4. Besides keeping in mind the chronological order in which the principal authors lived, classify these authors according to their different schools or departments of literature, as Poets, Dramatists, Historians, Philosophers, Novelists, Essayists, &c.

5. Observe the chief forms of literature peculiar to the age, especially the new forms which sprung up within the period. 6. Consider the relation of the literature to the politics, history, and social spirit of the times.

7. Make a list of half a dozen or a dozen of the most characteristic or famous works of the period, and make a few notes of their dates, scope, contents, and authorship.

Perhaps the most interesting and impressive form of study is to get up very thoroughly the most celebrated and important writers, and then to group around them in thought those who were in any way connected with them, with the production of their works, or with their peculiar style of literature.

TEXT-BOOKS IN ENGLISH LITERATURE.

Fortunately there are many excellent works from which the candidate may make his choice according to his sympathy with the authors, and their different methods. There is not very much essentially to distinguish some of the text-books from others. Some, of course, are larger and more systematic in aim than the rest. The chief distinction is the plan and main purpose of each book. We will first name a few of the larger manuals, any one of which, to some extent, will meet the essential wants of a student, although we believe it is well to be in possession of, or to have access to, more than one; for the candidate may most serviceably use one or two as reference books on obscure or difficult points in the "special subjects," which are occasionally discussed on critical grounds in the hand-books of English Literature.

Very comprehensive in its aim, and excellent in style and execution, is Dr. Craik's Manual of English Literature and of the History of the English Language (7s. 6d., Griffin and Co.). It is a large volume of 550 pages, and is designed for the use of Colleges, Schools, and Civil Service Examinations. Its special feature is that it combines as no other manual does the history of the literature with the history of the language; and yet the former part, whilst it gains in interest through connection with the latter, does not seem to diminish its aim at completeness. "The scheme of the course and revolutions of the Language which is followed here is extremely simple, and, resting not upon arbitrary but upon natural or real distinctions, gives us the only view of the subject that can claim to be regarded as of a scientific character." The manual, which is historical in its plan, and treats upon definite periods, is selected

from the larger work in two volumes, Dr. Craik's Compendious History of English Literature and Language (25s., Griffin and Co.). Arnold's Manual of English Literature (7s. 6d., Longmans) is divided into two parts: the HISTORICAL SECTION, which combines the advantages of a chronological order in distinct periods with a classification of the authors in each period, such as Poets and Dramatists, Prose writers, Historians, &c.; and the CRITICAL SECTION, which in its first chapter treats, in a fine discriminative spirit, on the different kinds of poetry-Epic, Dramatic, Heroic, Narrative, Didactic, Satirical, Pastoral, &c.; and in its second chapter treats similarly on the different kinds of prose-Prose Fiction, Satire, Wit, Oratory, History, Philosophy, &c. The Appendix on English Metres is also worthy of note, and altogether Mr. Arnold's is a high-class work very valuable in the critical reading of English authors and in the historical preparation of the subject now before us.

Larger than either of the above, but differing in plan from both, is Professor Morley's First Sketch of English Literature (9s., or in three parts 3s. 6d. each, Cassell), a volume of 900 pages-surely large enough for a "first sketch." It is written in a noble spirit of reverence for what is pure and elevating; but is somewhat disconnected in its biographies of particular writers, owing, chiefly, to its exceptionally rigid chronological system. For example, the story of Milton's life and works is broken by very many intervening notices of other writers according as they lived and wrote in the separate years and periods of his life. Neither the connected interest of the story nor the mutual relation of the different parts in Milton's life must interfere with the plan of the work in giving the history of all the events which transpired in particular years, whether connected with Milton or not. Of course, there are advantages in such a system; but we fear they are not many for the practical student who wants to grasp the main facts in a rapid consecutive reading which sustains his interest in them and links them well together. For reference to given years and particular facts in an author's life, and for the relation between the political and literary history of any period, Mr. Morley's book may be of special service to a student; and for a purpose like this we can commend the book as scholarly and reliable.

Any one of the above manuals may very fittingly be taken in conjunction with Morell's Biographical History of English Literature (4s. 6d., Supr. edn. 5s. 6d., or in two parts 2s. 6d. each, Stewart and Co.). The work is quite true to its name; it is strictly biographical in its plan, and is intended to be mainly an introduction to the greater English writers. The lives of all the chief writers are given, with an account of their principal works, and then the less known contemporaneous writers are grouped around them severally, with brief references to their best known literary pro

ductions. Mr. Morell's book, which is an admirably classified one of 560 pages, is largely taken up with extracts, useful tables, numerous questions, about 400 exercises, and other suitable aids to self-tuition and examination. We like the practical character of the work, and commend it to the young student especially, or to any candidate who will use it along with a more comprehensive and critical work.

Of Dr. Angus's well-known and worthy Hand-Book of English Literature (5s., Religious Tract Society) we need do little more than remind our readers. It proceeds on the principle of "giving a complete history of each subject: Anglo-Saxon Literature, AngloNorman Literature, as it has been called, Language, Poets, Dramatists, Prose Writers, and Novelists. And yet the whole may be read in centuries, reigns, or literary periods, at the option of the student." It is a high-toned and well-written work of 660 pages.

