The British Roll of Honour. By Peter Land Simmonds. (Dean
and Son.)—This volume contains a descriptive account of the various " Orders of Knighthood " throughout Europe, beginning with the "Order of Albert the Bear" (Anhalt), and ending with the "Order of Olga" (Wiirtemberg). The other quarters of the world follow in order. Hawaii seems rich in decorations of this kind, for it has no less than six, one of which, the "Star of Oceania," was instituted last year. Under that Order, the names of all the English members are given. After this follows a list of "Honours of Members and Connections of the Royal Family." The Prince of Wales, we may observe, is the proud possessor of no less than forty-nine, and the Duke of Edinburgh of eighteen. Then we have an alphabetical descriptive list (with addresses) of British subjects having English or foreign decorations. Mr. Gladstone seems to have escaped without any. Altogether the list occupies about 380 pages, with perhaps an average of twelve names on each. Illustrations, coloured and plain, of the insignia are added. The author is evidently not satisfied with our English system of decoration, the naval and military services having a share quite out of proportion to their importance. This state of things is, indeed, a curious survival of barbarous days, when the only way that a man had of serving his country was by knocking one of its enemies on the head.
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