a

AT Mr. Lefevre's, in King Street, St. James's, are to be seen a highly finished work by Mr. Alma Tadema, called "The Parting Kiss, portrait of its painter by Mr. John Collier, and a life-size bull's head by Mdlle. Rosa Bonheur. We are glad to know that the last artist has sufficiently recovered from her illness to complete this head; but the modelling of the shoulders still seems imperfect. Mr. Collier's portrait is unmistakable, but somewhat commonplace. Mr. Alma Tadema's picture is exquisite in his own well-known way.

IN October and November of last year the Cantonal Commission for the Preservation of the Antiquities of the Valais commenced excavations upon the site of the old Roman Octodurum, in the present village of Martinach. The remains of a heathen temple have been discovered, upon which a Christian church had been subsequently erected. All is now laid fully open to daylight, and the form of the latter building is remarkably distinct. It is a parallelogram, divided into several compartments. There is a crypt on the north side of the nave, to which there is a descent by a broad staircase. The number of columns at regular distances from each other, on the south side of the nave, seem to indicate a destroyed colonnade. Between two of the pillars a human skeleton was found. Roman bricks, pedestals, capitols, vases, and fragments of gray and green marble occur in profusion. It seems to be beyond question that the church must have been the cathedral built by St. Theodorus, the first Bishop of the Valais. Coins were found of the Emperors Constantine (306-37) and Constans (350). It is believed that the cathedral of Octodurum was commenced under the latter, in 347, about thirty years after the edict of Constantine first permitted the Christians

to erect churches.

Av archaeological "find" of some importance was made on May 15 by some workmen in the bed of the Rhone near Geneva-a Roman altar, square in form, in excellent preservation. The altar, which is of white Jura-stone, is exactly eighty centimètres high and fortythre square, and is totally without ornament. On the front, however, in elegant letters, is the inscription—“ DEO NEPTVN C. VITALINY VICTORINVS MILES LEGI XXII A CURIS V.S.L.M" ("Deo Neptuno C. Vitalinus Victorinus, miles legionis xxxii, a curis votum solvit libens merito"). Only half of the I in "legionis" is visible, and there is the fragment of an x before "XXII." It is supposed that the altar was an ex voto offering to Neptune by some soldier rescued from drowning It has been placed in the Archaeological Museum in the Palace of Justice at Geneva.

MESSRS. COLNAGHI have sent us artist's proofs of two fine prints-if we may apply the term to both-which they have recently published. The one is a mezzotint engraving, by Mr. J. D. Miller, after George Mason's "Milkmaid," a charming subject, which we could not wish to see more charmingly reproduced. The

other is a photogravure, on a very large scale, of the decorative painting that Sir Frederick Leighton chose to call "Summer Moon." Here, again, the process of reproduction is most appropriate, for it preserves everything (texture included) except the colour. If lineengraving is on the decline, and etching overdone, it is pleasant to be reminded by Mr. Miller that mezzotinting still deserves to be popular; and it is some consolation to know that photogravure has almost reached the rank of a fine art.

next.

MUSIC.

RECENT CONCERTS.

way for the successes of those works when given at Drury Lane; and, in like manner, the public may be trained to understand and appreciate the Trilogy, which, with all its faults, is a marvellous creation. The concert concluded with a magnificent performance of Beethoven's seventh Symphony. Brahms' Symphony will be repeated next Monday.

The New Shakspere Society gave its second annual concert on Friday, May 9, in the Botany Theatre of University College, London. There was a long selection of Shakspere madrigals, glees, and songs. The music was under the direction of Mr. J. Greenhill, and, to judge from the applause, the evening's entertainment seemed to give much satisfaction. We may notice specially Miss Ethel Harraden's singing of "Full fathom five," by Christopher Smith, Handel's amanuensis; Miss J. Rosse's rendering of the two settings of the "Willow Song." by J. Hook and Sir A. Sullivan; and also Miss J. Royd's " Orpheus with his lute," paper distributed in the hall gave an interestby Sir A. Sullivan. A critical and historical ing account of the various schools of music during the last three centuries, together with short notices of the composers whose names appeared on the programme. "Shakspere music," it tells us, "forms but a small part of music in general. This is in a sense true; with the exception of Schubert and Mendelssohn, we have no actual Shakspere settings by the great German masters, yet Haydn wrote incidental music for performances of "Hamlet" and "Lear" at Esterhaz; Beethoven was inspired by "The Tempest" when he wrote his "Appassionata" Sonata; and, again, the French composer Berlioz might be mentioned for his tone-poem "Romeo and Juliet" and for his "Lear" Overture. A part-song "In Memoriam Miss Teena Rochfort Smith," composed by Mr. J. Greenhill to the words "Fear no more the heat o' the sun,' was included in the pro

