Glasgow Herald from Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland • 10

Id- -parity- in rejection ef un-ntk-i: and particularly short and insecure Seniires for be imajdned; Wer other of ttemasdwyB her meats or tne doctrine ot the person ana- wors 01 oyerce Scierit: notion? ofc the: leading obaraeters and illustrated. 1. iSta.l.T6L..IL'':.-Ilim the 17th Century to the; Present. Bay, By-G; Barnett Smith. 2.

India. From the; Aryan lavasioa to the Great Sepoy Mutiny. By Alfred E. Knight. (London: S.

W. Partridge Co. 1897.) In the volume with which he opened the series devoted to "The Romance of Colonisation" Mr Barnett Smith sketched more than twa months, as his had been. At the-same time pointed out vthat hie plan was an excellent one; simple, but great in its simpKcity; aa haa been every strategic conception of Napoleon's; from the opening of the campaign. "But, its execution was like that of every other movement attempted since the first jr rcl of -edncantration-tardy, slack, and feeble, personal bravery- was abundant among the a ranch, wio.iw of resnnsBnfc division, widened the streets in June.

Ernest Renan awoke in earnest, and turned all bis mmd te ton, problems of Socialism." Among the scenes that awakened him was this, described in a letter which was recently published in a French magazine. Renin had gone to call on a friend whose windows looked into the gardens of the Luxembourg Palace, where the revolutionary prisoners had been confined by-the triumphant National Guard. This is what he saw "The tmhappv prisoners were paeked in the Garrets of the Palace under the leads in the stain" heat of the roof. Every now and then one of them would thrust his head out of the dormer window for a breath of air. Each head served as a target for the soldiers in the garden below they never missed their aim After that I say the middle class is capable of the massacres of the Terror!" In a passage written about this time, but only published in the last years of his life, Kenan laid down the lines of his future work Believe roe," he wrote, your true philosopher is the philologist, the student of myths, the critic of social constitutions.

By the subtle study of speech we remount the stream of time till we reach almost the source, till we come within had of primitive man. By comparative grammar wo touch our first ancestors by comparative mythology we understood their soul by social science we watch their development. Every speech, every myth or legend, every form of social organisation from the humblest to the most angus. ought to be compared and classified. The man who could thus evoke the origins of Christianity would write the most important book of the century, ilow I envy him! Should I live and do well, I mean thai: book to be the test of my maturity.

Space will not allow us to follow Madame Darmesteter through the narrative of how Kenan carried out this rtetcrmination. As a specimen of the fine critical faculty which she brings to the work, we may quote her comparison of Taine and Kenan "The genius of Taine was absolute, positive, vivid to the verge of harshness, apt to mass and class the coniasiun of thing.5 in a series of brilliant syntheses: above all things he was a logician. Kenan subtle, complex and elusive, a historian and, above all, an analyst was for ever dividing and sub-dividing the r.risni of the universe into an immeasurable sequence of minor shades; was for ever attenuating his keen and often audacious onol-uc, hrr ft st.vln serene and limpid beyond comparison. But a like idea of Truth and Liberty tKWr souls. Eaoallv admirable, equally the heads: -departments, are.

respansioieiior the greater part, of the erils which are bringing discredit on free institutions, It is to be hoped, for the oredit of the Stated, that his plea for reform will be allowed greater weight than it seems as yet to have found in the stronghold cf Tammany. Bat, after all, no one doubts that thp United States, who have done, so many fine things already, will be able sooner or later to crush this of municipal misgoyernment. A question of wider, if not of so much immediate, interest is raised in Br jsuors aoBiramo aia-eussion of American contributions to civilisation. On the answer to this question, indeed, may be said to depend the right of the United States to. rank among the really great of the world.

Philosophers and statesmen alike have often asked thsmselves; in what the true greatness of ft race and country subsists. It may fairly be granted that as good an answer as any, among the different ones that have been to be found in the naming of its contribution to the general store of civilisation. Thus we remember the Hebrew race by its contribution to religious thought, the Greek by its literary and philosophical gifts, the Roman by the contribution which it made to the world's knowledge of law and government. England, for several centuries, has contributed to the institutional development of representative government and public' justice the Dutch, in the sixteenth century, made a superb struggle for free thought' and free government France, in the eighteenth century, taught the doctrine of individual freedom and the theory of human rights and Germany, at two periods within the nineteenth century, fifty years apart, proved the vital force of the sentiment of nafciwsalifcy." What can wo say that the great American Republic has yet done which posterity will value as a contribution to general civilisation of the same order, if not of the same magnitude, as these of the world's roses d'elite to the world which pain- fully bred them? The cynia who has, considered the municipal misgovernment and political corruption which Dr Eliot sadly admits, the eating canker of industrial warfare which has grown iargsr dimensions in thei State3 than elsewhere, the phenomena of Wail Street, and the freaks of Chicago, might be inclined to say that America's function was to serve as the drunken Helot, and warn, the rest of the world what to' avoid.1 But that view, though partly justifiable, is but a limited and partial way of looking at the real achieve-. tnents of the United States.

Dr Eliot specifies five contributions which his country, as he believes, has made to civilisation at larze. The first and 'most impor tant of these is the advance made in the i and corps in all the arms, the oosirare. of self- restraint, andthe self-sactince oi uraiymu with the invigorating ubiquity of a. master mind these were lacking from the first." Like most writers who have traced the battle of Waterloo through its several phases, Professor Sloans' has looked for turning-pouitj a deaisive moment when the French Emperor might have averted defeat, and he fixes the hour at six.o'elock. "Wellington was now at the end of his resources, and to his repeated messages calling for Blttcher's aid there had been no response.

He was face to face with 'defeat. Baring bad held La Haye Sainte with unsurpassed gallantry his calls for men had been answered, but his requisitions for ammunition were strangely neglected. Ney, seeing how vain hi3 cavalry charges were, withdrew before, the last one' took place, atnyed Bachelu's collected a number of field-pieces, and fell furiously, with cannonade and bayonet, charge, upon the faria-house. His success was complete the garrison fled, his pursuit was hot, and leading in person, ha broke through the opposing line at its very heart: Had he been supported by a strong reserve, the battle would have been won. Mufflins, Wellington's Prussian aide; dashed away to the Prussian lines, and as he drew near the head of division, sheuted The battle is lost if the corps do not press on and at once support the English army.5 Ney's adjutant, demanding infantry to complete the breach he had made, was received by Napoleon with petulance.

To Ney's demand for infantry the Emperor replied' Whera do you expect me to get them from Am I to make them Had the old Bonaparte spirit moved the chieftain te put himself at the head of what remained of the Guard Infantry, and to make a dt5perate dash for Ney's support, a tern- Eorary advantage would almost certainly have sen won then, with a remnant flushed by victory, he oould have turned to Lebau's assistance before the main Prussian army came in. Thus was lost Napoleon's ono chance to deal Wellington a decisive blow." In his estimate of Waterloo Professor Sloane shows very clearly that he doeB not beleng to. any of the nations concerned in it. It was not great, he says, by of the numbers engaged nor was there any special brilliancy i in its conduct. Wellington defended a position and, carefully selected; but he wilfully left himself with inferior numbers ho i did not heartily co-operate with Bluoher both wara nnMuliT ftnerinTiB.n was susnicion3.t and the battle of Ligny was a Prussian blunder.

it.t-f.ri between dawn and dusk a 1 nrlitnl, nan ha. i the historr of the United States -of America down; te the time 'of ths Pilgrim Fathers. His second instalment continues the summary, and brings it down to the prqsent )av. Th; eomnilation is on the whole aoredit- able piece of work as regards condensation and arrangement. In poinB ot swie.BDa,Qicwn,.on the other hand, it leaves much to be desired; Mr Knight's contribution to the series is put together on a somewhat different system.

His work, he says, is not a history of British India or of ths East India Company, but an attempt to present in a popular form some of the more romantic and salient features of both. Those "whose great delight is in statirtics and figures, and to whom the legislative and financial Acts of a country are the marrow of history," are warned off only those are cordially invited who like "to read of battles and sieges, of mutinies and usurpations, of imprisonments and escapades, of nripnf.o.1 traaeherv and British pluck, of fabu lous fortunes rapidly made and 3 rapidly lost, of sudden nse3 to power ana suaaen aowniaus, of plots and sounterplots." The programme thns set forth has been saithfully carried out, and the book is a readable one of its kind. Wi(h theConquering Turk: Confessions of a Bashi-Bazouk. By G. W.

