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Notes and Comments

PROFESSOR W. P. KER's brilliant dissertation On the Philosophy of History (pp. 25, MacLehose, 1909, price Is. nett) begins with a sort of Philosophy text in the story of Hegel's being asked by another philosopher of History. to deduce his quill pen' and proceeds in the shadow of that 'frivolous problem' to ask whether the Philosophy of History is not the same kind of impossibility.' With equal dexterity of criticism and happiness of wit he cross-examines the testimony of literature, leaving on the reader an impression of ingrained scepticism, despite the evident and deep impress of Hegel on his thought. Historians are naturally inclined to be suspicious or unrespectful about the philosophy of history. They regard it as an amateurish and at the same time pretentious way of cutting the difficulties. What there is good in it is history: what is not history in it is superfluous. This opinion,' concludes Professor Ker, 'is not unreasonable.'

From his essay, with its sparkling points which are most luminous, albeit the light is oftenest by way of parable, we can turn to Professor George B. Adams's graver and more direct, though hardly less interesting, discussion of History and the Philosophy of History in the American Historical Review for January. It begins with a verse of Sordello:

God has conceded two sights to a man-
One of man's whole work, time's completed plan,

The other of the minute's work, man's first
Step to the plan's completeness.

Professor Adams

Perhaps the last word is said in this finely apt motto. after glancing at Ranke's influence on the standards of scientific method in historical study, contrasts two questions. 'It is one thing to raise the question, Is human action dominated by law, and can we by discovering those laws construct a science of history in the sense in which there exists a science of chemistry? It is quite a different thing to ask, Can methods of investigation which are strictly scientific be applied to the study of the past action of the race in such a way as to give a knowledge of what happened greater certainty? The school of Ranke has never endeavoured to go beyond this last question, but their answer to it has been clear and, I believe, an indisputable affirmative.'

In his conclusion he denies any call superior to Ranke's, proclaiming the first duty of the historian to establish wie es eigentlich gewesen, and he declines to add wie es eigentlich geworden. To the true historian,' Prof

Adams says, 'the being of a fact has always included all the portion of its becoming which belongs to the definite understanding of it. What is more than that we can safely leave to others.' In describing changes of concept as to the matter and method of history, he indicates a striking forecast of the effects of five elements of change-the results to be anticipated from political science, geographical study, economics, sociology and social psychology. He instances Lamprecht and Ferrero as modern authors of great histories, evincing remarkable applications of economic and sociological principles, and especially interesting as the first promise of the harvest which the new culture may bring forth.' The function of the historian, the discovery and recording of what actually happened, Prof. Adams finds perfectly compatible with a philosophy of history in the sense of Buckle. He may well hold to the belief that the facts which he is establishing tend to prove this or that final explanation of history.'

Hundredth Volume of the Revue Historique.

It is only on rare occasions that the Revue Historique ceases to be impersonal. In the last number issued (Jan.-Feb.) the editors, Messrs. Gabriel Monod and Charles Bémont, by way of introduction to this, the first part of the hundredth volume of their great periodical, each prefix an address to the readers. M. Monod surveys the course traversed by the review since 1875, when as original editor he revised the proof sheets of its first articles.

We can appreciate the sentiment of deep satisfaction and legitimate pride with which he briefly and simply registers the biography of the review, which has changed neither its printer nor its publisher since it began, and with the editing of which, first in only a junior capacity as secretary and, since 1882, as co-editor, M. Bémont has been associated. They have striven to maintain the highest standards of French historical workmanship—standards which change and develop always in the direction of better penetrating behind the outward shows, so as to 'comprehend, recover, and express the soul' of things, and ascertain the true bonds of relationship in the manifestations of civilisation as well as the causes which produce them. Glancing at the condition of study in Germany, 'the classic land of erudition and criticism,' M. Monod prophesies a reaction in France analogous to that in Germany, on the same lines of broader and deeper synthesis, and of wider yet more precise historical generalisation on the greater forces and currents of civilisation, in the study of which sociology appears to strike him as of the profoundest interest. His definition is worth quoting. 'Sociology is an effort to establish upon scientific bases the philosophy of history in submitting the essential elements of social life and of the development of humanity to a double process, first of abstraction and then of synthesis, in order to reach and determine the laws, or at any rate the modalities, of the evolution of societies.'

M. Bémont briefly defines the aspirations of the Revue in the field of European history other than French. Incidentally he regrets the meagreness of historical material in course of publication regarding Canada,

'whose history interests the French on so many counts.' Need we say how heartily we tender homage and congratulations as well as good wishes for yet greater successes to the Revue and the band of scholars who conduct it?