DR. HANS VON BÜLOW gave a third and last recital at St. James's Hall on Thursday afternoon, May 15. He first played three pieces of Liszt; as compositions they are not interesting, but they were magnificently rendered. Sterndale Bennett's "Maid of Orleans" Sonata came work in public when he visited England in Dr. Bülow was the first to perform this 1873, and both then and now he exerted himself to the utmost to do honour to a great English musician; last week especially did he interpret this pleasing and graceful tone-poem with extraordinary finish and delicacy. Then came four pieces by Brahms-the two Ballads, op. 10, Nos. 1 and 2, and the two Rhapsodies, op. 79. The Ballad in D and the Rhapsody in B minor were played to perfection; but in the others there was a slight harshness of tone and tendency to overmark. Beethoven's variations on a Russian song were repeated by desire, and these were followed by Beethoven's Sonata "Les Adieux, l'Absence et le Retour." The middle movement had full justice done to it, but the 'Farewell" had a touch of affectation about it, while the Return" was read rather than felt. Whatever one may think of Dr. Bülow's renderings of Beethoven, one has to acknowledge the study and thought dis-gramme. There was a very large audience. played in every note, but the intellectual effort sometimes interferes with the poetry and passion of the music. The programme ended with a most satisfactory and enjoyable performance of Brahms' Grand Duo for two pianofortes (op. 56) by Mr. Oscar Beringer and Herr von

Bulow.

Mdme. Annette Essipoff, the distinguished Russian pianist, gave a recital at St. James's Hall on May 9, and a second one last Wednesday afternoon. In a number of short pieces she showed the excellence of her mechanism and, besides, considerable taste. She was heard to great advantage in a Schubert-Liszt "Soirée The fifth Richter concert, on Monday evening, de Vienne," two pieces by Schütt, "Thême et May 19, attracted a large audience. formance of Marschner's Overture to "Hans"Valse chromatique; The per- Variations by Rameau, and Leschetizsky's " but in the most imHeiling" will remind the musical public of a portant works we must say she somewhat discomposer who certainly deserves a hearing in appointed us. this country. Three of his Operas-among them, "Appassionata" was, in some respects, highly The performance of Beethoven's "Hans Heiling," by many considered his master- commendable; but it is a work which must be piece-still keep the stage in Germany, and it reproduced rather than played. Mdme. Essmakes one curious to read that "recent and ipoff's rendering of Schumann's Sonata in G far-seeing" critics describe him as the connect- minor at the second recital was unsatisfactory; ing link between Weber and Wagner. In the foolish additions to the text, uncertain phrasing, Overture there is much of Weber, but little of and a general want of sympathy with the Wagner. The programme contained an import- music all helped to spoil an interesting comant Wagner selection-" Der Ritt" from "Die position. M. Brandoukoff, a capital violoncello Walküre," two movements from "Siegfried," player, took part in the second recital. The and the Funeral March from "Götterdammer-attendance at both concerts was moderate. ung." The music descriptive of Siegfried's ascent to the mountain on which lay Brünnhilde, and that of his journey back to the Rhine, are welded so as to form an arrangement" available for concert purposes. This and other arrangements were sanctioned by the master himself; some were executed by himself, others under his immediate supervision. Now in the case of an ordinary Opera we should object to such treatment; but, when we remember that the "Ring des Nibelungen cannot, at present, be heard in this country, we are only too glad to hear portions of it, selected by the composer himself, and performed under the direction of his faithful friend and servant, Herr Richter. There is no doubt that the extracts from "Tristan" and "Die Meistersinger in former seasons prepared the

66

Señor Sarasate gave his third concert last Wednesday evening. Again he showed himself a most accomplished player, and was much applauded. The Beethoven Concerto was finely rendered; in the first two movements there were occasions which made one feel what Señor Sarasate might accomplish if entirely devoted to his art. The programme included Schumann's Overture, Scherzo, and Finale, and Mendelssohn's "Isles of Fingal," under the conductorship of Mr. Cusins.

