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 152 Reviezvs of Books was concluded " ; that "the change of administration " was, however, " the signal for a more vigorous development of the policy lately adopted by the United States regarding Central America "; and in a foot-note, on the authority of Mr. Schouler, that the reason why the Hise treaty was not favorably considered was that "the Taylor administration, to a cer- tain extent, represented the reaction against the aggressive foreign policy of its predecessors." The printer's work cannot be praised. There are many errors in it. Examples: p. i, "pretentions"; p. 9, confusion in references to the foot-notes; p. 11, "expell"; p. 13, in the headline, " Rbitish Claims"; p. 14, "tranquility"; p. 16, "form" for "from"; p. iS, "IMosqito"; p. 23, "amunition," " detatchment " ; p. 27, "that" for "than"; p. 33, "intolerance"; p. 91, "vigilence"; p. 212, and elsewhere, "Columbia" for "Colombia"; p. 236, "estopp"; p. 177, the last line is found at the foot of p. 178. These are by no means all the errors that we have noticed, but it is needless to multiply instances. P. 75 speaks of "the conclusion of Cushing's treaty in 1845 " with China. The treaty was concluded in 1S44. The ratifications were ex- changed in 1845. j ^ m^^re. Tlic Life of William H. Sei^'ard. By Frederic Bancroft. (New York and London : Harper and Brothers. 1900. Two vols., PP- vi, 5 54-) Mr. Webster's three requisites for true eloquence apply to good biography as well — the man, the subject, and the occasion. The subject of this biography was worthy of the best study and commemoration ; its occasion was fortunate, notwithstanding the excellent sketch of its subject which we already had in Mr. Lothrop's contribution to the American Statesmen Series, and the two very complete and exhaustive volumes of F. W. Seward, for a broader sketch than the former and a less detailed and bulky work than the latter seemed to be demanded ; the man — the biographer — had previously worked on historical lines, had excellent facilities for writing this biography, and was moved in his task, as we may judge, by the spirit of industry and the purpose to produce not only an authentic, but a just and adequate portrait. Such concurrence of favoring conditions is not often surpassed. For fully thirty years, and even longer — 1838 to 1869 — William H. Seward was an original force in our political life. For the first half of this period, he was the distinctive leader of a movement more critical and vital than any other in our history since 1789 ; and for the latter half he was in official stations which gave him large influence and control in public affairs. He was, moreover, undoubtedly a man of first-class ability, of sleepless industry, of wide-ranging activity, and of ardent ambition. No other of the many who might, with more or less propriety, be named leaders in the same movement, can be reckoned Seward's equal or rival in the art and practice of political or party leadership. Great qualities,