, and lay the foundation of national greatness; and the history of England is far more accurately to be learned from these representations of the growth of her industry, the development of her resources, the extension of her commerce, and her general advancement in civilization and science, as shown in the most ordinary pursuits of daily life, than from the proudest conquests of her world-encircling arms. The pictorial illustrations, of which there are an immense number, add greatly to the value of the work, by rendering more impressive and definite the representations of the narrative. They present to the eye accurate pictures of what is described in the

text, and thus deepen and strengthen the impression which the verbal descriptions convey. They are well drawn and admirably executed, and add essentially to the utility, as well as the attractiveness of the work. The style is easy, vigorous, and chaste-entirely unambitious, yet not inferior in any particular to that of works which, in this respect, put forth much more lofty pretensions. The work engaged the constant and unwearied labors of the several writers employed upon it for upward of seven years, and its copyright cost the original proprietors little less than fifty thousand dollars. It has been very widely regarded, by some of the highest and best authorities, as in every essential respect the best History of England ever written.

Hitherto the very high price of the English edition has rendered it entirely inaccessible to the great body of the American people. It is now presented in a form and at a price which will, it is confidently believed, place it within the reach of the great majority of the reading public throughout the United States. In thus republishing this extensive work, the American publishers believe they are rendering an important service to the cause of popular instruction and of general intelligence.

HARPER AND BROTHERS.