Professor Yonge's Three Centuries of English Literature (7s. 6d., Longmans) is a work of about the same size as the last, but not so comprehensive in its range. It does not profess to be a complete History, and yet it is almost that; for the period it embraces-from the reign of Elizabeth to near the present time-includes the principal writers in English Literature except Chaucer, who, with Spenser, is treated upon in a brief Appendix. The plan adopted is chiefly the biographical-modified, as to arrangement, by the grouping together of separate schools of writers: Dramatists, Historians, Poets, and Novelists. As a piece of history and criticism, illustrated by long extracts from authors, the work is interesting, and will bear consecutive reading better than some of the hand-books we have mentioned.

Of the smaller works we may mention, with especial commendation for its elegant style and excellent classification of the subject, Arnold's Chaucer to Wordsworth: A Short History of English Literature from the Earliest Times to the Present Day (3s., Thos. Murby). Within its 470 pages there is skilfully condensed, on the historical system of taking distinct epochs and dealing with the writers in each epoch in proportion to their personal fame and merits, an admirable history and characterisation of English literature in its manifold relationships and wide-reaching influence. It is by the same author as the larger "Manual" published by Longmans, but it is an entirely different work.

Very handy, concise, and exceedingly serviceable for the student of limited time is Ross's Book of English Literature; being Notices, Biographical and Critical, of the Principal English Authors (1s. 6d., Stewart and Co.) It is in outline form, but with a brief connective history, and is just suited for rapid reading and review prior to an examination, especially if a larger work has been first read.

Still more condensed and very beautifully written is the Primer of English Literature (1s., Macmillan), by the Rev. Stopford Brooke, M.A., a writer of great eloquence and skill, who treats upon a subject with which he is well acquainted and completely en rapport. How he has managed to compress within the narrow limits of 190 pages the large amount of history and criticism we find in this excellent little book is a marvel. It is on a plan similar to Mr. Arnold's smaller work, and we most cordially commend it to our readers to be used along with some more extensive and elaborate book, to which it may serve as an introduction or a companion.

Some readers will find Davies's Manuals of History and Literature very useful. The first part of each volume gives a full and detailed summary of the history of the period specified, and the second part an almost equally full and detailed outline account of the literature of the same period. Following the name of each author are the dates of his birth and death, a brief summary of his life and principal works the purport and general character of the more important works being sometimes indicated. There are several volumes. From 1066 to 1216 (2s., Philip and Son); from 1216 to 1485 (2s.) ; The Tudor Period, 1485 to 1603 (2s.); The Stuart Period, 1603 to 1688 (1s. 6d.); From the Accession of William III. to that of George III. (2s. 6d.); From 1760 to 1815 (2s. 6d).

ENGLISH HISTORY.

The candidate will observe the welcome limitation, "to the end of the seventeenth century." He will need very few directions from us in this subject, except as to the books and manuals in which he may find adequate and suitable help. With the leading facts of English History he will be already acquainted by means of his early reading at school and his preparation for Matriculation. What he ought to do is to systematise his knowledge, to group it around the chief facts which illustrate the Constitutional History of his country, to trace the records of its social and political institutions, and to keep in his mind a vivid impression of the way in which the English Constitution has been gradually built up and our English liberties won. He will thus be prepared for the main, though not the exclusive, difference between the Matriculation and the First B.A. Examination. He will have fewer questions to answer than the Matriculation candidate, but they will often imply more detailed discussion of particular periods or events, and a more connected and comprehensive view of these events in their relation to the silent growth and effective consolidation of the English realm.

We may, perhaps, usefully point out some-not all-of the main aspects of his studies, or those facts of which he should be prepared, without any confusion of mind or loss of time, to give a clear and intelligent account, and those points to which he should give attention in his daily reading:

(a) The Roman Invasions-the Nature and Influence of the Roman Dominion.

(b) The Saxon and Danish Period-Saxon and Danish Institutions-their Influence on English History-Alfred the Great— Dunstan Edward the Confessor-Earl Godwin.

(c) The Feudal System-The Relation between the Ecclesiastical and the Civil Jurisdiction-Constitutions of Clarendon-the Civil and Criminal Code of Law.

(d) Magna Charta-Confirmation of Charters--Provisions of Oxford.

(e) Origin of Popular Representation in Parliament-the House of Commons-the Conflicts between King and CommonsRedress of Grievances-the Meaning of Hallam's Statement that English Liberties have been bought with the money as well as the blood of our forefathers.

(f) The Seven Principles contended for and to some extent acquired by Parliament before the Wars of the Roses :

(1) The Exclusive Right of Taxation.

:

(2) The Right of Directing and Checking Public Expenditure. (3) The Power to make the Granting of Supplies depend on the Redress of Grievances.

(4) The Right of Parliament to be consulted before Statutes could be Repealed-Security against Illegal Ordinances and Interpolations of Law by the King.

(5) The Control of the Royal Administration and Expenditure— the Submission of the Executive to the Parliament.

(6) The Impeachment and Punishment of Bad Ministers, (7) The Immunities and Privileges of Parliament. (g) The Conquests of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

(h) The Wars with France-their Origin-their Relation to the Development of English Liberties.

(i) The Civil Wars of the Houses of York and Lancaster-their Causes and Effects.

(j) The Tudors-their Absolutism-the Reformation-the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity-the Star Chamber and the High Commission Court.