The first portion—­consisting of two volumes—­of the “History of the United Netherlands” was published in the year 1860.  It maintained and increased the reputation he had already gained by his first history.

“The London Quarterly Review” devoted a long article to it, beginning with this handsome tribute to his earlier and later volumes:—­

“Mr. Motley’s ‘History of the Rise of the Dutch Republic’ is already known and valued for the grasp of mind which it displays, for the earnest and manly spirit in which he has communicated the results of deep research and careful reflection.  Again he appears before us, rich with the spoils of time, to tell the story of the United Netherlands from the time of William the Silent to the end of the eventful year of the Spanish Armada, and we still find him in every way worthy of this ‘great argument.’  Indeed, it seems to us that he proceeds with an increased facility of style, and with a more complete and easy command over his materials.  These materials are indeed splendid, and of them most excellent use has been made.  The English State Paper Office, the Spanish archives from Simancas, and the Dutch and Belgian repositories, have all yielded up their secrets; and Mr. Motley has enjoyed the advantage of dealing with a vast mass of unpublished documents, of which he has not failed to avail himself to an extent which places his work in the foremost rank as an authority for the period to which it relates.  By means of his labor and his art we can sit at the council board of Philip and Elizabeth, we can read their most private dispatches.  Guided by his demonstration, we are enabled to dissect out to their ultimate issues the minutest ramifications of intrigue.  We join in the amusement of the popular lampoon; we visit the prison-house; we stand by the scaffold; we are present at the battle and the siege.  We can scan the inmost characters of men and can view them in their. habits as they lived.”

After a few criticisms upon lesser points of form and style, the writer says:—­

“But the work itself must be read to appreciate the vast and conscientious industry bestowed upon it.  His delineations are true and life-like, because they are not mere compositions written to please the ear, but are really taken from the facts and traits preserved in those authentic records to which he has devoted the labor of many years.  Diligent and painstaking as the humblest chronicler, he has availed himself of many sources of information which have not been made use of by any previous historical writer.  At the same time he is not oppressed by his materials, but has sagacity to estimate their real value, and he has combined with scholarly power the facts which they contain.  He has rescued the story of the Netherlands from the domain of vague and general narrative, and has labored, with much judgment and ability, to unfold the ‘Belli causas, et vitia, et modos,’ and to assign to every man and every event their