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 418 NEW BOOKS. Suggestions toward an Applied Science of Sociology. By E. P. PAYSON. New York and London : G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1898. Pp. ix., 237. Mr. Payson's essay is a plea for a ' physical ' sociology. " It is submitted that, with no servility to materialist or churchman, the physical nature and activities of man's physical body may be studied, and the true pro- gressive methods of dealing with these attributes, characteristics and facts of humanity be gradually attained." Criminal law, public educa- tion and public philanthropy must combine in prescribing a physical treatment of man in communities, with a view (1) of eliminating the evidently vicious from the environment of the normal citizen ; (2) of placing the vicious under healthful repression; and (3) of providing, especially for the young, a healthful environment in respect of food, shelter and occupation. 1? Individualisation de la Peine : Etude de Criminalite Sociale. Par E. SALEILLES. Paris : Felix Alcan, 1898. Pp.281. This book is the first volume of a general library of social science which is now being issued under the editorship of the general secretary of the College libre des Sciences sociales. The book is a reproduction of the lectures delivered by M. Saleilles at the College libre des Sciences sociales and is quite free from all legal technicalities. On a great many funda- mental points M. Saleilles is hi accordance with the Italian school of criminologists. Where he differs from them is in matters of detail. He accepts the view of Prof. Ferri and others, that penal law exists primarily for purposes of social defence. But he does not consider that this definition of penal law is quite exhaustive. His conception of penal law is that it is a system of social defence in harmony with the idea of justice. In this 'way M. Saleilles considers that he gives greater completeness and accuracy to the definition of penal law. As long as law derives its sanction from public opinion it is evident tha it must in the main be drawn up so as to harmonise with the idea o: justice which prevails in the community where it is in operatic Unless penal law has the concurrence of the community behind i it is practically a dead letter, and penal law will not be supported b t the community unless it is in accordance with the idea of justice as it is conceived by the bulk of the population. It is probable that Italian criminologists would find no fault with M. Saleilles' extension of their definition of penal law, except perhaps to say that it was super- fluous. M. Saleilles describes crime as an attack upon the established legal order of society, and the method of dealing with those who commit crime may take two forms. In the first place we may look solely at the nature of the crime which has been committed, and determine the amount of punishment by the character of the offence. If this is our attitude the question to be decided is the exact nature of the crime. When this point has been reached the next step to take is to award the precise amount of punishment attached to that particular offence. In all these arrangements the offender, the person who committed the offence, remains completely in the background. It is the character of the offence and not the character of the offender which occupies the attention of the penal law. In meting out punishment to the offender, it is what he has done not what he is which the law has hi view ; its object is the same as that of the man ha the play, " to give one good kick back," irrespective of the result of that kick on the individual who receives it or on society at large. If the value of a system is to be judged by its results it must be admitted