The Weavers' Craft. 'By Daniel Thomson. (Alexander Gard ner' Paisley.)—Mr. Thomson
tells in this volume the story of the Guild of Weavers at Dunfermline, a society which endured an unknown number of years—the first document in existence is of the date 1596—and was finally dissolved in 1836, when its property realised enough to allow of the distribution of 22 10s. to each of its hundred and fifty members. The narrative is not very con- veniently arranged ; it is digressive, and tinged here and there with a certain prejudice against the "dominant partner,"—" pre- dominant" is the right word, we imagine, and was first used by a Scotsman. We cannot undertake to check all Mr. Thomson's facts, nor, indeed, have we any special reason for questioning them, so far as they concern his proper subject. But he is capable of making a blunder that is nothing less than stupendous. Here is his account of the death of the Princess Charlotte :—" She had fixed her affections on Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, but her fastidious father had betrothed her to William, Prince of Orange. The Princess at first agreed to the arrangement, but afterwards broke off the match, took to bed, and died on the 6th November, 1816."
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