Steevens, author of "The Land of the Dollar," (William Blackwood Sons, up his impressions of the Greco-Xurkish war, Mr Steevens says "It wonld haTS been more impressive as a war if it had been 2ss-delicious as a comic opera. It had its solsmn moments, no doubt. Nobody has yet invented kind of war which can be conducted without hurting somebody sometimes, although Prince Konstantinos. cam nearer to it than had ever seemed possible. For whereas we had believed that the object te war was to destcoy tho enemy's army, what we saw looked like a benovo-lent conspiracy between the two generals com-iaanding-in-chief to spare inaocen The Greeks hurried away the moment it threatened to be necessary to start 'sboeting Turks in earnest.

Upon that tho Turks held back for a week, apprehensive lest the men might forget themselves and do irreparable hurt to tho Greeks." Whatever may be the intnnsio value of the t.hH t.nne or nee wnoie voinme. iaauu uo little attemut to set forth the tactics mnfa'm nf th i Whieh he I justiiv on the ground of the- rd of the wheJe catEpaign. In the narrative of his experiences, and the de sUIClidllQUVClM 1 eminent, Ren an and Tair.e were as the two eyes of seems to approximate more to Br Dalesposi-the generation which came to its maturity towards tion. Probably the seeming confusion is dne 2S60." to the narrow" limits within which he The latter part of the volume contains I conduct the discussion. We think; however, Borne delightful passages based on Madame 1 that, even within his limits, he should have with the 1 said more about the central difficulty, TT.i Htat tWndiihmeii't of war1F.asaSc- 'V'.

ml. -C. T-u" TOhnlntrMnmft. The author has series 01 peray ffluiwiiraj no. Weither doe3 Pro-tm .1 scr gi.

Mv da t.hn maioritv olJcentnrvoi existence. une uouea ocatca jivo w. Mt awm-toiim in. e-mltv and tortureo spienaour. French" historians at least, that, in eitner'had only tour ano a years 01 iuijr-, event, of necessity decisive.

nationalwar, and have been party to for.y- been prominenceto the lighter, it! minor characters are ligtitly dui viviaiy enougu TOOuld acarceiyije an exaggeration to say, the (sketched, and ono sees them, perhaps even ejutUKCittnuu MJ, vuv At the same time, it must details. jy that there is no actual itQltioa faofcg aud though the work is kd theJe is 0 rcason for looking ag othetwise than accurate and trust- itsown picvii3i7. way. Occasionally, gteevenarha3 if not his solemn, at moments. men.ttie.TnttahS..f" tl "Cliirl wi in his theme, banter gives place to genuine, though not excessive admiration, ad before this, but he does not obviously sincere praise.

Of the officers, how- quite sure T-f-ever, a very different picture is drawn, evon the He introduces Thev eenerals, excepting only Edhemi Seyfoullah, jmpossife vulgar family of great wealth. They geiiciaia, I 11 Wfi mads tbeir monev bv soau-boilrne. It is a accretionsuid corruptions she is removed f-om later medieval and modern Romanism." Hold ing siich views, the tone and tendencvof Af Stone's "Lays of lona" may be inferred ani they will duly appreciated by those of hiT: own Church who believe with him, as hes3V in the opening poem, that The Celtic lives on," and is with us yet." I i Roman who has vanished is the 'Tis he that from onr tele is gone Peace tn him on his Tiber share Where'er his claim and he live on." His place will koow him here no more-It will thus be seen that Mr Stone's book is purely poetic than ecclesiastical, controvert and religious. Regarded as mere verse "Lays" are undoubtedly a scholarly prodiM which sometimes, in form and feeling, alm reaches tho realm of true poetry. Beside "Lajs," which are written in the Spensia! stanza, the book contains a variety efoth verse, such as elegies, hymns, among them new version of God Save the Queen." 5 Romance of a Rose A Drama.

Bv Jf (London Digby, Long 4: contains two dramas one based on the sai story of King Henry and Fair Rosamond modified by a hint taken from French histe. the other founded on the life of Columbia cannot be honestly said that either play' js if any particular value. Both have the aiiea. ance of being experiments by a writer inrB fectly skilled in one of the most difficult form" rtf litprarTT Tliftir mentary, and the scene-shif tii Iraa. uttmg.ortenfo rsil.

cause, is annoying. ihe author. it SeMYlc ia foniishl-v fond of intrnrliiriinc "r2 which produces the. ElVmPJ; blank verse, "clever silliness." There is, hova occasional flash of merit, especially in i mo nrst jjicj, ajuuia wioj muuu euuibtuiu IrciH same pen in the future. tne SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY BQOls.

JAght, Visible and Invisible. By Siivanas Thompson, D.Sc, F.R.S., Principal, and ft0 fessor of Physics, in the City and Goiltk Technical College, Finsbury. (Londoa Hac millan Co. The Royal Institution dariao tfel Christmas holidays has in times past been t'ae scene of many a brilliant course of experi mental lectures from some of the great masters of science, and the latest of these courses was that delivered by Professor Thompson towards the end of last year on visible and invisible light. There were sii lectures in all, the first three being cn the propagitigj (including reflection and refraction) oi ljoht the spectrum and colour sensation, and sation.

The "invisible" lightwaves at end of the spectrum were discussed ia the next two lectures, while the final one dealt with tha new discoveries of Professor Rbntgen. Ihesa lectures are now published in hook form and as it is essential that all Royal Institution Christmas lecturesshould be strictlvpopnlarand be illustrated by many fine experiments, noa-mathematical readers will find little diScuit? in understanding the facts and opinicaa set forth by Professor Thompson in this book though the many illustrations are far IKj instructive and effective than the actual experiments. For the benefit of these desirous ot considering certain matters in greater fulness lengthy appendices are added to each chapter-these are of a more difficult nature and did not form part of the original course. Towards the end of the book a number cf interesting plates are given these include photographs of a hand of Lard Kelvin (showing traces of age and rheumatic deposits), a hand ef Sir Richard Webster (revealing two small shot embedded in the flesh between thumb and first finger, the result of a gunshot-wound received many years ago), and a hand of a lady (showing the transparency of tha diamond, unlike glass, to Rbntgen. radiations).

Applied Mechanics. By John Penv, 1I.E., D.Sc, F.R.S., Professor of Mechanics and Mathematics in the Royal College of Science, South Kensington. (London: Casseil Co. )-Professor Perry has only recently been appointed to his present position, but while couceaei with the Finsbury Technical College delivered courses of experimental lectures ra applied mechanics to mechanical and electrical engineering students. These lectures are nor Eublisbed in book form, the first year's coura' eing in large type, while the more extended investigation of each subject involving the us-ef higher mathematics is printed in and is meant for second year's students.

Tls book contains nearly 700 pages, divided into 3 chapters, appendix, and full index and tk various points are discussed and illustrated wia greatfumessandexactness, ment adopted are certa inly oftenuncoaveiitionji, and frequently we come across expressions' asi criticisms which, however apt they may he a personal communication between teacher aid I Dupil. are scarcely in their proper place in i 7 1, SerKlUS WWVVVI Ul aticuw. imuuguu lis volume there are numerous sets of valuable and practical, for the student to wori at. On the whole, the book is a stimulatiij and suggestive one, and is sure to be widely read and appreciated. It is, however, doubtfif whether it is fair or proper that a Govcrameii professor and examiner should issue a tea book oa his own subject a proceeding whia may have the effect of choking off other inteni-ing writers.

