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 Wendell : A Literary History of Amei-ica 807 1S06 and 183S sixty separate appropriations aggregating §6,821,246, were made for the Cumberland road alone, is made to speak forcibly of the general determination of the people to have internal improvements at national expense. Thus amusing incident and significant fact, both alike gleaned from researches in the original sources, jostle against each other. Some of the expected topics are crowded out and the literary style shows departure from the sober vein of conventional historical composition. In brief, the book contains, first, a number of significant facts not before used ; secondly, considerable excellent illustrative material ; and thirdly, a general but pretty definite impression of the irresistible expan- sion of the American people. Of minor criticisms two only can be mentioned here. One con- cerns the interpretation (not peculiar to Sparks) of Jefferson's recom- mendation that Congress should "do sub sileiiiio what shall be found necessary " to complete the acquisition of Louisiana. It must be inter- preted in the light of Jefferson's proposed solution of the impending dilemma : first, secure the transfer of the territory so that France, if she should repent of her bargain, as it was feared, should repent in vain ; secondly let Congress and the people freely and soberly consider whether and how they will heal the ultra vires action of a "guardian " govern- ment, done "beyond the constitution." What Jefferson expected was a positive act of ratification, not a decision by default that there had been no action ultra vires. (Cf Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Ford, VIII. 244-245, notes). The illustration on p. 295 of " A Western Mission" suggests the inquiry whether these massive stone buildings erected at Nashota, Wis- consin, by the Protestant Episcopal Church for the education of the In- dians, are a typical western mission, and whether the influence of the great home missionary societies, those excellent institutions through which the East subsidized the religious work on the Frontier, does not deserve a comprehensive treatment. Frederick W. Moore. A Literary History of America. By Barrett Wendell, Professor of English at Harvard College. (New York : Charles Scrib- ner's Sons. 1900. Pp. 574.) Readers who are familiar with Professor Wendell's other books will open his Literary History of America with the expectation that, whatever else it may or may not be, it will be at least interesting and suggestive. They will not be disappointed. The book is readable from beginning to end, and its point of view is often novel and stimulating. In its total ef- fect it differs essentially from any other work on the same subject. Rightly to understand the book it is necessary, first of all, to get a clear idea of its purpose and method. It is not a complete, detailed his- tory of American literature, and evidently is not intended to be. In Book