The Colonies and India from London, Greater London, England • Page 24

24 THE COLONIES AND INDIA SEPT. 1.0, 1890 Xitetatuve NOTICE. In view of the importance of keeping Colonial and Indian readers an courant with the fresh literature affecting our various Colonial dependencies which is issued from week to week, we purpose for the future to devote special attention to the announcements of publishers. Reviews of new books will also, as far as possible, be supplied at the same time. NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

Old Sea Wings, Ways, and Words in the Days of Oak and Hemp. By KOBBBT C. LESLIE. Chapman Hall). THOSE who remember Mr.

Buskin's grand thoughts and words which sprang from the contemplation of the appearance of an old boat high and dry on the beach will not be surprised to read the lines he addressed to Mr. Leslie in connection with "Old Sea Wings." It will be," he says, 44 the most refreshing thing to me to take it up with you I could possibly have." Eefreshing assuredly But we fear that it is only the yachtsman nowadays who looks after form in sails and lines of beauty in hulls. A writer possessing the artistic spirit and love of his subject to the degree shown by Mr. Leslie in his graphic pages must have felt almost as much pain as pleasure in writing this book. The days of oak and hemp have never been so affectionately spoken is to say, in a poetically serious and withal practical way.

Shipbuilders have forced upon tis a painfully ugly age of iron and steel. 44 Old Sea Wings," however, are bound to stand the test of Time: as described by Mr. Leslie, with his ample store of fitting words and phrases, they form a most fascinating study. If owners and masters of certain classes of the merchant marine do not read the book as a luxury, let yachtsmen peruse it carefully for their own pleasure and instruction. A large number of sketches are supplied by the author.

TThe Handbook of British Honduras for 1890-91. By LINDSAY W. BBISTOWE and PHILIP B. WRIGHT. (Edinburgh, and London William Blacltwood Sons.) An apology is tendered by the compilers of this most useful handbook for the delay in bringing out the third annual impression.

The difficulty is quite comprehensible, especially when one bears in mind the question of statistical returns, and the work attaching to their collection and arrangement. The work as it now stands has been brought up to date, and seems, as far as we can judge, tolerably complete in the departments of history, statistics, and general information. All the materials have been gleaned from official and other trustworthy sources; and here implicit confidence may be placed in the result, seeing that Mr. Bristowe is attached to the Judicial Department, while his collaborateur, Mr. Wright, belongs to the Colonial Secretary's Department.

The descriptions of the various settlements are clearly written and extremely interesting, in so far as they show the development of the Colony. With regard to trade, the imports during the past ten years have been more than doubled, representing the year 1879, while 1889 shows the figures The value of exports of the produce of the Colony alone during 1889 amounted to The particulars respecting industries form profitable those which relate to banana planting, cocoanut planting, cacao, Indian corn, Chapters are devoted to the forests and woods of British Honduras also to its currency, its labour population, railways, climate, and social life. We consider the book an admirable example of what a work of the kind ought to be, in guiding inquirers towards obtaining a comprehensive and accurate knowledge of our distant possessions. A useful index and a commercial directory add to its value. A Household Dictionary of Medicine, Preventive and Curative.

By FREDERICK RUFENACHT WALTERS, M.D., (London: Swan Sonnemchein Co.) PREVENTION is wisely the most important agent expounded in this volume. It has not been the aim of the author to offer his nonprofessional clientele any exegetical tuition in scientific medicine, his purpose being solely to supply information which may, by due observance, tend to the preservation of health. A good many books of this kind already exist, though not exactly in the same form as Dr. Walters' dictionary. Some such works from the pens of irresponsible compilers axe most mischievous in their in fact, quite as mischievous as most of the wretched weekly prints, correspondence columns, which, professing to deal with all manner of ailments, merely excite the morbid senses of the ignorant, and lead to the misery of chronic melancholia.

Books and periodicals of this nature give as much difficult work to doctors as kind-rid laymen's guides to legal profession give to lawyers. In more matters than wills, the man who is his own lawyer or doctor has a fool for his client or patient. But when an experienced and wise medical practitioner prepares a book of ad vine as to prevention and simple treatment of physical human ills his words are bound to be effective to those who read and mark. Witness the great success of Dr. Chavasse's works.