Students Edition of a Standard the EnqlSl Language. (New York and Lot-don FUnk WagnaU's Company. 1S97.J-Tbis worlc which has been abridged from ai viT.trnall's Standard Dictionary of t'a English La tifruaae," is designed to give orthoeranh-v. pronunciation, meaning, arf fc-m31. vr 60.000 words and phrases the speech and literature of the EngUsb-speU; ing peoples, synonyms uurj-- So-far awe have ben able to nm, examination, which cannot, of course, cBJ v.

thomucrh. the process a "tive Veen 7 3, select has been carefully and performed; and it will probably be that few. indeed any, trotdi in approved general or literary use, been omitted. The spelling fkP'f. 1 ban prevalent in America, hut tne --tT, prejudices of those who behe t-W has some right to choose for rtselr intteMW of orthography have so far been respectedtta alternatiV forms, as of traveler and traveller, cento- been given.

As regards system followed will appear rather tow those who believe that there wrong in the matter. It seems to the assumption that whiie ff, nunciationi of the same dlCr greatly matter which is chosen. Ixarapi, it appears that, the people the word lievtenari and, consequently what i rate would be put down as a gr is here sanctioned. There is, it tjm 1 ence-thus, appendix, a different PSatU indication ol tne aictioao" will be found. In some option is allowed or even tf'Ljsai pronunciation, thus dogmatically happens to be one which a fi-JA would decline to adopt, i-ff accentable" and in poit.

Milton has writwn- The woman whom thou So nt, so accepuble, diW- In Shakespeare we read kjb1 "lis sweet aud commendable But those authorities are set 'he words are.marked with the accent syllable, and that without opW. ttSf quite unjustifiable. Such pecmriWi are by no means insignificant, ano. them it is allowables q.uesac.11 dictionary has any very special ow-epithet on its title-page. 7 A Digest cf Deductive Log.

yr.L-fot Barker, B.A. (London: Methuen a subject which has advanced tv the days of Aristotle, Formal Logi to produce a surprisingly large crop tt jeie who, with no little courage, essay to- lucidly what has many times Kin expounded with abundant clearness- doubt-the numerous treatises wfcica produced in recent years eaimf elements of Formal Logic na' market among those who have to pnlsory examinations and desire success with the lest expenditure" iit It is the wants of such as those present work is designed to eec. point of view Mr Barker's little boo! .1 successful. It deals in a clear rf 5C esting manner, aud withm tlie -P pages, with all tbe questions whictr is likely to meet with in an exarninatio The work does not profess to be nw if summary, yet it contrives to give a siSc-of the subject that the majority maries afford. Many questions a tJyf dealt with shortly in a fashion sum" gestive to tempt the student to pars sy-ject in a more advanced text-boos- til' ful use of different varieties 01 p-author has succeeded in emphasising most necessary to remember, and aid tb the student a carefully-se6" questions are given in an appendix.

French Whys and Whtreforf: Jg. TA Meliiet. B. LL.B. (Edmbar a eJ Trr-1 author oi- cellent publication inaugurates 'te series with a.

number which is s0r-high standard of the first' indeed, the very toport" headed Ansrivers to Queries and coin d. nuans in eoSoars; "to say- the least, a' trifle strong. acenCTirom TohiaB'orire' SmolfettV -novels -might almost be paralleled bv the concluding chapter of this -i AaAZAaA viTinari'-m. trip. story, xnereis, niwevoi, -e book, and a certain amorait of interest attaches to Susan's escapades -with pirate.Boeoek.

-The incidents are founded on history, give onej a curious picture of life in the Flonda settlement of Dr Turnbcll in tbe year 1763. If Mr Gunter did not print historical' notices at end of his book from Romans's and Williams Histories of Florida, one could not credit his account of. the horrible cruelties perpetrated on hOplem. white men by this human fiend, Dr Turnbuil. But the book is not pleasant reading, either as a novel ora history.

A second part is promised. POETRY, VERSE, AND DRAMA. English Lyrics, Chaucer to Poe, selected and arranged by WilliamErnestHenley. (Methuen.) In an anthology prepared by so robust and independent a critic as Mr Henley, one is prepared to find evidences of fine taste and strong, if -sometimes perverse, judgment, and both these qualities are abundantly exemplified in the handsome, volume before us. But for reasons unspecified, but which one may easily guess to Have had something to do with copyright, the selection would have closed with Tennyson as it is, it ends "by a piece of chronological good luck, with the one American I know who, thus far, ean claim fellowship with the greater English poets." The inclusion of Poo is quite felicitous and commendable, although one could wish that the fantastical "Ulalume" had riven place to the superb and almost perfect lines on Helen but Chaucer's placo at the beginning of the- volume is evidently due mainly to the editor's not unnatural wish to place in the forefront of his constellation the morning star of English song." In fact, Mr Henley admits that while Chaucer was poet of "immense genius," and while he had the lyrical temperament," bath example and environment were against him, and the effects he achieved were "remote." Such a sentence is in itself a sufficient confession of: error in having given as immortal English lyrics the extracts from the "Legend of Good Women" and "Troilus and Cressida which are printed here.

No such objection, however, tjtlzen ta the selections from Dunbar foonprnnllu- the Bunerb "Lament for the' and the other very copious examples of sixteenth century Scottish lyrists liko Mont-gomerie and Alexander Scott. Scotsmen owe TTimiW debt of eratitude for having thus introduced these old and worthy singers of t.n tha English Dublic. and even to themselves in many cases, and in consideration of this service and of the very generous selections from Burns, the most rigid Dryasdust among them will doubtless for-mvo rasnal mention of George Banna- tyne, the ballad transcriber, as James. The Tudor and Elizabethan lyrists, from Howard and Grimald down to Campion and Raleigh, of ronrse. well represented but unques tionably most striking feature of the pages devoted to sixteenth-century song is the appear- ance in them of forty-two passages from the.

Authorised Verson of the Bible. Mr Henley justifies the inclusion of these passages, which are drawn mainly from the Psalms and the Books of Job and Isaiah, by contending that while the Authorised Version is a monument of English prose, the inspiration and fcffect of many parts of it are absolutely lyrical. This is true enough, and it might have been added that the passages selected are really not poetical prose but rythmical renderings of what the original is technically verse. On that ground the introduction of snch rhapsodies as Miriam's song and tho Lord's answer to Job out of the whirlwind may very well be defended, and the passages chosen by Mr Henley make certainly not "the least interesting nor the least persuasive group" in his book. The representation of Milton and, of Shakes? peare is certainly adequate, although one does not find the familiar "Allegro" and which to be sure are not so much lyrical as descriptive.

Herrick fills mere than a dozen pages, scarcely one of which could be spared, and'there is hardly too much of Rochester, but of tbe snace devoted te Crashaw's conceits could have been otherwise more profitably employed. The eighteenth century is almost unrepresented, but we would not quarrel on this account with Mr Hesley if only ho had inserted the "Elegy in a Country. Churchyard." Any definition of lyrical temperament and emotional quality which makes a man exclude that magnificent example of the meditative-lyrical vein stands certainly in need of revision. Of later poet Wordsworth gets less than due honour (although the paucity of selections from him is. more pardonable than the redundance of them in Mr i'alsraves nlnmel.

while Bvron and Tom Moore get more than they deserve. The representation of Keats and Shelley is satisfactory, and among minor poets of their period whom one is glad to see distinguished with a place alongside them are Thomas Love Peacock and Lovell Beddoes. In many instances Mr Henley has wisely and permissibly used the discretion of an editor to omit a discordant stanza (Campbell's singing mermaid, for example, has disappeared from the "Battle of the and in the examples from our older literature the spelling is cansiderably modernised. Comparison with the late Mr Palgrave's classic "Golden Treasury" is unavoidable, although perhaps somewhat unfair, and it may be said that while Mr Henley excels in the fulness of his selection from the early 16th century poets, and the Caroline lyrists, he falls behind Mr Palgrave in his treatment of the eighteenth century, and, on the whole, in bis management of the great Georgian revival. His collection certainly is less accurately representative than the Golden Treasury of the nation's own estimate the estimate that is formed by tbe average cultured public of the wealth of English lyrio song.

mi TT Life of Life, and other Versis. By Arthur L. Salmon, author of "Songs of a Heart's Surrender." (Edinburgh and London William Blackwood Sons.) Serious-minded, people will find in Mr Salmon's volume much to please and edify. The leading piece is a homily on the religious conduct necessary to ensure any chance of peace here and salvation hereafter in the Life of Life. Tbe basis of its teaching is Scriptural, though not confessedly so.

