28 NOVEMBER 1885, Page 23

From a number of school-books, we select f pecial commendation

a little History of Scotland (W. and R. Cham ), by Francis Watt. It is written in an easy but not too colloquial or "graphic " style, and is well illustrated with pictures and maps. Mr. Watt, by introducing poems like" Chevy-Chase" and Sir Walter Scott's verses on the conflict between Bruce and Sir Henry de Hoene before the battle of Bannock- burn, gives his little volume something of the character of a book of literary readings. He has also not omitted to incorporate in his narrative, allusions to the habits and customs of the Scotch people at different periods. Altogether, his work is calculated to tempt school- boys to take a quasi-personal interest in history.