United States of America (2 vols., 1882), text reprinted in volume VI. of History of the United States, "author's last revision" (6 vols., 1883-1885). The two volumes are fully equipped with foot-notes, and with appendixes containing valuable documents, some of which are nowhere else obtainable in print. The books are the product of great toil and conscientious effort, but the author's habit of altering quotations for literary effect is much to be deplored, as is his general method of arranging material. Too great an effort is often made to follow events chronologically where a topical treatment would add much to the clearness. Like the earlier volumes of his History of the United States, these are marred by the tone of exaltation with which it is almost impossible to write truthful history; and thus, although he narrates the facts honestly, the reader fails to get the right idea of the years of the Confederation. In spite of this, all students must acknowledge their gratitude to Bancroft's painstaking research and devotion to his torical accuracy.

A full treatment of the period is in George Ticknor Curtis, History of the Origin, Formation, and Adoption of the Constitution of the United States (2 vols., 1854), reprinted unchanged, as vol. I. of his Constitutional History of the United States (2 vols., 1889-1896). These volumes are on the whole accurate, and are written apparently with painstaking effort, but without breadth of view. The statements of the text are not very carefully supported by references to authorities, and the somewhat complex and dry style leaves with the reader a feeling of dissatisfaction. John Fiske, The Critical Period of American History, 1783-1789 (1888), is an exceedingly interesting and popular narrative. The author knew how to tell a story with inimitable skill. Although there are not many errors of fact in the book, and certain fundamental ideas are clearly brought out, as an authority the work is altogether without scientific standing, because it is little more than a remarkably skilful adaptation of a very few secondary authorities, showing almost no evidence of first hand

acquaintance with the sources. Even Bancroft's rearranged quotations have been taken in some cases without consulting the sources. It is not strong in its treatment of the industrial conditions of the period, and there is no evidence of any original thinking on the problem and work of the convention. The peace negotiations are described from the viewpoint of an uncritical admirer of Jay's policy.

Of the utmost importance for information on the life of the people is the first volume of John Bach McMaster, History of the People of the United States from the Revolution to the Civil War (5 vols., published, 1883-1900). An immense amount of valuable and suggestive material is drawn from the newspapers of the time, though no effort is made to discuss Constitutional history. Two good sketches are to be found in Winsor, America, VII., “The Confederation, 1781-1789," by Justin Winsor, and "The Constitution of the United States and Its History," by George Ticknor Curtis. Richard Hildreth, History of the United States (6 vols., 1849-1852; subsequent editions from same plates), in vol. IV., gives a short, clear, dry, and condensed account. Something is to be found in the first volume of James Schouler, History of the United States under the Constitution (6 vols., 1880-1899), and in' Timothy Pitkin, Political and Civil History of the United States (2 vols., 1828). Hermann E. von Holst, The Constitutional and Political History of the United States (Lalor's transl., 8 vols., several editions, 1876-1892), gives a suggestive and philosophic discussion in volume I., chaps. i. and ii.

Of special service will be found the biographies of statesmen of the time, many of which contain considerable original material. William Jay, The Life of John Jay, with Selections from His Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers (2 vols., 1833), and George Pellew, John Jay (1890), are helpful in studying diplomatic conditions. John C. Hamilton, History of the Republic of the United States as Traced in the Writings of Alexander Hamilton and of His

Cotemporaries (7 vols., 1857-1864, also later editions, unaltered), though written with bias, is useful. Valuable material will be found in Kate M. Rowland, The Life of George Mason, 1725-1792, including His Speeches, Public Papers, and Correspondence (2 vols., 1892). The best life of Madison in short form is Gaillard Hunt, Life of James Madison (1902), not a brilliant but a thoroughly scholarly book, written from the sources. A very able treatment of the period of the Confederation is William C. Rives, History of the Life and Times of James Madison (3 vols., 18591868). Among the biographers of greatest service on this period are William Wirt Henry, Patrick Henry, Life, Correspondence, and Speeches (3 vols., 1891), a work based on good material and containing much original matter; Moses Coit Tyler, Patrick Henry (1887), is somewhat eulogistic, but strong and entertaining; William V. Wells, The Life and Public Services of Samuel Adams (3 vols., 1865); James T. Austin, The Life of Elbridge Gerry, with Contemporary Letters (2 vols., 1828-1829); Charles J. Stillé, The Life and Times of John Dickinson, 1732-1808 (1891, also in Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Memoirs, XIII.); Moncure D. Conway, Omitted Chapters of History Disclosed in the Life and Papers of Edmund Randolph (1888); Griffith J. McRee, Life and Correspondence of James Iredell (2 vols., 1857-1858), containing many original letters, some of considerable importance; Richard H. Lee, Memoir of the Life of Richard Henry Lee and His Correspondence with the Most Distinguished Men in America and Europe (2 vols., 1825), containing selected letters throwing insufficient light on the work and opinions of Lee; Thomas C. Amory, Life of James Sullivan, with Selections from His Writings (2 vols., 1859), giving some information concerning conditions in Massachusetts; Henry S. Randall, Life of Thomas Jefferson (3 vols., 1858), able, eulogistic, old-fashioned; John T. Morse, Jr., Thomas Jefferson (1883), Benjamin Franklin (1889), John Adams (1885); Sydney H. Gay, James Madison (1884); James Parton, Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin (2 vols., 1864); Henry Cabot Lodge, Alexander Hamilton

