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The course taken by the great famine of 1866 well illustrates the above views。 This famine； also； was caused by the total failure of the December rice…crop； and it was brought to a close by an abundant harvest in the succeeding year。
〃Even as regards the maximum price reached； the analogy holds good； in each case rice having risen in general to nearly twopence； and in particular places to fourpence； a pound； and in each the quoted rates being for a brief period in several isolated localities merely nominal； no food existing in the market； and money altogether losing its interchangeable value。 In both the people endured silently to the end； with a fortitude that casual observers of a different temperament and widely dissimilar race may easily mistake for apathy； but which those who lived among the sufferers are unable to distinguish from qualities that generally pass under a more honourable name。 During 1866； when the famine was severest； I superintended public instruction throughout the southwestern division of Lower Bengal； including Orissa。 The subordinate native officers； about eight hundred in number； behaved with a steadiness； and when called upon； with a self…abnegation； beyond praise。 Many of them ruined their health。 The touching scenes of self…sacrifice and humble heroism which I witnessed among the poor villagers on my tours of inspection will remain in my memory till my latest day。〃
But to meet the famine of 1866 Bengal was equipped with railroads and canals； and better than all； with an intelligent government。 Far from trying to check speculation； as in 1770； the government did all in its power to stimulate it。 In the earlier famine one could hardly engage in the grain trade without becoming amenable to the law。 〃In 1866 respectable men in vast numbers went into the trade； for government； by publishing weekly returns of the rates in every district； rendered the traffic both easy and safe。 Every one knew where to buy grain cheapest； and where to sell it dearest； and food was accordingly brought from the districts that could best spare it； and carried to those which most urgently needed it。 Not only were prices equalized so far as possible throughout the stricken parts； but the publicity given to the high rates in Lower Bengal induced large shipments from the upper provinces； and the chief seat of the trade became unable to afford accommodation for landing the vast stores of grain brought down the river。 Rice poured into the affected districts from all parts；railways； canals； and roads vigorously doing their duty。〃
The result of this wise policy was that scarcity was heightened into famine only in one remote corner of Bengal。 Orissa was commercially isolated in 1866； as the whole country had been in 1770。 〃As far back as the records extend； Orissa has produced more grain than it can use。 It is an exporting； not an importing province； sending away its surplus grain by sea； and neither requiring nor seeking any communication with Lower Bengal by land。〃 Long after the rest of the province had begun to prepare for a year of famine； Orissa kept on exporting。 In March； when the alarm was first raised； the southwest monsoon had set in； rendering the harbours inaccessible。 Thus the district was isolated。 It was no longer possible to apply the wholesome policy which was operating throughout the rest of the country。 The doomed population of Orissa； like passengers in a ship without provisions； were called upon to suffer the extremities of famine； and in the course of the spring and summer of 1866； some seven hundred thousand people perished。
January； 1869。
X。 SPAIN AND THE NETHERLANDS。＇31＇
＇31＇ History of the United Netherlands： from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Years' Truce； 1609。 By John Lothrop Motley； D。 C。 L。 In four volumes。 Vols。 III。 and IV。 New York。 1868。
Tandem fit surculus arbor： the twig which Mr。 Motley in his earlier volumes has described as slowly putting forth its leaves and rootless； while painfully struggling for existence in a hostile soil； has at last grown into a mighty tree of liberty； drawing sustenance from all lands； and protecting all civilized peoples with its pleasant shade。 We congratulate Mr。 Motley upon the successful completion of the second portion of his great work； and we think that the Netherlanders of our time have reason to be grateful to the writer who has so faithfully and eloquently told the story of their country's fearful struggle against civil and ecclesiastical tyranny； and its manifold contributions to the advancement of European civilization。
Mr。 Motley has been fortunate in his selection of a subject upon which to write。 Probably no century of modern times lends itself to the purposes of the descriptive historian so well as the sixteenth。 While on the one hand the problems which it presents are sufficiently near for us to understand them without too great an effort of the imagination； on the other hand they are sufficiently remote for us to study them without passionate and warping prejudice。 The contest between Catholicism and the reformed religionbetween ecclesiastical autocracy and the right of private investigationhas become a thing of the past； and constitutes a closed chapter in human history。 The epoch which begins where Mr。 Motley's history is designed to closeat the peace of Westphaliais far more complicated。 Since the middle of the seventeenth century a double movement has been going on in religion and philosophy； society and politics；a movement of destruction typified by Voltaire and Rousseau； and a constructive movement represented by Diderot and Lessing。 We are still living in the midst of this great epoch： the questions which it presents are liable to disturb our prejudices as well as to stimulate our reason； the results to which it must sooner or later attain can now be only partially foreseen； and even its present tendencies are generally misunderstood； and in many quarters wholly ignored。 With the sixteenth century； as we have said； the case is far different。 The historical problem is far less complex。 The issues at stake are comparatively simple； and the historian has before him a straightforward story。
From the dramatic； or rather from the epic； point of view； the sixteenth century is pre…eminent。 The essentially transitional character of modern history since the breaking up of the papal and feudal systems is at no period more distinctly marked。 In traversing the sixteenth century we realize that we have fairly got out of one state of things and into another。 At the outset； events like the challenge of Barletta may make us doubt whether we have yet quite left behind the Middle Ages。 The belief in the central position of the earth is still universal； and the belief in its rotundity not yet； until the voyage of Magellan； generally accepted。 We find Englandowing partly to the introduction of gunpowder and the consequent disuse of archery； partly to the results of the recent integration of France under Louis XI。fallen back from the high relative position which it had occupied under the rule of the Plantagenets； and its policy still directed in accordance with reminiscences of Agincourt； and garnet； and Burgundian