Mr Salmon acts, not the apostle, but the philosopher with solemnity and dignity. But bis morajisings, regarded as poetry, are deficient in warmth, and are not likely to kindle in the hearts of poor sinners the fires that should light the way to repentance. Yet the teachings of tbe poem are pure and wholesome, if rather commonplace, and will be read by respectable people, whose lives are well regulated, with a sort of luxurious Just listen to this: Be not distracted with perpetual caw For thioe own soul God of whose breath it is mil Iteep it whoio. Thv dutv is to bear Such self -denial as in thj pathway lies To covet iove as life's sole worthy prize-To succour ill -who need thy kindly tending; MakiDS no barter with regardful heaven, But driven Br love to ceaseless labourioE ana spending. How nobler far Such sol-foreetatiE3 are, Than making this satvation of toy soul Life's sinsle narrow There is no offence in such matter.

It opens no eulf beneath one's feet it does not contain a single shudder and its effect is that of a moral opiate. Among the other poems, A Funeral Sermon is a fine conception, and beautifully worked oufe It is a sermon oh the burial, not of a man's dead body, but of his "dead self." "Eastward" is a song of tho city, its sufferings, sins, and sorrows. It is an earnest utterance a cry of humanity, and reminds one to some extent of Mrs Browning's famous poem, "The Cry of the Children." Two other pieces deserve special notice, "Requiem jternam and "Footsteps." The latter especially is a powerful poem. It is a striking realisation of that carious sensation that now and again in solitary places comes suddenly upon a man, and makes him shudder with a chilling suspicion that he is being followed by some unseen figure. In the hands of a master the reading of this piece could be made to produce startling effects.

The volume closes with further Songs of a Heart's: Surrender." They are very fine. Laysoflona: and other Poems. By S. J. Stone, M.A., Rector of All-Hallows' -on-the-Wall.

Author of "The Knight of Liter-cession." (London Longmans, Green Co.) This book will be prized by those who care more for the. support it may lend to a special ecclesiastical theory than for anything like genuine, poetic inspiration. Yet, although this be so, i Mr Stone's book is one of considerable value, and there can be little doubt that it will help. in the Anglican Church at least, to intensify the revival of interest which has recently taken place in all that pertains to lona.and to the life, ministry, and position of St Colnmba in the history of the Celtic Church." Mr Stone's view is that "the chief debt of Anglo-Saxon Christianity is due to the Celtic Church and its Fathers." On that assumption, it follows, as, Mr Stone maintains, that "ia the highest sense the cradle' of- our branch of the Catholic-Church is to identified with the two holy islands of Iona and Lindis-farne, and withtthe names of St Columba and St Aidan and, their spiritual sons, more than St Augustine and his followers trady honoured and gratefully remembered: as these Gregorian missionaries ought'to be." Mr Stone adds that tne pure Celtic blood in our sniritual ancestry explains and justifies many peculiarities of the Anclican Church in position and in oninion." which make her as distinct from any form of Uinst-. Lecture V.

deals with The Person of Ghrist, and His Revelation of the It is first shown how the Apostles' conception ot Ghrist as supreme in the redemptive sphere led them to 1 as central in. creation. From this the. transition is easy to belief in His Deity. Mr Forrest is accordingly launched into a discussion of the Christological decisions of the Church Councils ss embodied in the great creeds, and of the Ghristologieal speculations of modern theologians.

It is impossible to explain here even the outline of his argument, which is conducted with much skill. While he is thoroughly orthodox, he is not blind to the defective abstractions in some of the great symbols, and he has manifest leanings to some form of the Kenotie theory. His main point, however, is that the Trinity is essentially--historical revelation; and that it has a power of verifying itself to the consciousness. "The only "binding he says, is truth itself andthecompulsionwith which itarrests us comes fmmitaself.verifvineDOwer. Wherethis inward witness is wanting, there can be ho genuine.

belief or acceptance ot any aoccrme. We are afraid that even educated minds, unless they have had a special theological discipline, may Sad some difficulty in discovering that the doctrine of the Trinity is self-evidencing, and Mr Forrest himself confesses the intellectual difficulty of vindicating more than a fci'-nitarian doctrine. We are inclined to think that he might have served his immediate purpose better, though- the theological value of his book would have been diminished, had he been content to show that the Christian consciousness practically conceives God as Father, San, and Spirit, without attempting to determine their metaphysical relations. Many, however, will turn with more interest to Lecture on "the objective element in the redemptive work of Christ." There is probably no doctrine of the Creed which orthodox theologians find so hard to interpret to the reason as that of the Atonement and if we say that Mr Forrest seenis 'to us to have failed to give a satisfactory explanation of it, we only place him amongst his ablest compeers. We must confess, indeed, that we can hardly grasp his precise position.

At one point, hs seems to hold a view very like tiiat ot iilacleooi uunpoeu 3 a why, before granting pardon, God requires to j. TTv -Afkannicaihcn maaiiest Us antagonism to sin otherwise nau Ee does in the conscience of the -sinner and the mora! history of the race. It must be said, however, that Mr Forrest carefully guards himself against the crudities tbat'have been associated with the orthodox doctrine, and.that bis treatment of the subject, if not quite convincing, is exceedingly able and suggestive. Lecture VII. deals with new life in.

Christ and the conditions of its realisation." The treatment is full of but as the subject is sufficiently familiar, we may passion to notice Lecture in which Mr Forrest returns to his main theme, and explicitly discusses the relation of the spiritual to the historical in Christian faith." "Of course, his whole pre vious, exposition of Christianity has been in- 'nu rt liot-. ita elements furnish the inward experience of Christians or, as it might be put, -that the facts translate themselves into ideas that shine by. their -own light. He sums up the cumulative argument, however, in a very eonvincingway. After a brilliant criticism of the NeoEIegelian view of Christianity, he points to the unquestionable fact that historical belief is a constant factor in determining our moral ideas, and is specially necessary in the religious sphere; He contends further that the historical element in vnpsti-anity is capable of exceptional verification, and certainly if there is any truth in-hia presentation of We imagine that few who hold by any sblid form of Christianity at all will dissect from his view that the gospels are the one guarantee against the stereotyping or partial conceptions of Christ's nuroose and and that "the revelation of Christ is both one and manifold- one because it proceeds forth from the hwigktvt-Geist, the Lord the Spirit, and manifold because the eternal Spirit speaks through the ever-changing forms of he Zeit-Qeist." The closing lecture is on the conditions of the final judgment," and deals chiefiy with the problem raised by the fact that many men of a high type of character reject the historic On this subject Mr Forrest speaks with great wisdom and moderation, though probably his liberal sentiments will not please many, who will hail with acclaim his previous defence, of, orthodoxy.

In his last section he speaks with bated breath on the question of future probation, and opines that the Protestant Confessions, in speaking so confidently about the period between death and the final judgment, have probably gone beyond their brief." He does not, however face the fact that the idea that probation ends at death has not a single explicit statement of the New Testament in its favour. Ought such an awful dogma, so positive in its content, to be based on a. silence In this outline of the book we have been unable to do anything like, justice to its varied interest. Whatever one may think of some of its great ability, ample learning, keen and often subtle spiritual insight, and the literary grace of its style will be cordially recognised. It is an eminently stimulating and informing book, and all the Churches will have reason to complain if further contri-' butions to theological literature are hot forthcoming from Mr Forrest's pen.

We need only add that the volume contains a number of additional notes and discussions which greatly enhance its value. fS Professor Sloane's Life of Napoleon. This concluding volume of Professor Sloane's, monumental work opens with a description of the disastrous retreat from Russia. In telling the well-known story once again, he has made no attempt to secure dramatic effect, or to give it the appearance of novelty by any artificial arrangement of details. But his unimpassioned narrative is all the more striking -tmc its ness and sobriety, and the picture which it presents is one of the most real that history has yet produced of the terrible episode.

