A Scratch Team of Essays, by Sept. Berdmore (W. H.
Allen and Co.), is distinguished by variety, vivacity, and dogmatism. Mr. Berdmore is evidently strong both in his loves and hates; thus he has "the Birmingham Radical " on the brain to almost as great an extent as has Mr. Marriott himself. In this volume he gives his opinions—in certain instances, it would be more accurate to say, his prejudices—on such widely different subjects as "The Kitchen and the Cellar," "Carriages, Roads, and Coaches," "Russia," and " Thackeray." The two first-mentioned essays are the best in the collection. Mr. Berdmore has brought together a wonderful number of facts about, and, more or less, wise sayings on cooking and coach- ing. Mr. Berdmore's dogmatism in these papers takes no worse form than the statement of such an opinion as that "Red wines should be the rule and not the exception at dinner, and champagne, if served at all, should be served with the sweets, and not with the mutton." The paper on " Russia " looks antiquated ; and, as a piece of criticism, the essay on " Thackeray " is not marked by profundity or originality. Some friends of Mr. Berdmore would appear to have tried to dissuade him from reprinting certain verses which appear in this volume. It is to be regretted that their advice was not taken. Mr. Berdmore's reputation will not be increased by the publication of such lines as these, even in a parody :— "Go, ugly moke,
Tell Irm that often worries me, conviction spoke When I resembled him to thee! Then say what chance has he with me ? "
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