Among the contents of this inaugural part of 'Tome C.' is a sequel by Prof. Ch. V. Langlois to an article (noticed in S.H.R. iv. 105) on the complaints made against crown officers in thirteenth century France. The text of many representations of grave and petty injustices is incorporated in the paper. Among them may be noted claims of a fine pour sesines brisiées, of others for playing at dice, for bad language, for digging below the highway, for appropriating timber, and for not paying the custom. There is mention of maletolt, of the crusader's essoign or privilege -car il estoit croisié-of failure to fulfil a corvée, of putting a Templar in gehina (probably a torture chamber) and slaying him there, of a charge against a woman que ele avoit prise blanche monnoie, and of putting people wrongfully in prison, and, in one case, into a pit at a fair and tying them round the waist with cords like thieves. An interesting cross-examination, dating from about 1295, brings out the witnesses agreeing that a promise to pay 281. for a mesconte to the provost of Orleans had been made en chastelet par desous ou plaidoir. The plaidoir, as the second witness explains, was the place in Orleans where the provost held his pleas. But the two disagreed about the time, the one said it was environ la Toussains (Nov. 1), the other said it was apries la Saint Remi (after Jan. 13). This discrepancy nonsuited the claimant, and the provost was 'assoilzied of the demand.' Great as is the interest of these rolls of the grievances of small people against the men in office-provosts, sergeants, and bailiffs-resulting from commissions of enquiry pro correctione curialium, not less may be expected from other representations made by local communities, clergy, and townsmen for the rectification of abuses. Some of these are to be the subject of future studies by M. Langlois, who never fails to vivify his documents.

Earthworks

REPORTS of archaeological and historical enterprises performed or in progress reach us from various bodies. That of the Committee on Ancient Earthworks and Fortified Enclosures succinctly Reports on registers (1) sundry steps taken for the protection of English and earthworks, (2) a bibliography of the year's publications touching Excavations. the subject, (3) a note of known cases of partial destruction of such works, and (4) an account of explanatory operations. Mere allusion is made to a description of the earthworks at Arthuret associated with the battle of Ardderyd circa 573.

From Dorset comes an interim account by Mr. H. St. George Gray of excavations made last year at Maumbury Rings, near Dorchester, regarded by many as a Roman amphitheatre. Cuttings through the encircling bank have disclosed Roman and Romano-British pottery, traces of post-holes indicative of wooden buildings, a coin of Claudius I. A.D. 51-54, iron shears, an iron javelin, and a bronze fibula. Below the Roman deposits flint flakes and chippings, perhaps from a Neolithic flint workshop, were

got; also nine antler-picks, supposed to have been used by Neolithic men in cutting the chalk-shaft where they were found.

The
Historical
Association.

We have received the Second Annual Report of the Historical Association, of which Professor Firth is President, and with it a volume of leaflets published by the Association during its two years' existence. The aim of the Association is to collect information as to existing systems of historical teaching at home and abroad, to represent the needs of the study of history to governing bodies, and above all to further the proper teaching of history in schools, whether public or private. For this last its leaflets are issued and are admirably fitted to effect their object. They give excellent bibliographical guidance on historical source-books, on text-books for teaching general English, European and Ancient history, on authorities for special periods, and on books useful in supplementary reading. They also furnish a list of illustrations, portraits, and lantern slides suitable for schoolroom purposes, and a summary of historical examinations affecting schools.

But as well as providing definite information the leaflets endeavour to help the teacher by publishing addresses on the teaching of history in schools by men such as Dr. Hodgkin and Mr. James Bryce, and on local history as a means of first awakening a love of history, by Professor Child.

The Association is to be congratulated on the work it has already done, and on the invaluable aid it is rendering to historical teachers— above all to those isolated teachers who are far from libraries and centres of learning.

St. Triduana.

WE are indebted to Mr. Thomas Ross for the interesting account of ,the so-called Chapter House of Restalrig, which is situated Restalrig and in the Churchyard on the south side of the old Parish Church. the Well of About two years ago the Ecclesiological Society called the attention of the Earl of Moray to the condition of this building, and by his directions it has been put in proper order. It had been used as a burial vault from the sixteenth century, and both inside and outside of the building there was much earth piled up. During the removal of the earth from the interior of the building constant difficulty was experienced owing to water rising from below the floor of the building. After several ineffectual efforts to get rid of the water it became apparent that this building had never been anything else than a well.

The mullions and tracery of the east window had been removed so as to effect an entrance to the burial vault; the other two windows had been built up and their mullions destroyed. These have now been restored, as has also the finely moulded base of the central shaft, which otherwise was found perfect.

On the new roof of the building is a figure of St. Triduana, who worked, died, and was buried at Restalrig. Throughout the Middle Ages her well was resorted to by people with injured eyes. Her legend is that Nectan, King of the Picts, was so captivated by her bright witching eyes that,

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