Above all, it is that which; seems, to do lullest justicei to Napoleon himself. Of the man who is. not unfreciueutiy represented as deserting hi3 de-voted army, and hurrying on to Paris' as soon as he realised that fortune had turned against him, he says "The Emperor alone seemed impassivei For days he had shared the common, hardships; 'clad iti a long Polish coat of marten fur, a stout birch staff -in; his hand, without a sign of. either physical or Per-" vous exhaustion, he had marched silently for long distances among his suffering men. If we picture, him standing at Krashoi, weighing how long ho dared to brave ttn- enemy, which, if consolidated and hurled upon his lines, would, have.anEihilated: them, we must fuel that collapse was prevented then only by his nerve and by' the.

terror "of his name. Once more he threw the influence of his presence into the scale, and, stepptngbef ore the guard on this dreadful day, he said simply You sse.the disorganisation of my army. Tn; unhappy 'infatuation most of tho soldiers have thrown away their If you follow this dangerous example so The response- was-grim and sullen, bat the call was not in vain and reaching Orcha.on the 19th there was still an army." Even when, after -the catastrophe at the Beresina, he gave over the command to Murat, there was still the' framework of an army which, within a few was again. that-marvellous instrument with which the campaign's of 1813 and 1814 were fought, and that assuredly was not the least of Napoleon's magnificent' achievements." According to Professor Sloane, the Russian disaster was not yet," foif Napoleon, the beginning of the end. "That Avas not reached till the following and was 'marked by an event which might at first sight seem comparatively unimportaDtthe armistice concluded after Bautzen.

Had Napoleon known" the weakness, the discord, the exhaustion of his foe, wretched as was the state of his own army, and depressed as were his spirits, he might have refused, and the failure of 1812 might have been retrieved. As it was, the year 1813 is the date of his one irreparable blunder, the initiation of his final disaster. Other mistakes he had made, but they were all petty compared with the great one to which ho was now tempted. But his faithful officers were falling like standing grain under a. hailstorm his boy soldiers, though fighting like veterans, inspired little confidence, for sber was the same uneasiness among the humble privates as among the great officers; he had neither cavalry nor artillery; and his available force was reduced to a hundred and twenty thousand, men and boys; Barday might as for a moment ho contemplated doing; draw off into the Russian steppes; the traitors in Paris were already stirring; short, the Emperor felt that he must, at least, consider.

This was the monumental blunder of his life; because it. put him at Austria's mercy without her being forced to reveal her policy." There was be yet one more Imperial vietorv. that of Dresden. Then -came Leipzig, the invasion of France, tha fall of Paris, the first abdication. and Elba, to be Jollowed by the Hundred mp.

mirable account of the famous battle, Professor. nuiB 9ifi to a certain extent with those Sloane agrees to certain extent with those Writers WOO Hold tSAt uw resuiii wasAUinusuueu: by Napoleon's, state of health at tho time "His expression mirrored pain, both physical: and intellectual; his over-oontidence and cosf-'i quent dalay were signs of 'degenerate power his to be extticated oy tne.Mri.scmo.Jv y. sul. wonder what would be said here if a Chinese Consul in were to attempt to play sucMitte gameswith jBritishsubjeetsin Britain as Mr Richard Maitland plays on tne Chinese in China. Mrs is always a pleasant writer.

Mr: Douglas we: presume, contributed the local colouring. Une authors have worked well together, and apart from it3 subjects, which are rather creepy; the is one to be commended. Cwlame. By F. Marion; Crawford.

Two vols. (London Macmillan Co. 1897.) It is doubtful if there is any more finished novelist of the; day than Mr Crawford. He. has always a atory and he tells it with such nice discrimination, such perfect command of language, the attention of the reader aa onntj-mnuparv writers can rival.

In his new story we have yet another contribution, to the annals of the great Roman house of Saracenesca. Two of Corona's sons ar now upon the scene, Orsino and Ippalito the latter a priest. San Giacintho, the iinsman, purchases from the three: reckless young men' who own.it the estate of Camaldali, in The brothers, were known indifferently as the Cor-leons or the Pagliuca, but had the elder brother taken- his '-title it would have been Prince Corleone. Even San Giacintho, strong man though he isj finds it is one thing to buy an estate in Sicily and quite another to enjoy it and develop it without bloodshed. The Corleone brothers had been popular in their wild way anyhow they were Sicilians, and tne new-comers were Blood is spilt again and again under circumstances always aggravating to the Saracinescas, and yet persistently the blood of the brothers is laid at the door of the intruding Romans.

Thpn tWf are. the brisands. for brigandage has a sort of intermittent permanence in Siciiy. and the brothers Corleone and trie cnganos were scarcely strangers. "Corleone" is an admirable novel.

Over the Hills. By Mary Findlater. (Lon-deh Methuen Co.) This book, whose scene is laid in the North of Scotland, is essentially contrasting of two feminine types the faithful and quietly courageous Dinah Jerningbam with the shallow, fake, and selfiBh Annie, Fraser. -The latter of these types is by much the better done, and, indeed, despite some erring strokes, such, for example, as her infidelity with Vere, must be pronounced a very tolerable bit of character-drawing, Her first lover, Lewis Campbell, whom she abandons and -sends prison, for her crime, is a yery fine fellow, although both he and the Marquis of Glanv are perhaps a shade theatrical. There 13 also something too much of the melodrama in the central elopement scene, when Annie first, definitely shows her falseness, as well as in the denouement, which leaves three of the chief personages obhterated- and e- nobled by seli-sacrmce, ana ine lourtu muujpu- more.

than in the more prominent an 01 toe. autnoresss capaoiuuea as novelist AltoErether the book is a pleasing one, and.makes us wish to meet Miss Findlater in print again. Paid Mercery a Story of Repentance among Millions. By James Adderley. (London I.

hoary tradition of fiction that soaprboilers should be: vulgar. Being: vulgar, they are, of course, also-dissenters and most of their friends are self-righteous hypocrites. Paul, however, the son of the millionaire vulgarian, is very beauti- ful and very good, and he makes the acquaint ance or nnstian wv ouuw mui right way. He visits a doss-house in the East End, and learns something of how the poor live. on his father's death occurring duvingi a great strike, Paul takes command of the busi ness and worss great enanges.

ne soap-works are taken to the country and established near the ruins ef a grey abbey, where the high altar is replaced: on the ancient base, 'and everyyearon lie Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God, the day of dedication, Brother Hugh, attended by his clerks, sings the Eucharist, while the people kneel about on the velvet gras3 that covers the choir and nave." When the workmen come from their soap-boiling they run to, tho stables "first to have a good wash, and then to gallop across the turf on the horses, always kept ready saddled for those who wish for a ride at this time of day." All dine together in "beautiful buildings, like college halls." Paul Mercer is Master Brother, that is all There is a chapel, said to be very simple, but the processional cross and tho chalices were heavy with diamonds." All the saints' days are holidays. Dear, dear what would the Rev. Jacob Primmer say to this way of ref orming the world Mr Adderley is a very zealous and well-meaning man, but he can scarcely be said to shine as a novelist. Doion by (he Suwanee River. By Aubrey Hopwood.

(London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Triibner Limited. 1S97. Mr Hopwood begins his story in the pre-historic days before: the great boom visited Florida to benefit the unscrupulous few at the expense of tbe credulous many, when the. land was yet given over to the alligator and the After all, that is ass so very many years ago. The leading persons in the novel come with the boom, and learn in time what the collapse of a booming period means.

Since Charles Dicken3 described in Martin Chuzzlewitt" the traps laid for the unwary though adventurous Britisher by the shrewd and net-at-all-scrupulous Yankee land-agents, we have all a reasonable suspicion of land speculations which are not good enougtitor the average American, but which appear to offer a desirable fiold for the investment of the money of Queen Victoria's subjects. Yet this reasonable suspicion has not prevented many hundreds of our race from seeking an Eldorado in the States of the Union, and leaving their money there and sometimes their bones as well. Mr Silas G. larks, real estate agent, made town of Orangeviile, Florida, out of a clearing in the pine woods known as Portcrstown, and thither in search of fortune came an amiable but incapable old gentleman called Allison and his daughter Kitty. Of course they knew nothing about orange-growing, but it all seemed easy enough.

Besides, Kitty had a married sister in Florida, who had married a banker. Yet without that angel of good, fortune who went by the name of Jim Scott the Allisons, and their relations would have done badly enough, for there are such things as frosts and the failure of orange crops. Jim Scott had his own troubles to bear, and serious ones. Mr Hopwood's story, is well written and interesting. A Passionate Pilgrim.