Mr. E. Birch, pupil of Mr. Deacon, made a favourable impression on his first appearance at St. James's Hall last Tuesday. He has a baritone voice of fair quality, and study and experience may do much for him. Mdme. Norman-Néruda and Miss A. Zimmermann contributed solos. J. S. SHEDLOCK.

SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1884.

No. 630, New Series.

THE EDITOR cannot undertake to return, or to correspond with the writers of, rejected manuscript.

schemes of practical philanthropy. And, joined with it-making a combination as rare as it is valuable-was a power of organisation and an attention to details which rendered her sympathy in the highest degree effective. It will not be forgotten that in the Franco

letters regarding the supply of the paper, &c., may be addressed to the PUBLISHER, and

not to the EDITOR.

LITERATURE.

Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse, Princess of Great Britain and Ireland: Biographical Sketch and Letters. (John Murray.) DURING the last few years there have been published a good many volumes, of doubtful merit and more than doubtful taste, which have dealt with what is called Court Life at home and abroad. The veil has been rather rudely lifted, and the scenes which have been laid open to curious eyes have not always been such as to inspire respect for some who have taken the chief part in them. Possibly, among other reasons, there may have been in the mind of her Majesty a desire to counteract the tendency of such books by making public these memorials of one who, in every relation of life, acted from the highest motives, and was animated by a constant sense of duty.

The absence of reserve which the volume displays (for the letters of which it is chiefly composed are the letters not of a Princess to a Queen, but of a daughter to a mother) will, of course, be judged differently by different people. To us the book seems mainly to proclaim the fact that in the pure, simple life of the Princess Alice and its artless utterances there was nothing to conceal, but very much which all the world would be the better for knowing. Her royal birth did not invest her with any mysterious attributes any more than it shielded her from the accidents of ordinary humanity. She lived a life singularly open and transparent-a life unspoiled by the special temptations incident to her high station, but not untouched by the trials and troubles which others, less exalted, are called upon to bear.

Although more than five years have elapsed since the lamented death of the Princess took place, there has been no lessening in the general regret which that event excited. This memoir will certainly increase it; for, while it confirms abundantly the popular estimate of her worth, it discloses powers of mind and charms of character which were necessarily less widely known. No doubt that which endeared the Princess, in the first instance, to the English nation was the tender yet efficient support which she rendered to her mother in her hours of anxiety and grief. But it is impossible to read this touching memoir-the tribute of a sister's affection-without learning that these were no exceptional outbursts of filial devotion. Every letter breathes the same tone of tender solicitude and of anxious desire to be of service to one she loved. Indeed, the key-note of her character was intense sympathy with those in trouble. It was this, even more than a sense of duty (and that was unusually strong in her), which made her active in devising and promoting numberless

com

a prominent part, she made her palace at Darmstadt the head-quarters of a mittee for aiding those whom the war had rendered destitute, and formed there a depot for all necessaries required for the sick and wounded. She herself was at the head of the committee, superintended its operations, visited all the hospitals and the ambulances In these practical at the railway station. measures, as well as in the keen interest which she took in politics, in her love of art, her aptitude for music, and her desire for selfimprovement, we may trace the influence of a father's training exercised upon a responsive disposition. The points of similarity between father and daughter were, indeed, many and marked. Even the same tinge of sadness which showed itself in the Prince Consort when at the prime of life is observable in the Princess at an early date. At the age of twenty-three she writes: "Life is but a "Life is but a pilgrimage-a little more or a little less sorrow falls to each one's lot." And, again, "The death of Lord and Lady Rivers is dreadful for their children, but how blessed for themselves!" A little later she writes: "This world is full of trials; and some seem to be called upon to suffer and give up so much." And, once more: "In the midst of life we are in death; and, in our quiet and solitary existence out here, where we see no one, all accords with sad and serious feelings." These expressions indicate a tone of mind not common among Englishwomen at a period of life when the faculty of enjoyment is keenest; and least of all would one expect to find them in a member of our own Royal family. But, then, one of the uses of this memoir is to dispel the popular notion that wealth and happiness are the inseparable companions of royalty. Sad incidents occupy so many pages of the book as to make it on the whole a melancholy one; and the struggle with narrow means, however incongruous such a circumstance may seem with the position of a Grand Duchess, was often a distressing reality.

