18 MAY 1918, Page 16

Du Contrat Social. Par J. J. Rousseau. Edited by C.

E. Vaughan (Manchester University Press, and Longmans and Co: 5s. net.)— Professor Vaughan's very able edition of Rousseau's famous book deserves a word of praise. His edition of all the political writings showed the close study which he had made of Rousseau, and the Introduction and notes to this volume are full of fresh ideas. The short essay on the extent to which Rousseau influenced the Revolu- tionary Constitution-makers may be mentioned for its modification of the commonly accepted view. The long note on Rousseau's gradual acceptance of a Socialist creed is another instructive passage in a book which will interest many people besides the young students for whom it is primarily intended.