Dr. Walters shows equal freedom from technicalities bis counsel will help the regular practitioner as well as the patient, and consequently -we have not the slightest hesitation in advising that the new dictionary be added to all well- selected collections of books which simplify the operations and soften the cares of household management. Sham Fierhting with the By CLAUDE W. KINDER, C.E. (London: Simvhin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent Co.) MR.

KINDER was at one time Pres'dent of Tongshan Rifle Club, North China. His little pamphlet, is pleasant and original. 44 On close analysis," Mr. Kinder says, 44 one finds that the annoying part of the present system is the want of responsiveness in the ordinary target. If it were something which could be smashed to pieces by a successful hit, and furthermore represented one of our political enemies, whom we could at least destroy in the spirit, it would be something gained.

Human nature tires of bull's-eyes, centres, magpies, and outers, and the crack shot who does not enjoy knocking more or less valuable articles into smithereens is a rarity fit only for a gunmaker's assistant." It was for the purpose of ncouraging a better spirit of animation in the practice of shooting that Mr. Kinder wrote his pamphlet. His words are few, but to the purpose, and anpear to have hit a mark, if not the mark. Bislev men should buy the booklet and read it. For clubs abroad Mr.

Kinder thinks the Lee, with Hopper magazine, and using the solid-drawn U.S. Government cartridge, the simplest and best weapon. Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John 8hipp, late a Lieutenant in His Majesty's 87th Regiment. Written by himself. A new Illustrated Edition, with an Introduction by H.

MANNERS CHICHESTER. T. Fisher THIS book belongs to Mr. Unwin's 44 Adventure Series." John ShipD was a remarkable man in those days when remarkable deeds could be done in the in the Indian distinguished bravery and tact sometimes allowed commanding officers to overlook breaches of discipline. Shipp, through sheer pluck, coupled with other soldierly qualities, twice rose from the ranks to the position of a commissioned officer.

Sixty years have passed since the book excited the reading world. It still has claims upon readers as a graphic and soldierlike account of adventurous Indian military life. The Author's Manual. By PERCY RUSSELL. (London; Digby 4' Long.) THOUGH Mr.

Russell has on a previous occasion written a book somewhat similar to the volume before us, we should remark that this manual for authors and for those aspiring towards success in the branches of journalism and the more serious work of book production is almost entirely a new compilation. The field which Mr. Russell has endeavoured to make fruitful is large, besides being altogether littered with difficulties its appearance, in fact, might well appal ordinary minds. But Mr. Russell has evidently had an extensive experience.

By his terseness of style he conveys excellent help in the way of practical information. The book is a good bit of literary workmanship, and should be of great importance to all who desire to obtain serviceable knowledge of the business aspects of a literary man's life. The Industrial History of England. By H. DE B.

GIBBINS, M.A. (London: Methven Co.) UNDER the general title University Extension Series, Messrs. Methuen Co. have bepun to issue a collection of books adapted for extension students and home reading circles. The present volume is the first of the series.

Should succeeding: instalments maintain the standard of excellence initiated by Mr. Gibbins, there can be no question as to the success of the venture. Of course, in such a small compass it was not to be expected that anything; like justice could be done to a subject so vast in its significance as the Industrial History of England. Nevertheless, this volume is readable, and shows skill in selection and condensation so that, on the whole, it fully answers the nurpose for which it was intended. The arrangement is sensible and the printing distinct.

The Foy a Modern Playmate. By the Rev. J. G. WOOD.

Revised edition. (London Frederich Warne Co.) A THOROUGH revision has made this book young and bright again. It is as cheery and as healthful as ever, and in appearance handsomer than it was in the days gone by. The laws of game3 are not steadfast. Every now and then we hear of changes, and these changes must be duly recorded in books intended for the instruction of rising youth, for there are things concerning which a boy's pride or vanity is more closely touched by questioning his knowledge of 44 rules." Besides revision, a good deal of the matter.