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Unquestionably, here is to be found the true function of historical associations. Here they are dignified, unrivalled, of most benefit to the race.

Unhappily, the Columbia Historical Society is badly deficient when this test is applied. It shows no improvement in this regard in the successive reports. But one contributor to this volume, W. B. Bryan, evinces any conception of modern historical methods, and he seems rather doubtful of his faith. Some of the papers are not of the scope to provide any index to the author's views.

Contents in detail: 1. The making of a plan for Washington City, by Glenn Brown. Account of L'Enfant's scheme, with possible sources for some of his ideas, in Paris and London, in Annapolis and Williamsburg; but claimed that the chief feature of Washington, "its numerous focal points of interest and beauty," with radiation of principal streets "was not suggested by any city of Europe." Some references. Ten pages.

2. The making of a plan for the City of Washington, by Charles Moore. Merely superficial description of the last plan by committee of which Mr. Moore was secretary. Newspapery, repetition of threadbare statement of inner social circles of old families in Washington, but no details. Pages 11-23.

3. Recollections of a Washington Newspaper Correspondent, by Francis A. Richardson. Good, tells what he knows himself as he was journalist 35 years. Naturally he makes big claims of the "influence and effect" exercised by his calling. Pages 24-42.

4. Washington in Literature, by Ainsworth R. Spofford. Tells of literary work and workers of the city, long strings of authors and titles, summarizes apparently from memory, perhaps not entirely accurate. Pages 43-64.

5. Beginnings of Government in the District, by W. B. Bryan. A well-written summary of discussions in Con

gress and in the local papers about 1800 as to best form of government for the District. Pages 65-96.

6. Remarks of J. D. Morgan. Description of a picture of Duddington, residence of Daniel Carroll, and account, in documents, of the demolition of Carroll's first house as it stood in New Jersey avenue as designed by L'Enfant. Pages 97-99.

7. Remarks of John B. Larner. Description of a photograph, taken in 1865, of southeast corner of 14th and F streets, Northwest, also narrative of subsequent use of houses. Pages 100-103.

8. Old residences and family history in the City Hall neighborhood, by Douglass Zevely. An ocean of facts that we have to take on writer's word, a marvelous memory if all embalmed there. Pages 104-122.

9. Bradley family and times in which they lived, by Charles S. Bradley. Relates to two brothers, Abraham and Phineas, and their father Abraham, who came to Washington about 1800, both in the postoffice service; some letters given, history of some of their homes. Pages 123-142.

10. History of the city Post Office, by Madison Davis. Sketches of postmasters and of the various offices used, with a number of documents, but no references. Pages 143-213.

11. Seal of Columbia Historical Society, by Elizabeth B. Johnston. Account of the adoption of "the marble clock above the north door of the Hall of Statuary" as the model for the Society's seal; also what is claimed to be a history of the clock, with sketches of the early Italian artists and their work in Washington 1800-1820, but all mere assertion, no proof.

12. Theatres of Washington from 1835 to 1850, by Aloysius I. Mudd. Descriptions of buildings, of performers, of performances, with prices, names, dates-yet haraly a reference for these thousands of facts.

13. Matters of organization; list of members (251), minutes, reports, remonstrance against destruction of old U. S. census records.

THE JOHN P. BRANCH HISTORICAL PAPERS of RandolphMacon College, No. 3, June, 1903, paper, pp. 157-256, annual, $1.00, Ashland, Va.

Contents: 1. Prefacé (2 pp., explanatory); 2. Life Sketch of Captain Richard Irby, by Bishop J. C. Granberry (10 pp., dates 1825-1902, farmer, merchant, college trustee and official for half century; religious side emphasized, conversions, revivals, etc.); 3. Thomas Ritchie, by C. T. Thrift (18 pp., Nov. 5, 1778-July 3, 1854; mainly career in journalism in Richmond; based on Enquirer that Ritchie edited); 4. Abel Parker Upshur, by R. E. McCabe (17 pp., June 17, 1790-Feb. 28, 1844; public life with anecdotes, extracts from speeches of this Virginia statesman, killed by explosion of gun on the Princeton, when he was Secretary of State under Tyler); 5. John Lewis, by G. H. Fielding (11 pp., 1678-1762, Irish emigrant, early settler in Valley of Virginia, based on 2 or 3 State and local histories, no references to W. Va. hist. periodicals); 6. Correspondence of Leven Powell (40 pp., dates 1786-1805, of value, throwing light on Jefferson-Burr contest, that Jefferson "been obliged to make great promises" on neutrality and navy; half dozen letters from Monroe bearing on French spoliation claims, 1828-1829).