By Percy White. (London Methuen IS97.) We expect a good story from Mr Percy White, and, as usual, we get it. "Has any man," the writer asks, ever made a complete confession of his vanities, weaknesses, and follies?" Probably not. But Mr White seems to us to go as near undraping the truth in the characters of his men and wamca as any writer, and a great deal nearer than most writers. He is not afraid to show" the mentally seamy side' even of attractive young men.

They have their faults, and somewhat cynically he makes them own up. Oketon Blake- is not a bad fellow, and he tells the story of his rather, aimless life with befitting modesty. He was a very precocious boy, and straightway fell in love with a goddess, who on this earth passed for being a dissenting minister's daughter. It was clearly impossible that Blake's father (a rector) and the goddess's father could encourage, such folly, and young Oketon's reraance came to an early and prosaic end; But was it the end? The beautiful Sylvia found another and richer lover in the person of the son and heir of Blake's godfather, Lord Oketon, and when she became Lady Oketon in due seassn she did not forget the calf love of the past to what purpose tho reader will learn for himself. There are, a few annoying misprints and some slips, of grammar, as in the Cockney use of "like she did," and so on, which should be corrected ia a second edition.

A Lad of Mettle. By Nat Gonld. (London: Routledge Sons.) The novels of Nat Gould belong -to that headlong adventure school so fascinating to boys, wherein every thing is sacrificed to sensational incident. The book is simply the life-history of a. young man, Edgar Foster, who is, of conrse, an epitome of all that is charming in man.

He goes out to Australia, and during his stay there undergoes all-kinds of "extraordinary' adventures blacks, sheep-farming, droving. and what not Guided by an extraordinary aborigine called Yacka, he discovers a wonderful series of caves where gold and precious stones: are lying about on all sides with most bhliging convenience. Of course Edgar makes a large "haul; becomes a very wealthy man, marries the girl he loves, and that is all Of character-painting there is none, of style as little, 'but of sensational enough to satisfy the most confirmed of excitement-lovers. SozMtM. Gunter.

(Loii-j Sons, i A new novel by the author of Mr Barnes of Sort might-be; expected to attract aven ine moss hb oi-noveu. Tint ailas TVIr. "Guuter's hand'has seeminabt lost- it3 Jiuhhing. deserted. the nortoaval contemporaw Renans.

Madame Psichari, Renan's daughter, "1 1 J.1 has heirjed tnroxienous, raasea, ami liio dedication bears witness that the book "owes, to her devoted hand its most life-like touches." Madame Darmesteter first met Kenan in 1880. After the first half-hour in his company," she says, "I saw that here, here was the Man of Genius I thought him like the enchanter Merlin not Burne-Jones's graceful wizard, but some oagh-hewn, gnome-like Saint-Magician of Armor. What a leonine head, with its silvery mane of soft grey hair, surmounted that massive girth What an elfin, delicate light shone in the clear eyes and Jurked in the sinuous lines of the smile How Sucid, how natural, bow benign, the intelligence Which mildly radiated from him Some picturesque sketches of Renan in private life come from the same mould. "No. snan," we read with interest, "made less 6f a fetish of his work.

Those golden phrases of his were often interrupted, for his time was at the disposal of those who needed it. When s. visitor arrived, he would lay down his pen, give his mind to his guest until the door shut tipoa him, and then he would resume without a pause the unfinished sentence." Kenan's mental nature, indeed, gives us the impression of being one of royal opulence, one of those minds in whose warm air, as Browning says of the "regal eiass of thinkers, "New pollen on the Hlr-peta! srcurs, And still more labyrinthine buds the rose. Madame Darmesteter has drawn a beautiful picture of its development, and we think that her book is the best that has yet been written, upon the author of the Vie de Jesus." (2) The Olirist of History and of Experience. The "Kerr Lectureship" of; the United Presbyterian Church is, so far as we know, singular of its kind in being a triennial appointment.

An obvious advantage of this arrangement is that it gives the lecturer time for adequate preparation, and it will be granted by all who know them that the previous lectures of the series have been models of careful elaboration. The same can be said of Mr Forrest's thoughtful, learned, aud eminently readable volume on The Christ of History and of Experience." It is a closely -reasoned and scholarly treatise on a subject of great religious and theological importance, and it is written iu a.style of quite unusual verve and grace. The author's purpose, as he explains, is to discuss the relations between the historical and spiritual in Christianity, with special reference to their alleged The question thus raised is of pressing interest, it is a. favourite contention of many modern thinkers that an historical or contingent element can have no place in an absolute or universal re-licion, and this philosophical doctrine runs par allel with a widespread popular impression that miracles and dogmas have little or no ethical and religious value, ana that only tnose elements in Christianity which commend them selves directly to commonsense are of the faith. On this view, Christianity, whether as represented in the Uew Testament or in the creeds oi one unurcnes, wotuo require io ue reformed, in the strict etymological sense and what would be left who can tell? Mr Forrest iolds, however, that thehistoricalandthe ideal in Christianity are so essential to each other that "'What God hath joined together no man should put asunder." As the method he has adopted to establish his thesis allows him to range over nearly the whole held of Christian theology, we can here fflnly briefly touch on some of the main points in his argument.

The three opening lectures, dealing with the historic Christ as presented in the Gospels, cover ground that has been assiduously worked in recent years. It was hardly to be expected, therefore, that Mr Forrest's analysis of the records would yield original results, and we find that he is'led simply to reaffirm the orthodox position as to Christ's sinlessness and His unique relations both to God and to man. The treatment of this well-worn theme, however, is exceedingly fresh and suggestive. Mr Forrest has ploughed with his own heifer, and has drawn his' furrows with a firm hand. Some of the points he makes, of course, are not beyond dispute.

We question, e.g., whether his somewhat novel view as to Christ's abstention from "common prayer" can be reconciled with Christ's custom of frequenting the synagogues. There seems also- to be some confusion of ideas in his criticism of Br Martineaivs contention that Christ's goodness differs from men's in degree and not in essentia! quality. Surely the' difference between perfect and imperfect goodness is not absolute. It is a New Testament teaching, at any rate, that tainted characters will develop to perfection and "he filled With all the fulness of God." Besides, Mr Forrest himself contends later on that all goodness in men is derived from him, who is the light that lighteth every man." We must also say that he seems to us to make too little of Christ's teachings, and in particular of His doctrine of the kingdom, as a means of Hisselfr manifestation, We may point, however, to the section.ou miracles as a very able handling of. a very difficult subject.

Mr Forrest points out with much cogency their place and Junction in s. spiritual revelation and while his argument, may not convince those whose minds are in the thrall of scientific prepossessions, it should -Jouch those advocates of Christianity who are. inclined to ignore or minimise the value, of the miraculous element in the Gospels. He has certainly so succeeded in treating what often proves an intractable element that it lends impressiveness to his presentation of the historic Christ, as a unique Personality, whose entire life as pictured in the Gospels makes an overwhelming appeal to man's moral and religions consciousness. In the fourth lecture the Resurrection is treated as marking the transition from the historical to the spiritual Christ." Mr Forrest's standpoint can bu best explained in his ewn words" A man will not be able to accept this most mysterious of all supernatural manifestations if" he has not first been led up, as the disciples were, to find the supernatural in the life and person of Jesus to find it, that is, in a form in which it can be verified by human experience.

Unless we have received the impression from the Gospels of Christ's moral supremacy, of the unshared relation to the Father to which His inmost consciousness testified, and of the correspondence between His unique personal experience and His unique claim to be the mediator of a new life of sonsliip to others, the resurrection will seem but an idle tale. Now such an impression is not simply a stamp made upon us from without it is a growing recognition on our part of what fie truly was, and of what we are before God." We are sorry we have not space to deal further with thi3 very interesting section of the lectures but what has been said may convey some idea of the results of the. aaalvsis of the original materials. Briefly put, Mr Forrest's conclusion is that a candid survey, of the Gospels reveals Christ as the Sinless Man, and' Kternal Son of God, who, endowed with the power of an endless life, commends Himself to human consciousness as the supreme-Master and Redeemer of the Spirit. This, hardly gives us the Christ, of the, New Testament epistles nd accordingly.

