Robert Browning and Alfred Doniett. Edited by Frederic G. Kenyon.
(Smith, Elder, and Co. 5s. net.)—Browning and Doinett were both "Camberwell men" and poets—does not Samuel Weller the elder tell us that the only coachman that he knew to have written poetry was a " Camberwell man" ?—so also was Joseph Arnould, who is the third in this friendly circle, and, indeed, contributes to the correspondence here printed its most informing letters. Domett, who is the " Waring " of Browning's well-known poem, went out to New Zealand in 1842, rose there to considerable eminence, and returned to England in 1871. Mean- while he had written a poem, "Ranolf and Amohia," which at present holds the first place of New Zealand achievements in verse. Joseph Arnould won the Newdigate Prize at Oxford in 1834—the year of the Duke of Wellington's installation as Chan- cellor at Oxford—was called to the Bar in due course, and went out as Judge of the Supreme Court at Bombay in 1859. All the important letters belong to the years' 1842-46. Browning's last letter bears date July 13th, 1846; it is followed by one from Arnould telling the story of the poet's engagement and marriage. After that comes a long silence. Domett had written to his friend on the occasion of his wife's death and had received no answer. But the old friendship was renewed after the return to England, and Browning was able to serve his friend by finding a publisher for'" Ranolf and Amohia," not an easy matter where a poem considerably longer than " Paradise Lost " was concerned. Unfortunately, none of Domett's letters have been preserved. Not a little interesting criticism is scattered up and down the letters, interesting but a little eccentric. Tennyson in later days did not always improve his work by change, but to say that the " alterations are insane," when the editions of 1832 and 1842 are in question, almost merits the epithet employed. Among the noticeable matters in Arnould's letters is the story of how "The Blot on the 'Scutcheon" missed success, 44, at least, failed to get the chance which it might have had. Has a play ever prospered with the manager adverse ? Browning unfortunately offended Macready. The actor was capricious, the ' poet was dour.
Lincoln. By E. Mansel Sympson. (Methuen and Co. 4s. 6d. I The second instalment of " Everyman's Library" (J. M. Dent and
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