Not the least interesting section of the memoir is that which relates to the intercourse which for some time subsisted between the Princess and the theologian, Strauss. She was, in fact, the sole auditor of his lectures on Voltaire, and, with rare courage, allowed this fact to be published in the author's dedication of the volume to herself. For his sincerity of purpose and singular gifts of persuasive eloquence she ever retained a hearty admiration, although, as time went on, she found herself in less and less accord with his avowed religious opinions. Not long before her last illness she wrote: "I have been reading some of Robertson's sermons again, and I think his view of Christianity one of the truest, warmest, and most beautiful I know." We cannot conclude this inadequate notice without drawing special attention to the touching notice of her death extracted from the Darmstadt Journal, and also to the fitting tribute to her memory

of the Reformation. By John M. Ross. Edited, with Biographical Sketch, by James Brown. (Glasgow: MacLehose.)

A PATHETIC interest attaches to this volume. It is the posthumously published work of a man of wide scholarship and fine intellect, who had studied the subject as a labour of love in the leisure intervals of severe taskwork, and who died prematurely before he had finished what he had set himself to do. The high qualities of the book now published, and the light thrown upon the character of the writer in the modest memoir prefixed to it, will cause much regret that Dr. Ross should not have lived to complete what he evidently intended to be his literary monument. His other labours-as schoolmaster, and as editor and contributor in connexion with the encyclopaedias for which Edinburgh is famous-were in some sort a preparation for such a magnum opus. That is to say, a certain part of these miscellaneous labours admitted of being made subservient to the purposes of the literary historian by a man who carried a high aim through all sorts of painstaking drudgery. His teaching of Old English in the High School of Edinburghwork, as the present writer can testify, most thoroughly done-was an excellent training for the critical study of the early Scotch poets; and his contributions to encyclopaedias were mainly in the field of literary history. It is not every man as Mr. Anthony Trollope has said that has strength enough for two professions; and more especially is this true when one of the professions includes the laborious routine of the schoolmaster, and the other is burdened by a conscientious striving after scrupulous exactness in the smallest trifles. There is too much reason to fear that Dr. Ross's strength was worn out prematurely. In everything that he did he aimed at a high standard. This nobility of aim, maintained in circumstances that would have crushed the elasticity out of most men, gives interest and dignity to the life and work of a scholar of whom his country may well be proud. The short biographical sketch, written by a lifelong friend, reveals a singularly attractive personality, full of dash and vivacity, a strenuous worker, a gentle-hearted humorist, upright and elastic through all the worries of a laborious life.

We do not mention these circumstances by way of apology for any shortcomings in the work under review; it requires no apology. There is no trace in it of mental weariness or perfunctory cram. It is nothing short of masterly; and, if the same treatment had been applied to a subject of more universal interest, it would have given the writer a high place among historical critics. The style is full, nervous, perspicuous, vitalised by an enthusiasm always kept on the safe side by humour and good sense; the writer is thoroughly acquainted with his materials, and knows when to hurry forward and when to linger. We have spoken of the work as

incomplete; but a few chapters more would have brought it to a natural close. The History ends, as it is, with Sir David Lyndesay and the Reformation. The transfer of the Scottish Court from Holyrood to Westminster marked a more important break in the literary history of Scotland, because it put an end for a time to the composition of any works of importance in the Scotch dialect. The line of Scotch poets that began with James I. ended with Alexander Montgomery and the Royal Prentice;" and to end with Lyndesay is to leave a portion of the tale untold. But it must be admitted that this untold portion is not of much consequence, except in the interests of historical completeness. When early Scotch literature received its death-blow from the union of the Crowns, there were no signs in it of such an awakening as took place in English literature at the close of the sixteenth century. If the Court had remained at Holyrood, there might have been a Scotch drama in emulation of the great English drama; there certainly would have been an attempt of some sort; and patriotism will not allow a Scotchman to believe that there would not have been found at least a Ben Jonson in Edinburgh who remained mute and inglorious when all encouragement to native literature was withdrawn. Whaur's your Wully Shakspeare now?" might have been heard a century and a-half earlier in the pit of an Edinburgh playhouse. But there was no

migrated to England, and took his singingbirds with him. Such poetry as political and religious struggles allowed to flourish drew its impulse and suggestion from the poetry of the preceding century, and bears little trace of sensitiveness to the new influences that were stirring in England.

on

Iona was the first rallying-point for the heterogeneous units. Dr. Ross has also some striking remarks on the curious transformation of the Scotch national sentiment in the eighteenth century, when the Highlander, long despised, feared, and hated by his Lowland brethren, suddenly became the typical Scot, the Scot of romance and national pride, as distinguished from the canny Scot of English commerce.

