Oasis under English Rule. By G. A. C. Sandman. (B.
H. 131ackwell, Oxford. 2s. 6d. net.)—It is a very interesting and picturesque bypath of history along which Mr. Sandeman conducts us. Calais was a military position of some importance, as we see when Henry V. made it his objective after leaving Havre. If Agincourt had not been so decisive a victory, ho might- well have been glad to reach the shelter of its walls. But its chief importance to England was commercial. It was there that the Customs on imports and exports were levied. It was this that made the feeblest Governments exert themselves to keep its safety beyond question, and the poorest willing to support the expense of its very considerable garrison. Of course commercial and military considerations act and react upon each other. The Calais garrison, kept up, in the first instance, for revenue purposes, was the nucleus of a standing army. This may have been one of the causes which brought about the somewhat unaccountable military superiority of England. Mr. Sandeman tells us ninny noteworthy things about this possession of ours, and gives us incidentally many curious glimpses of the life of the time. It is a remarkable fact that, great as was the blow to the national pride when Calais passed out of our hands, the loss was really a blessing in disguise. The commercial importance of the place had passed away through the operation of new economical factors; it had obviously lost its military use, for it led nowhither. Probably no one saw this at the time, and it must be allowed that the negligence which brought about the loss was really a disgrace.
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