82 2 Revieivs of Books A similar doubt hangs about the author's next statement that we have more progress to place to the credit of our nineteenth century, than did those less lucky people, who looked back through their eigh- teenth or seventeenth century at its achievements. This error too is very popular, and we may be sure that people of General Washington's and Napoleon's time thought the same of the eighteenth, as we do of the nineteenth century, although it may be questioned whether Wash- ington and Napoleon themselves, with their philosophical minds, shared these views. But why should we dwell upon errors, or perhaps only differences of opinion of author and critic, when we have before us so excellent a work, of lucid style and arrangement, and everywhere governed by the clear judgment and quick mental perception which only can make a mass of facts digestible for readers, or in any way useful to history. The story begins with an introduction on the "Origin and Prog- ress of Steam Navigation," a well-proportioned resume of the whole subject. In his next chapter, "Building and Battle of the Iron- Clads," the author has shown by a simple narrative of facts, the condi- tions which governed the creation of an armored fleet, bringing the chapter to an end with the natural climax of the engagement of the Merriinac and Monitor. This picture is made plainly visible to us by the author's excellent clearness of style, and his discretion as to the use of excessive language, enabling the reader to contemplate this remarkable event without the disturbance of mind which an inflated rhetoric fre- quently induces, when describing the heroic acts of history, however simple and simply performed they may have been. Under the heading of "Some Naval Events of the Civil War" Lieutenant Bennett, in his next chapter, discusses the principal battles of that period, with a natural concentration of interest upon the opera- tions of Admiral Farragut's fleet. In describing this hero of the sea, the author's simplicity of narrative continues unabated, and much as we ad- mire the absence of hysterical laudation in his book, there seems some- thing a little cold in those pages which record the noble achievements of our fleets under Farragut ; but Lieutenant Bennett remembers always— and very properly it must be conceded — that he is not writing eulogies, but a history of steam development in our navy. Even in this connec- tion, however, a very strong point could be made of Farragut's influence upon the development of a steam navy. He possessed so high an in- telligence, and so keen a discernment, that it was impossible for him to be hide-bound by traditions of former days, if a real improvement in war-fleets presented itself. He never questioned the value of steam as a great factor of war, nor was any improved form of vessel or torpedo-boat or ram discredited with him because it was new or different from his traditions. It was not so with all our leaders. Some there were, of acknowledged bravery and ability, who could not rise above profes- sional prejudices, born of a lifetime of faithful service indeed — but none the less warping their minds and limiting their power to serve their country in time of need. H. C. Taylor.