Dr.

Considerable space is devoted to an exposure of the absurdities of "Blind Harry's" Life of Wallace. English readers may think the game hardly worth the powder; but the case is different in Scotland, where "books are still written on the absurd supposition that Blind Harry contains materials for a Life of Wallace." The old minstrel is one of the most delightfully truculent of his tribe; but the serious historian cannot be blamed for trying to rescue the hero from his clutches. The man who united divided races and clans and quarrelling chiefs in such a war of resistance must have been very different both from the sacrilegious brigand of the English chroniclers and the prodigious Englishman-slaying hero of Blind Harry's popular romance. Ross endeavours with great judgment to construct an historical character for Wallace out of the scanty materials available, though it is safe to predict that many generations of Scotch school-boys will pass before the gigantic hero of tradition is driven from the national imagination. In Barbour, Dr. Ross finds a more trustworthy guide to the character of Bruce, though he is fully aware of the romantic intention of the Archdeacon's poem. The Bruce of history was probably a less heroic person than the Bruce of Barbour, but he was not essentially different. He was cast in the same mould, and wore the same expression. He underwent the same trials, sustained reverses with the same undaunted heart, and of his country by the same evidences of valour, won the love of his followers and the confidence and patience, and kindliness that have given an immortal charm to the antique verse of his earliest biographer.”

66

The bulk of Dr. Ross's book is occupied with a full description and criticism of the works of Barbour, Harry the Minstrel, James I., Henryson, Dunbar, Douglas, and Lyndesay. Two short introductory chapters, masterpieces of perspicuous condensation, dealing with the A Scottish critic who thinks that "the formation of the Scottish nationality, suffice heroic poem of Beowulf is worth a thousand to bring him down to "The War of Inde- Ossians" may be trusted to keep his judgment pendence and its Minstrels." The chapter unbiassed in dealing with the early literature "The Scottish Nationality "-which Dr. of his native country. Ross happily describes as "the most genuine, merit of freedom from exaggeration is the But the negative the most intense, and the most illogical thing least of Dr. Ross's virtues as a critic. He in the world" is particularly good. Lord writes about his authors with enthusiasm, Strangford used to maintain that, much as with a vivid perception of their strong points, Scotchmen talked of their nationality, there and with full knowledge of their historical was really no such thing; that all Scotchmen position. His account of the Chaucerian were either Englishmen or Yankee Irish. school of Scottish poets is more exhaustive Dr. Ross fully admits this-ethnographically than Prof. Nichol's sketch in one of the speaking. The components of the Scottish volumes of the Early-English Text Society, nation are most heterogeneous in race, char- and it is written with hardly inferior scholaracter, and language; still, even when these ship, critical acumen, and vital sense of poetic heterogeneous elements were absolutely anta-qualities. In the warmth of his patriotic gonistic one with another, there are traces of and moral enthusiasm, in his thorough mastery a common sentiment of nationality. Even of details, as well as in the glowing energy before the War of Independence, the Low- of his style, he reminds us often of Mr. landers and the Highlanders and the men of Green, who had an equally untoward fate in the West had begun to make common cause trying to achieve the ambition of his life against their Southern neighbours. As in The book was not quite ready for the press the case of England, the basis of the nation- when Dr. Ross died, and there are one or two ality was originally ecclesiastical. It is a happy suggestion of Dr. Ross's that the ecclesiastical organisation introduced by Columba laid the first foundation for a national sentiment in Scotland. The spiritual headship of

fited from a final revision.

passages near the end that might have beneare insignificant, and the work as it stands is But these flaws a worthy monument of a man whose death

was a real loss to literature. W. MINTO.

Towards the Mountains of the Moon: a Journey in East Africa. By M. A. Pringle. (Blackwood.)