(1882), George Washington (2 vols., 1889), a hurried but readable sketch; John Marshall, Life of Washington (5 vols., 1804-1807, 2 vols., 1832), not particularly strong on the period of the Confederation; Theodore Roosevelt, Gouverneur Morris (1888).

GENERAL COLLECTIONS OF SOURCES

This period can be satisfactorily studied in its political and Constitutional aspects from collections of printed sources that are fairly accessible. The Journals of Congress and The Secret Journals of Congress are absolutely necessary. The Journals were printed in a number of editions, and it is unnecessary here to go into their complicated bibliography; see Paul L. Ford, "Some Materials for a Bibliography of the Official Publications of the Continental Congress" (Boston Public Library, Bulletin, VIII.-X.); Herbert M. Friedenwald, "Journals and Papers of the Continental Congress," with a bibliography (American Historical Association, Annual Report, 1896, I., 85-135). The Library of Congress has already issued one volume of a new edition of the Journals, edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford (1904-), which will supersede all previous editions. The originals are now in the Library of Congress.

The standard collection of material on the Constitutional conventions is Jonathan Elliot, The Debates in the Several State Conventions, on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution (5 vols., 2d ed., 1836-1845, also subsequent editions). Vol. I. contains a series of very important state papers, including the journal of the Philadelphia convention, valuable letters, and comments on the Constitution; vol. V. contains Madison's notes on the Federal Convention and on a few debates in the Congress of the Confederation. Albert Bushnell Hart, American History Told by Contemporaries (4 vols., 1897-1901), II., chap. xxxv., and III., pts. ii., iii., and iv., gives a few selected sources.

Hardly less in importance are the writings of the statesmen of the time. There are two editions of Washington's

works: Writings of George Washington (ed. by W. C. Ford, 14 vols., 1889-1893); Writings of George Washington (ed. by Jared Sparks, 12 vols., 1834-1837), not so carefully edited as the Ford edition. Madison's writings appear in three forms: The Writings of James Madison, Comprising His Public Papers and His Private Correspondence, etc. (ed. by Gaillard Hunt, 5 vols. so far published, 1900-), the most satisfactory collection of Madison's writings, carefully edited, and containing much not to be found in the other collections, which are fragmentary; Letters and Other Writings of Madison (official ed., 4 vols., 1865); The Papers of James Madison . . . His Correspondence and Reports of Debates During the Congress of the Confederation, and His Reports of Debates... in the Federal Convention (ed. by Henry D. Gilpin, 3 vols., 1840). These volumes are of inestimable value for tracing the work of the Continental Congress and of the Federal Convention. Neither of the two collections of Hamilton's writings is complete and altogether satisfactory: Complete Works of Alexander Hamilton (ed. by H. C. Lodge, 9 vols., 1885-1886); The Works of Alexander Hamilton, Comprising His Correspondence (ed. by J. C. Hamilton, 7 vols., 1850-1851). The so-called federal edition of the Works of Hamilton (also edited by Lodge) is a reprint of the edition of 1885-1886 and without substantial alteration (12 vols., 1904). Of Franklin's works, The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin (ed. by John Bigelow, 10 vols., 1887-1888) is the best yet published; see also The Works of Benjamin Franklin with Notes and a Life of the Author (ed. by Jared Sparks, 10 vols., 1840-1850). A new set of Franklin's writings, in ten volumes, edited by Albert Smythe, is in process of collection and publication. For John Adams, The Works of John Adams . . . with a Life of the Author (ed. by C. F. Adams, 10 vols., 1850-1856), is a useful and entirely satisfactory collection. Writings of James Monroe (ed. by Stanislaus M. Hamilton, 7 vols., 1898-1903), throws some light on the political events of the period as seen by one of the inferior statesmen of the time. Especially useful