A second edition of The Peculiu-n, by Thomas Hancock (S.P.C.K., 5s.), has appeared with an introduction by the Bishop of Gibraltar. The Pecslius-s was published not quite fifty...

I The Putblic Schools from, Tith. (Sampson L-,, Marston, and Co. 3S. 6d.)-These essays (nnnbering thirty-twvo), "written chiefly by schoolmasters," deal with (1) class-room...

The Oxford English. Dictionar. Mesne-Misbirth." By Henry Bradley, M.A. (Clarendon Press. 5s.)-Alost of the, sources of our language are represented in this double section of...

Paincesses and Court Ladie. By Arvade Barine. (G. P. Putnam's Sons. 12s. 6d.)-Four of the five subjects dealt With by the author are more or less familiar to the English...

The Convomation Prayer Book. (Clarendon Press. 5s. net.)- This volume shows the changes in the rubrics which were recommended by the Convocations of Canterbury and York in the...

| Tho-n's OffciaZ Directory of the United Kingdome of Gcdat Britaiz andl Ineland. (Thom and Co., Dublin. 21s.)-If we emphasise the word "Ireland," the title wvill rightly...

In the series of -Makers of Canada" (T. C. and E. C. Jack, 21s. net) we have George Brown, by John Lewis. George Brown was a Scotsman, on the mother's side of Highland descent,...

The Native Races of the British Emnpire: Natives of Asustr-lia. By N. W. Thomas, M.A. (A. Constable and Co. 6.. net.)-Some, I certainly, of the readers of this volume ;vill...

- Cam),eos frmn the Life qf George For. By Ernest E. Taylor. (Headley Brothlers. ls. 6d. net.)-Tle word cameos " seems a little out of place when we have to do with so...

The Thaw murder trial has been filling the newspapers during the past week,-not a little to the disgust of many people, who ask themselves why this squalid tragedy, in which...

We note the gratifying announcement made on Thursday I that her Majesty Queen Alexandra has presented a challenge [ cup, value one hundred guineas, to the Society of Miniature...

Since our last issue two great Civil servants have passed away in Lord Thring and Sir Godfrey Lushington. Lord Thring, the first and greatest official Parliamentary draftsman...

I Mr. Bryce was not less happy in his reply, gratefully acknowledging the support and encouragement of political opponents as well as allies, and attributing the reception of...

I The King and Queen have during the past week been ipaying an informal visit to Paris, and have been everywhere Ireceived with a feeling which it is not too much to describe...

General Picnuarb, the French Minister of War, has made I an interesting speech at Angers, according to the Paris correspondent of the Times. "The Army of to-day," he said-"...

A farewell dinner to Mr. Bryce was given by the Pilgrims Club at the Savoy Hotel on Wednesday night. Lord Roberts took the chair, and Mr. Whitelaw Reid, the American...

CURRENT LITERATURE. THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. The Book of the Preyhet Jeremiah. By S. R. Driver, D.D. (Hodder and Stoughton. 6s.)-Canon Driver gives a new translation...

SOME BOOKS OF THFE WEEK. [Under tlis hiding Be notice nsch Books of the wkeek as Ia, not boon reser"edfor fevine in other fono.) Employrnent Picturesfrom the Census. By M. G....

The Fighting Chance. By Robert W. Cbambers. (A. Constable I and Co. 6s.)-Mr. Chambers has handled a problem unpleasant in itself with exceptional skill and delicacy in this...

THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE CUNEIFORM INSCRIPTIONS. The Archaeology of the Cusneiform Inscriptions. By the Rev. A. H. Sayee. (S.P.C.K. 5s.)-" The decipherment of the cuneiform...

I Mr. Austen Chamberlain addressed his constituents on Monday night at Stirclley on the relations of Tariff Reformers to the Unionist Party. He thoeght it only wise to...

The second and larger part of Mr. Balfour's speech con- tained a redeclaration of Fiscal policy. He could not understand why "'a monthly bulletin" should be required of his...

That an organised campaign against the House of Lords j forms part of the Government programme is pretty clearly foreshadowed by the speeches of Lord Crewe and Mr. Winston...

We confess that talk about "effete oligarchies " and the like does not impress us, and we very much doubt whether it will impresthe electors. We think the Unionist Peers made a...

The famous Russian chemist, Dmitri Mendeleiff, died on Saturday, February 2nd, at the age of seventy-three. His name will always be connected with the enunciation of the...

I It is with deep regret that we record the death of Lord Goseben, who died very suddenly at four o'clock on Thursday morning of heart failure at his house in Kent. Lord...

DEVOLUJTION AND HOME-RULE. I [To TIIB RDITOI TI.. EDTO OW TI. "SPKIXATOn."I' SIR,-Though the article entitled "Devolution and HomeRule " in the Spectator of January 19th has...

LETTERS TO 'THE EDITOR. THE UNEMPLOYED AND BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS. ITO TUJ9 ERn'rOR OR TIER SPECrATTILMj SIR,-May Ibe permitted to bring to your notice, and through I the...

I NATURE AND NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS.* THE stream of books about birds and bird-life in the woods, the fields, and the gardens flows from the publishers' houses with unabated...

"THE GERMAN EMPIRE." rTo TE EDITOR OF T'E SPECTATOR."] SIR,-May I ask if your reviewer is not inaccurate in his review of Dr. Howards book on "The German Empire" in saying...

[TO T.. EDITOR OF T.. "SPECTATOR."] SIR,-I cannot confute the statements of the Indian Census Report quoted by "Old Liberal" in his letter published in your issue of February...