Mr Forrest proceeds in Lectures 'wr as tne means 01 seuug nations, the substitution of i of settling disputes Between substitution of discussion aaai arbitration! an tho avoidance of armaments. The recent memorable fiasco ot the much- small matter Bcroit.t0? ArWf.ra.tinT, Tpnfttv is a comDarison with the fact taat, in TT 1 seven aroicrawous. jwi head is marked by wisaom and moderation, wbicn one, trusts see more wiueiy spread among ais owjipa. Monroe Doctrine, which was iaroressly in tended to promote peace, should be nowpre-f sentedas anargamenHoralhgerentpubho pohcy is, as he justly says, an extraordinary tribution made by the United States to civilisation is their thorough acceptance of the; widest religious toleration here again we- are all in sympathy with Dr Eliot's well-balanced patriotism. Perhaps his other claims are less tenable at lease tney re- ouire all his persuasive eloquence to render them acceptable to foreign opinion.

still an open question whether the United States have made out a case for "almost uni vfirnal manhood suffraee:" it can hardly be claimed that that development has not shown the dangers as clearly as the advantages of such a political system. And tnose wno Know ine difficulties of the Chinese question and the negro question, and are aware of the American view of Irish politicians, can hardly admit that the -United States have furnished a demonstration that tbe political fusion of races is always safe and simple, although Dr Eliot makes sot a strong case for that view with his qualifications. His last claim, that the diffusion of material well-being amongst the population of the States is a Tienefit to civilisation in general, seems to a new version of the proverb that charity begins at home. But there can be no question that the States have done much for the establishment of peace and toleration as political ideals, and we are at ons with Dr Eliot ia recognising the strong ethical sentiment which could alone have fitted a "multitudinous desnocraoy for such a work. His book is likely to become famous as one of those works which at ones interpret a great nation to the rest of the world and turn its eyes to the ideals which alons can lead it in the direction ef true and permanent progress.

EISTQBY, ABCSJESOLOGT, AND BIOGRAPHY. A History of CamhridgesUrt. By the Rev. Edward Conybeare, Vicar of Barringten, Carhbs. Popular County Histories Series.

(London: Elliot Stock. 1897.) Mr Conybeare has contrived within a moderately sized book to write a very interesting account of rather dull shire. The Fen country has. its romantic episodes, but most of them cling round Ely or the University of Cambridge. Both those historic places have had many historians.

Mr Conybesre's themo is tho shire at large, that country which was ones wild forest, and which probably only finally became waste land and water after the Romans left. Waste land and water, however," it remained until the present Queen's reign, during which much has been done in the way of reclaiming iand: The year 921 saw the first recognition of Cambridge as a definitive district. The author tells the story of its troubles, however, long before that date, and has summarised muoh dry archaeological lore in capitally -written chapters. Cambridge owes its university to Oxford scholars, and the university in its turn owes its study of Greek to Erasmus, who was: brought over by Bishop Fisher," In less than three years, however, Erasmus was driven from Cambridge. Leaving behind him two notable traces of his influence the first fount of Greek type ever used in England, and the theoretical pronunciation (of his own invention) which to this day cuts off English students from tbs living language of Hellas.

In a very few years, strange to say, this pronunciation became a badge of Protestantism, and as such was made compiihory first by Edward "VI. and afterward by Elizabeth while Mary was equally insistent on the living vocalisation of the languagt." Cambridge was indesd very Protestant, and tho clergymen who refused the Covenant in 1643 were dealt with, although they can scarcely have understood that preposterous Scottish schemo for forcing Presbyterianism upon England, a scheme jnst as foolish in its way as the English plan for forcing Episcopacy on Scotland. "Oliver Cromwell becamo an object of such adulation that, in 1654, the Vice-chancellor, and many others of the leading university officials, combined to dedicate to him a work called (in his honour) 1 Qliva in whioh be is accorded the peculiar royal salutation of our earliest-. English monarch? xa'fie pdaiKeur tbe which, as lat as the days of John, implied recognition ef sovereign claims, and which were now used for the. last time in -English history." To leave history, we may mention that Mr Conybeare tells us that the first milestones, ever seen in England (since Roman days) were set up on the road between Cambridge and London in 1729 in connection with a local fund administered by Trinity Hall, whoso arms are still to be seen on them, but if so it appears that milestones long preceded schools.

We cannot as Scotsmen but be astonished toread, "It is certain that at tbo' beginning of the century (i.t., this century) only a few favoured parishes contained a school of any kind whatever." Mr Conybeare gives a brief account of the rise of Newmarket, he says, was the prototype of John Bunyan'a Vanity Fair. The author has done his work very well, and has made a valuable contribution to local history. VVVare sorry to learn that the population of Cambridgeshire is rapidly declining, and that agricultural depression is: severely felt. The Cnmrch of England. A History for the People.

By the Very Rev. H. D. M. Spence, D.D., Dean of Gloucester.

Vol. H. (London Casseil Co. 1897.) This-second, volume of Dr Speuce's work deals with the medieval Church that roughly speaking, from the eleventh century to the eve of the Reformation. The twenty chapters of which it consists have been so that each of them, whilst taking its due place in the consecutive narrative, may be looked upon as a complete essay on some point of sp.eoial interest.

Thus there is one devoted to Anselm and the growth of the Pannl nnwpr. The Crusades and their influence noon the Church are considered in another. whilst Trlccket supplies material for: a third. Coining arer to mXn times, we find a section.giving nearer vi houoiuwiuj a the strugffle Between neurjr x. uii auuhim consiaerea connection wim au S.V.'FhnmkiK Wore and another, whiiih traces TWi n.T..

and indicates the in-' fiuence exercised by hir.i on the religious move- meut of the time. "Though somewhat desultory in itself, the treatment works well enough tor 5 i 6 5 i Accordine to his view, it JNamieoa aaa won on that day. tho alUes would have been var from. 1 annihilation. Both Wellington and iSiucaerj had kept open their respective nces 01 rereeat ,3 the national uprising of Europo would nave, been more determined than ever and 1815 would have been but a repetition of 1814.

To British readers at anyrate it will seem strange that there should be any possibility of doubt as to' who achieved the overthrow of Napoleon; yet this is what Professor Sloaae writes "It is bard todiscera th fts in the diss of controversy. 'Prussia, Austria, JKossia, ana. ureas Britain ha each the cations! conviction of hnohii) tVi Coisioan sneotre France 13 BtilL busy axplaining the facts of her defeat; the most conspicuous moaument on the battlefield is tiiat to the UutcH-JSelgians 6f the chapters which Professor Sloane devotes to the examination of STapoleon's character, interesting as they are, space prevents us from attempting any summary. There is one passage, however, sufficiently striking to he nuoted as it stands. Treating of the in debtedness of continental nations to Napoleon, be says If we consider the national politics of EnropeJ baysnd tho boundans ot France, History again becomes a record of influences started by Napoleon's The Germany of to-day is a great federal state guided, but not dominated, by Prussia.

What are its other important Bern; bors? Bavaria, Wiirtemburg, and BadenTall three in. their present extent and. influenes the creation the nice balance of powers in tha German Empire is due to his arrangement of tho map. There is even a sense in which all Germany, as we know it, sprang fall aimed from his bead. He not merely taught the peoples of Central Europs their strategy, tactics, and military organisation it was he who carried the standard of enlightenment (in his own interest of course, but still be carried it) through the length and breadth of their territories, and made its significance clear to the meanest intelleetan their teeming millions.

Thereafter tbo longings, for German unity, for German fatherland, for the organisation German strength into ons movement, could never be checked. The swarm of petty tyrants who had modelled their life and conduct on tho example of Louis and who in struggling to vie with his villainies had debauched themselves and their peoples, was swept: away by Napoleon's give place to the larger, mote wholesome; nationality of this century, which wasdestined in the end to inspire the surrounding nations with the new concept of respect, not aloha for One's own nationality but for that of others." In view of the remarks which we have had occasion to make, as the succeeding volumes of Professor Sloane's work came before us, there can be no necessity for a set estimate of it now that it has been crowned by completion. To its fulness, and to thejpatient and conscientious study which characterises it through-oat, we have already borne testimony. It will now suffice to recall one feature which gives it a special position amongst iNapoieonic biographies. From the very nature ef the casB it is tho only one which may be to have been written by one naturally free from either prejudice or partiality.