THIS is altogether what the Germans would call a phenomenal book. The fanciful title, we are informed in the Preface, was deliber ately chosen to prevent people from supposing that it was all about missions, in which case some might never open it at all, while others, reserving it for Sunday reading, might "find it not come up to their ideas of fitness." After such a frank "explanation or apology" nothing further need be said on that point; but the Preface itself calls for a remark. It supplied at the last moment-not by the appears to be somewhat of an after-thought. author, but by her husband, Mr. Alexander Pringle-to explain the object of the journey undertaken by them in the summer of 1880 to Blantyre, the well-known mission of the Church of Scotland in the Shiré basin south of Lake Nyassa. Readers of the Rev. Mr. Macdonald's Africana, reviewed in the ACADEMY of March 10, 1883, need not be told that since its foundation in 1876 the affairs of that mis sion have not been in a very satisfactory state. After Mr. Macdonald's withdrawal from the scene, the relations between the missionaries and the natives on the one hand, and, on the other, between the missionaries and the home authorities, became so strained that it was found necessary to despatch somebody to investigate matters and report generally on the situation. We now gather from Mr. Pringle that the person selected for the purpose was a doctor of divinity living in a country parish, who had been heard to say that be would like to visit this place in Africa." Then this mysterious D.D., as he is elsewhere irreverently described, being in a feeble state of health, Mr. Pringle, a lay member of the Committee of Management, was selected proprio motu, elected to look after Mr. Pringle; to look after him. Lastly, Mrs. Pringle, and, after this comfortable arrangement. all started on their respective missions. Of the D.D., his doings, or the result of his enquiries, we hear nothing further. After getting through the Preface Mr. Pringle also drops out of view, and henceforth Mrs. Pringle remains in exclusive possession of the satisfactory arrangement, for a careful perusal field. This also must be regarded as a highly of his Preface leaves the impression that Mr. Pringle was not the person to give us either an instructive or entertaining account of his African experiences.

amusing, to be often unconsciously instructive. Now Mrs. Pringle contrives, while always Her narrative is a remarkable record of great privations and hardships of all sorts cheerfully endured and graphically described. Even before reaching the mainland, she experienced some of the horrors of the "middle passage" during the stormy trip from Aden to the Zambesi delta. But this was merely a forecast of the troubles that awaited them on shore, and during the journey in an open boat up the Quillimane River, thence overland to the Zambesi, and so on through the Shiré River to their destination at Blantyre. Beyond this point they never got; conopportunity was thus lost to science of verifying sequently, no new ground was broken, and the the

statements of the old authorities regarding those "much-confounded Mountains of the

Moon" after which Mr. Pringle seems to be still secretly hankering.

But, although the field of African exploration was not enlarged, some fresh light is thrown, especially on the social habits and mutual relations of the Lower Zambesi tribes. On these topics Mrs. Pringle rattles away with a charming simplicity, combined with the shrewdness of a quick-witted woman, which often enables her instinctively to correct some of the generally accepted conclusions. ethnologists. Many writers describe the woolly hair of the negro as naturally short, seldom exceeding three or four inches in length. This, of course, is a mistake, caused, as the author clearly sees, by the practice of cutting it regularly. "It may not be known to everyone," she adds, "that woolly hair grows as fast as any other. We have noticed a very perceptible difference in its length in the course of a fortnight."

Unembarrassed by any preconceived theories about the fundamental equality of the human races, Mrs. Pringle readily perceives the absolute inferiority of the African aborigines, among whom a higher culture makes no progress even where introduced under relatively favourable conditions. The type is different, the environment is different, the cranial sutures close much earlier in the Negro, thereby presenting a physical bar to the full development of the mental faculties. The subjoined remarks of a sensible woman may be commended to the attention of our sentimental school of philanthropists and politicians, who talk such mischievous nonsense about the inherent equality of all mankind:"In the coast towns, such as Zanzibar, Mozambique, and Quillimane, the natives have for years [read centuries] seen the European mode of living, and have even been employed in helping to build their houses, yet one never sees a native imitating them in any way to speak of. Beside the houses stand the huts, just the same as those in the interior. Thus, you see, civilisation does not spread of its own accord; and I think it must be evident to

everyone that if it could it would have done so long ago, for the continent of Africa is not like a recently discovered island in the Pacific. Some of its people have been in contact with civilised nations from the earliest times, and the rest have been in contact with these, and so on into the heart of the continent. In this way civilisation may have spread like leaven throughout, if it were true that natives only required a model to imitate. I may add that anyone who will read the descriptions of the natives at the time the Portuguese first settled on their coast will find that they had imbibed an amount of civilisation from the Arabs, which they have since lost” (p. 221).

