GREY SEAS. By Rex Palmer. (Heath Cranton. 6s.)—In the preface
to these sketches, Mr. Palmer writes : " I have tried to catch the spirit of a phase of sea life, that of the closing years of the Age of Sail, in the hope that when the last page is• reached there may emerge a picture of what manner of men they were who manned those stern and stately ships." The author has succeeded in giving us a memento that is likely to be of even greater interest in the future than it is now. What " Barthneus and " Taffrail " have done for the naval man, Mr. Palmer has done for his equally sentimental and inarticu- late brother. Each short sketch is written with a pithy economy that is most effective. Some of the tales have bitterness, many have poignancy but all have point, and the volume is a satisfactory answer to the question of the Bosun in one of the best sketches, who asks : " Who the 'ell could write a book about the sea ? " Yes, in spite of the Bosun, who says : " Its 'ard and its ' an' that's all there is to it. It makes me tired, these 'ere 'angry writin' boolth about the sea. I don't want none o' that bilge ; gimme somethin' interestin'. Ha'n't you got none o' them Girls' Friend Library' " ? In spite of this excellent comment on much' sea-literature we assert that Mr. Palmer has produced a book in which a great deal happens.
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