Thoughts for Heart and Life. By the Rev. John Ker,
D.D. Edited, with Introduction, by the Rev. A. L. Simpson, Derby. (D. Douglas, Edinburgh.)—Dr. Simpson, after paying a well- deserved tribute to the character and genius of Dr. Ken, concludes his introduction by telling us that this volume is taken from "his rich store of unpublished materials, written for the most part in note-books, but without any view to publication." It is, indeed, a remarkable proof of the wealth of a man's mind, when thoughts so valuable could be stored away without any purpose of using them except for his own needs. A tithe of the good and wise things found here would well furnish forth many ordinary writers.
The Allotments Acts, 1837. By T. Hall Hall, M.A. (Stevens and Son.)—Mr. Hall gives and comments on two Acts passed in the Session of 1887,—viz., "The Allotments and Cottage-Garden Com- pensation for Crops Act," and "The Allotments Act." He sup- plies most illustrative matter, a list of former Acts dealing with the same subject, a table of cases, and another of Parliamentary papers, relating to the subject. There is a full index.—A smaller volume on the same subject is The Allotments Acts, 1387, by W. A. Holdsworth (Routledge and Sons), the editor furnishing, besides the text of the two Acts, notes, forms, and an index, and also giving in an appendix "The Allotments Extension Act, 1882."— Another legal manual is Executors and Trustees : their Duties and Responsibilities. By Shackleton Hallett. (C. W. Deacon and Co.) —No more unthankful and dangerous office than that of a trustee can be imagined. As Lord Justice Bagallay remarked, trustees are " surrounded by pitfalls," and anything that can help in their guidance is welcome.
We are glad to see that the enterprise of an English publisher has brought out something that for convenience may not unfairly be matched with the famous "Tauchnitz Series." Gladys Fane, by T. Wemyss (T. Fisher Unwin), is a handy volume, and a pocketable, a qualification not less desirable than handiness. The paper and print, too, are reasonably good. The stiff cover is possibly an im- provement on the Tauchnitz paper. The charming little volumes that we get from Leipzig have a certain tendency to come to pieces. Baron Tauchnitz has the pick of English literature, and so can produce a series which no single publisher can match. But why should not English publishers combine, and bring out a series of the best English copyrighted novels ? We may say that the publishing price of Gladys Pane, of which the present is the fifth edition, is two shillings.
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