Memoir of the Rev. Francis liodgson, B.D., Scholar, Poet, and
Divine. By his son, the Rev. James T. Hodgson, MA. 2 vols. (Macmillan.)— Mr. Hodgson's life was worth recording, and it has been well done, by a biographer who possesses the cardinal biographical virtue of self- effacement, and who has contrived to compress his materials within limits which, at least when compared with recent works of the mule kind, are reasonably narrow. Mr. Hodgson left much work behind him, work which merited the titles by which his son has distinguished him, He was a scholar beyond doubt, as a poet he achieved con-
siderabie popularity, and if he was scarcely, in the technical sense of the word, a divine, he was a successful parish priest and a pains- taking Archdeacon. Whether his works find any readers now-a. -days may be regarded as doubtful, though his translation of Juvenal is still quoted. But he did a good work in his day, and helped for- ward the culture of England on that side which his education and power enabled him to promote. Eton, especially, owes him a debt of gratitude. He was elected Provost in 1840, and held that office, a very important one in the days when "governing bodies" had yet to be invented, until his death in 1852. If the reformer is yet to arise 'who will bring order out of the stupendous chaos of the " Oppidan " side of Eton, Mr. Hodgson deserves the credit of having done incalcul- able service to the "College." Nor must it be forgotten that he benefited the School, by pressing on amidst much obloquy and no little opposition from even the highest quarters, the abolition of the satur- nalia of. the Eton liontem. The two volumes contain many most interesting letters from Mr. Hodgson's correspondents, of which those from Lord Byron are the most conspicuous. It is pleasant to say that no one can read this book without thinking better of the great poet. 'To Mr. Hodgson he behaved with a rare generosity.
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