The three biographical papers have decidedly more pedogogical interest than historical as they represent an experiment that Professor W. E. Dodd, the editor and teacher, is making with his seniors to show them the importance of local history, and to train them in the use of historical evidence. He has not gone far enough for a definite opinion to be formed, but at least three drawbacks can be pointed out: There is danger to the cause of history in thus pre

empting a claim, half developing it, and yet waiving off others. For prentice hands these sketches, two at least, are very creditable, but as contributions to history they are hopelessly inadequate, practically useless.

There is danger to the writers themselves in puffing them up with exalted notions of themselves without furnishing the corrective of subsequent articles or a genuinely laborious research.

There is, thirdly, the loss of valuable space which could have been devoted to original material like the matter in the second half of the pamphlet.

It is to be seriously doubted whether college students have the strength and breadth to tackle such data as newspapers, manuscripts and odds and ends of knowledge from all directions. Certainly it does seem a capital idea to have them realize the significance of original sources, but it would surely be better to confine them to the easily accessible printed volumes, such as the classics, Froissart and a few others for the middle ages, and the Force Archives and similar ones for this country. A small collection of these would be possible for almost any college library. The instructor would be master of the entire field, and could guide and criticise with all the firmness and safety that come from thorough command of the subject.

The Ritchie article is an illustration of the special need of educative oversight at this immature stage and yet it is absolutely impossible for the teacher to know the ground half as well as the young fellow, and naturally he has to hesitate. The author could not feel the meaning of some of his strong expressions such as, "discussed every subject in masterly and exhaustive manner" (p. 176); "Congress was aroused to action by the activity of Mr. Ritchie" (177); "the ablest editor the South has yet produced" (187). There is call for vigorous pruning here but Professor Dodd could only be helpless in his ignorance of the special field.

MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTIONS for April, 1903, vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 76, quarterly, $5.00 annual dues, 1600 Locust street, St. Louis, Mo.

Contents: Early recollections of Missouri, by Hon. Thomas Shackelford (23 pp., valuable original material “to illustrate a history of the times," light on slavery, civil war, early days); 2. Letter of Gov. Claiborne F. Jackson (3 pp., April 28, 1861, to J. W. Tucker; sympathetic with South, but secretly advocating delay till better armed); 3. Administration of Governor B. Gratz Brown, 1871-73, by Frederick N. Judson, private secreary of Gov. Brown (20 pp., essay merely, but good sketch of Liberal Republican party that "destroyed the last vestiges of the Civil War in Missouri"); 4. Henry R. Schoolcraft, by Rev. Dr. Meade C. Williams (13 pp., readable essay from accessible sources, but no addition to knowledge of this famous explorer, ethnologist; dates March 28, 1793-1864); 5. Jean Gabriel Cerré; a sketch (20 pp., French-American pioneer, Aug. 12, 1734-April 4, 1805; scrappy sketch as material said not to be known; chiefly extracts from Canadian and U. S. archives and others not clearly stated).

If the Hon. W. A. Courtenay, who, though not living in the city, presumably still has charge of the strictly historical space of the Charleston Year Book, could have an assistant, students would be grateful. The last issue, 1902, devotes 38 pages to such material, consisting of a reprint (it is to be inferred) of "An address respecting the Charleston and Hamburg Railroad" by Elias Horry, in Charleston, in 1833. Most likely the original pamphlet is practically exhausted, and inherently it is worthy of reproduction, but there is not one word of editing throughout. There it stands as naked as when it first saw the light, and each one is left to his own conclusions. It is an important contribution to the history of early rail transportation in this country, as it is a sketch

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