13 OCTOBER 1888, Page 41

Bridewell Royal Hospital, Past and Present (Wells Gardner, Dart,on, and

Co.), is a short account, by Mr. A. J. Copeland, Treasurer of the Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlehem, of the palace, hospital, gaol, and school, which in the popular mind have all been confounded with one of them, the ill-omened prison where Ellwood was confined, and of which "Ned Ward" has given an account in his somewhat unsavoury reminiscences. Mr. Cope- land's book would have been of value even if it had done nothing more than remind the public of the admirable work that " Bride- well " has done in the past, and even in the present, as a hospital. It is full of interesting and curious, if occasionally gruesome, facts of historical and social importance. Indeed, if it errs at all, it is in being too unpretentious and succinct. Mr. Copeland could have said a good deal more than he has said of historic Bridewell without wearying his readers.