THE COUNTY FAKIIIES OF THE 'UNITED EINGB0111. • THE object of
this work is to give the public a complete and accu- rate "Dictionary. of the Upper Ten Thousand." It is not confined to the landed aristocracy of the kingdom, but extends to all who, by their attainments or position, are acknowledged as members of the best English Society. The moths operandi is exceedingly simple. A short paragraph is allotted to each person, oomprising his birth, parentage, marriage, education, place of education, attainments, if any, his heir apparent or presumptive, the offices he holds or has held, and his residence or residences. The book in short is a sort of elaborate" Who's Who," on a large scale. It possesses advantages which no other work of the kind that we know of has offered hitherto. Containing all that is to be found in Burke, it furnishes information respectin# families of distinction which are not to he found in the publications of the latter, audit will prove to be invaluable in the library and the drawing-room. Such a work of course has cost the author no ordinary toil, and, it would not, therefore, be fair to criticise it too closely on a first edition. Indeed, the author frankly confesses in his preface that in spite of his utmost watchfulness, errors have crept in, which he promises shall be remedied on a reprint. When one comes to con- sider how during a course of labour of this protracted nature the face of society is silently but surely undergoing extensive changes, that every day, nay every hour, is wiping out a living name or adding a freak one to those that still exist, one cannot but admire the patience and energy which cannot only go through with such a work but can bring it to a triumphant conclusion.
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