564 EDWARD JACKSON LOWELL. 



of extended reading in English and French historical sources, in addi- 

 tion to his German studies. It is principally devoted to narrating the 

 attempts made by the United States during the earlier part of the 

 Revolutionary War to obtain recognition and aid from foreign coun- 

 tries, and to raise the money for carrying on the struggle. Inciden- 

 tall}^ the diplomatic situation in P^urope, so far as it affected us, is 

 portrayed, and the desperate financial straits to which we were re- 

 duced are well described. The result is a succinct and instructive 

 survey of our early foreign relations. Besides embodying the results 

 of his studies of the German auxiliaries, he became so deeply inter- 

 ested in the career of Lafayette that he formed the intention of writ- 

 ing his life. For that purpose, he began to collect materials, but 

 abandoned the design upon learning tliat a similar work by another 

 was on the eve of publication. He had intended to draw a contrast 

 between the American and French Revolutions, but he changed his 

 jjlan, and began the composition of what turned out to be his most 

 important literary undertaking. 



This was published in 1892 under the title of " The Eve of the 

 French Revolution." It contains the ripe fruit of the studies and reflec- 

 tions of his life ; from it we can learn the manly strength that underlay 

 his singularly sweet and winning personality, and on it his reputation 

 will chiefly rest. Whoever wishes to obtain a clear idea of the hidden 

 causes that resulted in that fearful outburst of political passion cannot 

 fail of satisfaction if he will carefully study this small but weighty 

 volume. The author lays no claim to original research and pretends 

 to formulate no novel views, but relies upon the results reached by the 

 best historians and thinkers of France ; and the reader will find many 

 popular delusions in regard to the actual situation of that country 

 immediately before the meeting of the States General completely dis- 

 pelled. " The condition of the people," we are told, " both in Paris 

 and in the provinces was far less bad than it has often been repre- 

 sented." They were not crushed by the oppression of a dissolute and 

 tyrannical aristocracy, as many writers have asserted, nor was the 

 Bastille crowded with captives, so that a political hurricane was 

 needed to clear the moral atmosphere. But, on the other hand, we 

 are made to see clearly what were the inherent vices of that aneien 

 regime, which harassed and irritated every class in the community, 

 and in the language of De Tocqueville produced "a condition of society 

 which was detested by every one who knew it." In dififerent chapters 

 and with ample detail the author shows how the army had become 

 discontented, because only nobles were eligible to high rank ; how the 