At the same time, Mrs. Pringle sees that something must be laid to the account of the missionaries, whose efforts for long ages have mostly been misplaced or misdirected. Even those of Blantyre are no better than their predecessors. They make a road, and a very costly one, originally intended for carts, but in the wrong place. So the carts are never introduced, and the natives continue to prefer the short cuts they had used from time

immemorial. Hence

"It is somewhat difficult to find out generally what the natives think about the mission, as they are too polite to tell us the plain truth to our faces. As far as we can learn, those of the Ajawa who have not been pupils of the mission are beginning to learn that the missionaries are not fond of war. But still they cannot understand their object in coming to the country. They seem simply to suppose that they are, like themselves, a new tribe, come to settle for their own pleasure or profit. They look upon them as wealthy colonists, who have many curious customs, most notably that of singing hymns, and who know a great deal about monkala-medicine or magic-and, what is best of all, who have plenty of calico to give away" (p. 257).

There are some useful Appendices about slavery and the Universities Mission; also sketch maps of the route, and a reprint of a section of Blacu's map (A. 1648) showing the "Lunae Montes" scattered vaguely about the interior of the "Costa de Caffres."

A. II. KEANE.

George Fox and the Early Quakers. By A. C. Bickley. (Hodder & Stoughton.) THE Society of Friends has a large and varied literature. The early Quakers felt called "this mission-road, although not very much upon not only to teach the truth by word used by human beings, was found convenient of mouth, but to commit their experiences by the deer when pursued by lions, as they can run faster on it than through the jungle. Consequently, if a person is walking along it by

and their sufferings to the printing-press for the purpose of warning and instructing those

whom the living voice could not reach. They have been accused of vanity in this, but we think the charge groundless; their quaint, simple-minded narratives do not, for the most part, furnish evidence that they were moved by any other motive than the desire to do good. It must be remembered that the body arose when newspapers-that is, newspapers as we understand the word-had not come into being. The Mercuries and the Diurnals of the middle of the seventeenth century contained hardly any local news. number of Quakers might have been mercilessly flogged or unjustly sent to prison, and the public, out of the immediate neighbourhood, would never have heard of the occurrence had not someone issued a pamphlet giving the details. It was an age of tract, writing. The time in which Quakerism arose was not more distinguished for its religious zeal than it was for the overwhelming number political subjects. of tracts that were issued on theological and To most men in those

Any

days religion and politics meant the same thing. The sharp distinction which many moderns think that they are able to make between the two classes of ideas was then all but unknown, and would have seemed not only grossly immoral, but exceedingly foolish, wishes to have a clear understanding of the had it been propounded. To anyone who life and thoughts of the men and women of the middle class from the time of the great the Third, no better reading could be sugCivil War to the end of the reign of William gested than a course of study which should include as much Quaker and anti-Quaker literature as possible.

In all human probability the body would never have arisen had it not been for George Fox.

men and women did much to work out the organisation and spread the influence of the Church; but Fox was its originator, and without him their energies would have been wasted, or have run in far different channels. All religions, however much of the spiritual life they may contain, show traces of their origin. Fox had lived amid the din of arms and the violent religious and political controversies of the Great Rebellion, and his convictions had been moulded by what he had heard and seen. The Reformation had given a violent shock to the doctrine of Church

Penn and other zealous and humane

authority; and when Presbyterianism became for a time triumphant it had no imaginative past to appeal to, and its claims to Church authority were not recognised by any considerable number of people beyond those of the clerical caste and the politicians who thought a strictly regulated Church govern

ment one of the very first of human needs.

of them new, but they had never in England The doctrines that Fox taught were none been set forth with such emphasis before. The unlawfulness of oaths was an opinion that had been held by several of the Reformers. professed to found his religion exclusively on It is, indeed, surprising that anyone who

the letter of the New Testament could have

a doubt on the matter. Several of the more extreme Puritans, before Fox began to teach, had denounced swearing in courts of justice; but, from the little that has come down to us on the subject, it would seem that their conduct was often inconsistent with