A DESTRUCTIVE PROPOSAL. [TO THJ- MlITO. OW T... - SPOTATOIa'] SIR,-The Magazine of the League of the Empire for the last month contains a suggestion made by Lieutenant-Colonel...

THE CHRIST OF EXPERIENCE. A VOLUME of religious and social essays has lately been Apublished by the Rev. William T. Herridge, D.D., minister of St. Andrew's Church, Ottawa ("...

THE COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION. ITE have never numbered ourselves among the roott and-branch opponents of the Progressive majolity on the London County Council. *We recognise the...

TOPICS OF THE DAY. MR. BALFOUR'S SPEECH. WTE do not wonder that the more extreme section of T T the Tariff Reformers are deeply disappointed by MIr. Balfour's speech, and...

THE GERMAN ELECTIONS. THE final result of the German elections is as complete a T surprise as was the first. Not only foreign observers like ourselves, but German political...

MILTON ON " FAME." LTO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.'] SiB,-A further question arises with regard to Milton's famous line on Lycidas (see Spectator, January 26th),namely,...

A THRUSH ON THE ICE. [To THE EDITOR Or I'E "-SPECTATOE.J SiR,-This morning (February 5th) as I was crossing It. James's Park there was a song-thrush hopping about far out on...

LETCHWORTH HOUSING EXHIBITION. [TO TEE EDITOR OF T-E "SPECTATO.."] Sip,-The importance of matters that affect housing is now so widely recognised that we venture to draw the...

rTo TEE EDITOm OF THE " OPECTATOH 1 SIR,-Mr. Frederic Harrison's letter in the Spectator of January 26th in regard to a reviewer's misquotation of the familiar line of Lycidas,...

A WORKHOUSE POEM. [To TUE EDITOR OP TEE "SPECTATOR.'] Si11,-Your correspondent "Maxwell Gray" in last week's Spectator is mistaken in supposing that the verses she quotes were...

THE PRONUNCIATION OF PLACE-NAMES. [TO TEE EDITOR OF T.E SPECTATOR."| SiR,-In the Spectator for January 26th reference is made to certain peculiar local pronunciations of...

HOME-RULE AND DEVOLUTION. THE letters which we publish in another column in regard to the question of Home-rule and Devolution would seem to show that our attitude in the...

[To T.. EDITOR OF TOE "SPECTATOR."| SiB,-The present position of the Unionist Party on the subject of Devolution is somewhat perplexing. On all bands, both from Conservatives...

THE INDIAN MUSSULMANS. rTo THE EDITOR o, THE , SPECTATOL"] SIRa,-In the business of this workaday world it is quite possible to prove, as well as to protest, too much....

[To THE ED-To.. OF THE "SPEcTATOE."1 SrI,-A complete change of front upon the eve of battle is not generally indicative of strength; but Mr. Long has called upon Irish...

POE TRY. CANADA'S EMBLEM. WuEN the white frost lies on the topmost rail Which fences the fold where the sheep are fed; When the steins of the purple fire weed fail, And the...

Bs 0 0 K S. SOCIAL LIFE IN ENGLAND.* LORD BowEN once said of the social condition of a people: " It changes, it must change, it ought to change with the broadening wants and...

THE POLITICAL STRUGGLE ON THE CONTINENT. THE position of internal politics in the three military 1 Empires of the Continent is somewhat strange, and will to the historian be...

CORRESPONDENCE. I THE PIGEONS AT OUR WINDOW. (To THe EDITOR oF T.E "SPECTATOR..j SiR,-Wbile we lived in New York we made pets of the grey squirrels in the park. It is...

THE MAGAZINES. THE January Ninteenlth Century is primarily an anti-Channel Tunnel number, Sir James Knowles reprinting in the form of a supplement the valuable pamphlet he...

WINTER IN A SEA-MARSH. AFANCIFUL writer has developed the theory that it is easier than it was a hundred years ago to find solitude in civilised countries. Then agriculturists...

Prince Biilow, speaking after the results were known, said, I according to the Times report:-" I thank you for the patriotic sentiments which have once more brought you hither....

I We note with sincere satisfaction a declaration by the Paris correspondent of the Times in Thursday's paper that there is a very good prospect of the quarrel between the...

I A forecast of the elections to the new Duma has been sent by the St. Petersburg correspondent of the Times. His figures refer only to the electors chosen so far by the...

NEWS OF THE WEEK. fJ HE results of the second ballots in the German elections T were declared on Tuesday night. Like the results of the first ballots, they were a complete...

I On Friday week Mr. Balfour addressed a meeting at Hull called together by the Central Conservative Association. His answer to a demand for a programme made by hostile critics...

The Emperor, who took the unusual course of addressingj the crowd trom the Uoyal castle, said:- J. thank you most heartily for the splendid ovation which you have given us. It...

SIGISMONDO MALTATESTA OF RIMINI.* MR. EDWARD HUTTON's new book possesses a singular kind of beauty. It is an artistic piece of work, with a few flaws indeed, for only a...

THE PROGRESS OF POSTAGE-STAMPS. A ONG tbe thousands of persons who visited the extremely A inter esting Exhibition of postage-stamups held last year in the Hall of the...

MUNICIPAL TRADING.* LORD AVEBURY'S public spirit and industry are indefatigable, and they never were applied to better purpose than in his present attempt to direct attention...

NOVELS. THE KINSMAN.* THE arrival of a new novel by Mrs. Sidgwick always raises the animal spirits of the jaded reviewer, for if the texture of her work is occasionally...

I White Fang. By Jack London. (Methnen and Co. 6s.)-The I very clever, but `slogging" and vehement method with which I readers of 'Mr. Jack London's books are familiar has in...