Wanderings in the Land of Lorne, and the Outer Hebrides.
By Robert Buchanan. (Chatter and Windus.)—We do not understand why a book the preface of which was written in October, 1882, and which was already in the hands of the public in November, should be described on the title-page as published in 1883. But though the title-page is slightly inaccurate, we must con- gratulate Mr. Buchanan on the appearance of this new edition of this graphic volume, the contents of which were first published in 1872, and dedicated to the Princess Louise. This dedication appears at the end of the present edition, and however sad and tree the allegations contained in it may be, we cannot but think that the sentiments it contains, as addressed to the Princess Louise, were, and are, devoid of tact and good-feeling. Mr. Buchanan himself seems to be aware that he has transgressed the limits of courtesy, when be says (page 325),—" After this dismal recital, so necessary to my purpose, yet almost ungracious, on a bridal morning." No doubt, if the facts alleged be correct, there are many abuses to be amended in the land-tenure of the Hebrid Isles. And we can sympa- thise with Mr. Buchanan's burning zeal to have all things put right, but we are afraid that in the minds of most people who have, during the last ten years, read his dedication, a prejudice will be created not in favour of, but against, the author's convictions. The book itself is a prose poem. Here are no dull descriptions of scenery, such as may be found in the pages of Johnson ; or even, shall we say, in the poetry and prose of Sir Walter Scott P We have taken the trouble to compare Boswell's "Journal" and Johnson's "Tour" with these wanderings of Mr. Buchanan's. One cannot but be amused by the "Journal," for it is each an account as Snodgrass would have written about Rickwick ; and Johnson's "Tour" is a mere itinerary, transcribed from Boswell's "Journal," and translated into the language which Macaulay aptly terms "Johusonese," which consists of long sentences so equally balanced, that a word more or less would destroy the equilibrium of a whole passage. But in Mr. Buchanan's work we find short, terse sentences, vivid descriptions of loch and mountain, and bright narratives of adventure along the wild sea-coast of the Outer Hebrides. It is said that there are two classes of orators, those who master their subject, and those whose subject masters them. It is to the latter that our author belongs. He stands looking at a scene till the inner meaning of it dawns upon his mind, and this inner meaning he has the power of communicating, more or less, to his readers.
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