Uninfluenced by considerations of either party or nationality, Professor Sloane has had no inducement either, t'o extenuate or set' down aught in malice. He has" striven, to arrive at the truth the position which his Life of Napoleon Bonaparte-cannot fail to take prove that he has hot striven in vain. (4) Civilization in Ainerkvs. Dr Eliot's admirable work is certainly to be accounted, amongst tbe best bsokapf its kind which have as yet been produced in America. It is obviously the production of a man of much learning, wide experience of the and that which enables the two to bo, co-ordinated into a harmonious and instructive whole.

Dealing as. it does witli the most important questions aroused in.the mind of the thoughtful observer by the chief of Democracy in America, the book is likely to be studied with especial interest at, the present moment-, when the heated contest for tha mayoralty of New York has. attracted a large measure of attention in this country. Br who is president of Harvard University, does not pretend to minimise th evils which the contest has brought to light, but he points eut redeeming features of which we are apt to -lose sight, and makes suggestions which ought to strengthen the hands of It.is often assumed," he says, "that the-educated classes become impotent in a Democracy, becausa.the repfesenta-lives of those classes are hot exclusively ohesen to- public office. This argument is a very fallacious one.

It assumes that the pubUc offiees are the places, of greatest influence wherea3 in' the United States at least that is conspicuously not the case." As he it is important in a Democracy te discriminate influence from authority. In the States at anyrate the two do not always, nor indeed often, go hand in hand. Many reasons have been assigned for this familiar fact, A somewhat novel reason, which Dr Eliot teaches us to regard with equanimity, is to he found in the. development of those great companies corporations," as they are called in America whose wealth has reacted in more ways than one on the Government of the country. The prizes which a railroad company or a great industrial corporation can offer its servants, as this book shows, far exceed these set forth by the public service.

11 tha service of a town or city, of a State, or the national Government is really a kind of corporation service, carried on at be sure, under unfavourable conditions, the public service being subject to evils and temptations from which private corporation service is fbr themost part exempt, and yielding to those-who pay its cost less for their money than they get from any other kind of corporation." In1 fact, there is no private company which would for a moment dream of ebnductiug its business on the impracticable lines of the The chief, problems with which the modern city has to deal for the, assurance of its health, and convenience are really as scientific in their naturc and as much in heed of highly -trained specialists to deal with them as any which can arise in the working of a railway, a bank, a great industrial con cern, or an insurance company, iir, iiltot; points out, in a very able and suggestive essay, fi fa0k wdness of American i i i the Generals of Division. "Ail were excellent, good fellows; all were insubordinate, sluggish, absolutely incapable of combination, ignoranV of tha very range of their When thev ought to have cut off the Qfo piga and the Greeks tot off, they were as nlo5sp.fi as littla children. Quito honestly they could see no differenca between destroying the enemy and merely forcing' him to retreat, wuite honestlv they believed each time that the Greeks bad had a tremendous thrashing, and wis all but; annihilated. They bad not the ltast idea of their: own losses; bow could you expect them to estimate those of the enemy 2" Considering all that hasbeen said concerning Turkish cruelty it is not without astonishment that the reader comes across amongst many others this account of the occupation of. a captured town: "The entry of the Turkish troops into Lariaoa was, the sweetest and most lovable thing I had seen during this, week of war.

I am afraid that Canon M'Coll will not believe me, but I am speaking the truth. That the Turkish army entering: town taken from the enemy should be a pleasant sight, should be almost a kind of Sunday-school treat, will be surprising information to many Englishmen. But I have eyes in my head, and I saw it" Besides having eyes, of which he made remarkably good use, Mr Steevens has a bright and fluent style, and that has enabled him to set forth what he witnessed and what he experienced in a very entertaining and very enjoyable narrative. NOVELS AND STOBIES. The Barn stormers.

By Mrs G. N. Williamson. (London: Hutchinson Co.) The outstanding feature in. this very readable novel is the admirably' vivid and realistic picture of, a fourth-rate travelling theatrical troupe in the United States which it Every member of the Scott Ambler Comedy Company, from the manager himself down to Delia Thomas, the fretful pianist, and the honest, self effacing Nickson, is drawn in most spirited and life-like and nothing in its way could ho better than the picture of their shiftless and squalid life in the small towns of the West.

Mrs. Williamson shows that she is gifted with. poweraliUe pf observation and description, and her book is a most interesting disclosure of one aspect of American life. The story by which these scenes are-held together is a brisk and well-devploped bit of narration, and although both thehero (an American millionaire, who travels in a private Pullman car) and bis friend, the villain, are a trifle conventional, the reader will follow without a moment's weariness the adventures of Miss Monica Harvie from the day when she, answers Scott Ambler's advertisement to that in which she retires from tho stage to be happy ever after in the orthodox but fortunately never obsolete style. For His Cminiry's Sate or Esca A BritiBh.

Prince at the Court of Trajan. By L. M. P. Black.

(London: Horace Coir. 1897.) But little is known of the littla British kingdom of Damnonia, which is believed to have included Cornwall, Devonshire, and a small part of Somersetshire and in choosing a Dainnoaian prince for the. hero of his story, Mr. Black has secured for himself considerable freedom from historical restraint, as regards that part of it at least of which the scene is laid in Britain. Founding on a passage from Diodorus Siculus, he has assumed that the inhabitants of the western peninsula were a gentle-mannered people; and he has even gone the length of making a Christian of Esca.

At the same time, however, he has not forgotten that Dartmoor, where Esca first appears, abounds in Druidieal remains and he has thus been able, without any undue stretch of to picture the struggle between the new religion and the old heathenism. 'The whose in the neighbourhood testimony is borne'' by: coins discovered near Exeter, are also in tro- duced, and thus. the hero's further adventures become plausible If not stirring, they are at least interesting, and afford opportunity for-descriptions of ancient where Esca is taken as a prisoner, and of Roman life about the end of the first century. The whole story has been well worked out, and conveys a great deal of information in a thoroughly readable form. 1 The King vnth Two Faces.

By E. Coleridge. (London Edward Arnold.) The, 1 turbulent and eventful reign of Gustavus IH. of Sweden is fresh ground for the British novelist, and in the present volume Miss Coleridge makes a very successful incursion into Her story is rather a. long one, but with none of the, faults of lengthiness, and from the striking, exordium, where the three1 would-be assassins are; described as they lie in wait for tho hero, ta the conclusion, which Bhows us Ribbing escaped after the murder of leader's, interest is never allowed to flag.

Count Fersen, of course, plays an active part in the romance, and the pages; where he' ficures are among the most attractive. Alto gether this ia a historical novel of much morel than average merit, rich in stirring incident yet cot sensational, and based upon a careful and adequate study of the period to which it Under the Dragon Throne, by L. T. Meade and Rbbwrt K. Douglas.

(London Gardner, Darton Co. 1897.) There seems to be a mild run on Chinese subjects the fiction; market at present. China can be said to be booming, but she is certainly in a literary sense, looking up. It is a little unfortunate that as regards the pleasing subjects of Chinese tortures, the authors have been anticipated by Mr Hannan in his Prisoner of Pekih;" a re-is'sue of which we lately and that, as the romance of an English girl marrying a. Chinaman, they have been anticipated, by Mr Claude A.

Rees very remarkable story, Chun Ti-Kuae," which, we reviewed iusi a year ago. The incident this volume group -themselves around one Kicnard Mainland, a JBntisn bonsai, in v-nma. municipalities is chiefly due to afailure torecog- j.an. of that- new learning which titee'this" important truth; Reformationand is hers and JNew iorK nave laggett cemnl Berlin' ana- Manchester anqXTiasgowjuso oecause tneyuave ignored thrneed for oia'erlyscifihtjffe-aanent. 9 like scwack barks, and water-.

oTfflrtow to W) American Oontritotiofi. to CiTilizatira-and Other the production of what -is intended popular mm mJ Viimm This, sort to have had sngma oawiumii(jf JttwaoatJWi Ken-.