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on travel, art^ literature, and history. As historian he is one of the most prominent représentatives of that modem school which attempts to apply to historical research the inductive method of the natural sciences, seeking everywhere a rational explanation of exisling phenomena in their anteceding causes and in présent environments. An adhèrent of the positive philosophy in so far as he believes in a strict classification of phenomena and in an unbiased study of their relations and laws, he yet differs from it by considering the search of their ultimate caases and essences as not ail in vain. His empirical method, however just and legitimate in itself, has no donbt led him too far in eliminating sach spiritual powers as we are not yet able to demonstrate from observed phenomena.

Taine^s philosophical views permeate his last work. Les Origines de la France contemporaine (6 volumes, 1875-94), in which he surveys the genesis of France of to-day out of its immédiate antécédents. Every page of this important work, overflowing, as it is, with force, éloquence, effective reasoning, and spéculative ingenuity, affords matter for reflection and enjoyment. It was received at once with intense interest, and has appeared in repeated éditions. The first volume {L'ancien régime), in which the author mercilessly exposes the abnormity and hoUowness of the old régime with its feudal despotism, aroused great expectations among the libérais and made him their declared favorite. But when, later, in his three volumes on the révolution {La Révolution) he laid bare, as unsparingly, the blind passions, brutality, and mad

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crnelties of the revolntionaries, and especially of the Jacobins^ whom he sconrges with abomination, bis popnlarity waned^and he was even called a renegade. Whether we agrée or not with Taine's théories, wè must recognize the fact that he wrote with an impartial mind, with an absolute détermination to dissect and analyze the past without undue référence to différent parties or classes. He says himself, in bis préface to Vol. I. : " Ancien régime. Révolution, Régime nouveau, je vais tâcher de décrire ces trois états avec exactitude. J'ose déclarer ici que je n*ai point d'autre but: on permettra à un historien d'agir en naturaliste; j'étais devant mon sujet comme devant la métamorphose d'un insecte;" and to Vol. III.: "J'ai encore le regret de prévoir que cet ouvrage déplaira à beaucoup de mes compatriotes. Mon excuse est que, plus heureux que moi, ils ont presque tous des principes politiques et s'en servent pour juger le passé, je n'en avais pas, et même, si j'ai entrepris mon livre, c'est pour en chercher."

Thèse words indicate the spirit in which the work was undertaken and carried on towards its completion, which, unfortunately was not reached on account of the intervening death of the author.