A SHORT HISTORY OF OUR OWN TIMES. By Justin McCarthy, M.P. One volume,
pp. 448. Harper and Brothers: New York. 1884.
The brilliant History of Our Own Times, in two volumes, by the same
author, and published four years ago, has now been presented to the
public in a reduced size. While it was necessary to leave out many of
the striking and rhetorical passages in the process of condensation,
which formed so pleasing a portion in the larger work, the strictly
historical matter remains unchanged. His history, beginning with the
accession of Queen Victoria, in 1837, and extending to the general
election, in 1880, the date of the appointment of the Honorable W.E.
Gladstone to the premiership of England, covers a period of intense
interest, and with which every intelligent person should be familiar.
Mr. McCarthy's work is destined to be, for some time to come, the
standard account of English affairs for the last fifty years.
One of the most valuable reference works of recent publication is The
Epitome of Ancient, Mediæval, and Modern History. By Carl Ploetz.
Translated from the German, with extensive additions, by William H.
Tillinghast, of the Harvard University library. One volume. pp. 618.
Houghton, Mifflin, and Company: Boston. 1884.
The author of the original work, Professor Doctor Carl Ploetz, is well
known in Germany as a veteran teacher and writer of educational books
which have a high reputation, excellence, and authority. With regard to
the present work, it should be observed that it has passed through seven
editions in Germany. As a book of reference, either for the student or
the general reader, its tested usefulness is a sufficient guaranty for
its wide adoption in the present enlarged form. The scope of The Epitome
may be summarized as follows: Universal history is first treated by
dividing it into three periods. First, ancient history, from the
earliest historical information to the year 375 A.D. Second, mediæval,
from that date to the discovery of America, in 1492. Third, modern
history, from the last date to the year 1883.
We have received from the author, the Honorable Samuel Abbott Green,
M.D., a pamphlet entitled "Notes on a Copy of Dr. William Douglass's
Almanack for 1743, touching on the subject of medicine in Massachusetts
before his time." It is specially interesting to the members of the
medical fraternity, as well as to antiquaries.
CORRECTION.--The article upon Lovewell's fight at Pigwacket, printed in
the February number of the Bay State (page 83), contained a trifling
error, but one which deserves correction. It is stated that the township
of land with which the General Court, in 1774, rewarded the services of
the troops under Lovewell, was subsequently divided, forming the towns
of Lovell and New Sweden. The mistake was upon the name of the latter
town. It should have been written Sweden. New Sweden is the recent
Swedish colony of Aroostook County.