Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 10.djvu/268

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NOTES AND QUERIES. 110 s. x. SEPT. 12, im

Various and cogent reasons in support of this view are advanced as regards Germany, but none is put forward with reference to that portion which effects England. The work is primarily a history of Germany, and therefore cannot be expected to delve into the history of a neighbouring country ; experts would also probably retort that it is not necessary to place in print what (to them) is obvious ; but as Britain was for several centuries a Roman province, the student may perhaps be par- doned if some little confusion results from an unexplained statement.

The principal fault we have to find with the work is that it is much too short, in view of the lengthy period with which the author deals, and the im- portant events with which it is crowded. Those items of great historical importance which have been dealt with minutely incline the reader to be rather exacting when other noteworthy events are not so analyzed. In particular we mention the third period of the reign of Henry IV. We are indebted to Milman for a masterly exposition of this period of Henry's reign, and it would have been to the general interest if we had had a similar delineation by the author, and a comparison with Milman's conclusions.

Space forbids the mention of other weighty in- cidents which in this book are only cursorily touched upon, but deserved elaborate notice. The feudal system, its dawn, progress, and extension to various countries, are dwelt upon at length, and compari- sons are drawn between its operation in Germany, France, and England. The author is mainly in ^agreement with Hallam, who in his ' History of the Middle Ages ' dwells upon the foundation of the j)err>etuity of fiefs as a written law by Conrad If., as distinguished from mere custom which formerly prevailed.

The connexion of Frederick Earbarossa with the -Crusades is graphically delineated, but unfortu- nately the more important Crusading events which happened during the reign of Frederick II., and the ruin to which they brought that monarch, are curtly disposed of in the following few words : " Of his [Frederick's] treatment by Honorius III. and Gregory IX., it is impossible to write with patience ; all know the story of the Crusade how the emperor was excommunicated for not going, then for going ; then disgraced for the peace he had made with the Saracens," &c. Students would do well to read this section in conjunction with Mr. Stevenson's book on ' The Crusaders in the East,' where the events under discussion, their political purport and effect, are dwelt upon in an ample and satisfactory manner.

In conclusion, it is not too much to say that " Germany in the Early Middle Ages ' should be in the hands of all students who wish for a clear and succinct guide to an important era in European politics, such omissions as we have noticed being natural in a series of lectures. After all, Stubbs's notes are better than the average of completed work. The volume, which contains two useful maps, showing the partition of Europe during the period in question, has been edited by Mr. A. Hassall.

IN The Nineteenth Century Sir Godfrey Lagden writes on 'Asiatic Immigration,' and maintains that our obligations to British Indians should not be satisfied at the expense of natives of Africa.
 * Some Unpublished Letters of General Wolfe,' by

Mr. Beckles Willson a bequest from the hero's mother to his friend George Warden number about 250, and throw fresh light on the personality of him who is to war "what Keats is to literature and Pitt to politics," and incidentally illustrate * Have We the Grit of our Forefathers ?' by the Earl of Meath, who laments the shirking and instability of modern women, the idleness and self-indulgence of men. Miss Frances H. Low writes refreshingly on orphanage reform, and Miss Elizabeth B. Yeomans on the story of the making of the fountains of Versailles. Prof. Simon Newcomb studies ' The Problem of Aerial Navigation,' and records the result of observations which emphasize the difficulties surrounding it. A plea for the theatrical play, as distinguished from the problem play, is registered by Mr. J. H. Barnes. The title of his article, ' An Actor's Views on Plays and Play-writing,' sufficiently indicates his standpoint. Mr. Roberts claims for the picture-sale season of 1908 that it has been one of the most remarkable and most interesting of recent years. 'The Cen- sorship of Fiction,' by Mr. Bram Stoker, protests against the futility, in the scheme of national life, of guarding against evil in one form whilst leaving it unfettered in another direction. Miss Eva Gore Booth contributes ' Woman and the Suffrage : a Reply to Lady Lovat and Mrs. Humphry Ward ' ; and the number closes with an able article by Sir Thomas Whittaker, M.P., on 'A Minimum Wage for Home Workers.' Having almost reduced us to despair by pointing out the difficulties besetting the subject on all sides, he makes out a good case for beginning by fixing a minimum time- wage a system strongly opposed at present by superficial thinkers on the subject, to whom we recommend a perusal of the article.

CURRENT political criticism fills, as usual, the majority of the pages of The National Review. Among articles of more general interest we note one from the pen of our contributor Mr. Thomas Bayne, ' Mr. Andrew Lang and Robert Burns,' in which he deprecates the " literary patronage " of the day, and sighs for the coming of the ideal editor of Scotland's national poet. Madame Jean Delaire writes on ' The Hindu Conception of Man ' ; the Rev. R. L. Gales continues his rural studies with ' The Country Parson and the Village School ' ; and Lord Willoughby de Broke makes out a sufficient case for a Bill to deal with the whole question of ' Motor Traffic on the King's Highways,' and sug- gests directions in which a settlement may be found.

pottos to

ON all communications must be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for pub- lication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately, nor can we advise correspondents as to the value of old books and other objects or as to the means of disposing of them.

J. H. RIVETT-CARNAC ("Spit of his father"). See the quotations and illustrations at 8 S. vii. 487; viii. 53, 213; x. 432.

JOHN PICKFORD ("The potentiality of growing rich beyond the dreams of avarice^') Boswell's ' Life of Johnson,' 1779, vol. viii. chap. ii.