Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 11.djvu/27

 10 s. xi. JAN. 2, 1909.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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come, he' pleases us best, and \ve want no further critic to enlighten us as to their real significance.

There are some parts of Thackeray's work which show obvious deficiencies in point of view, or even distortions of fact. On referring to the Introduc- tion to 'The Four Georges' and 'The English Humourists,' we find a recognition of their faults, and a suggestion that there is more than a sufficient balance to credit. We agree ; but we cannot re- gard truth as "rather a minor" matter in any historical presentment, such as 'The Four Georges.'

The Professor refers to 'IS. & Q.' in his Intro- duction to 'The Virginians.' That same book con- tains, as was pointed out in our columns, a reference to the First Series of ' N. & Q.,' which was also one of Thackeray's sources for ' Denis Duval.' In fact, in almost every blue or grey volume of our recent Series which we have taken up. we have found references to the author of ' Vanity Fair ' which any commentator would gain by consulting. The present edition is not, of course, an annotated text, but the editor has dealt with many points of textual interest. He must, we think, regret the conclusion of a labour which has evi- dently given him delight, but he can assure himself that he has added much to the pleasure with which a crowd of readers will welcome this admirable edition. It has an excellent index to every separate item of verse and prose, and a remarkable col- lection of portraits of Thackeray.

The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift. Edited by

Temple Scott. Vol. XII. (Bell & Sons. ) THIS volume completes the edition of Swift's prose works, and " the publishers," in their prefatory note, " hope that the value of the contents may compensate in some measure for the delay in its appearance." Their hope is fully justified by the excellence of this final volume. Indeed, the whole set of volumes constitutes an admirably equipped text of Swift, and will secure the permanent regard of readers for years to come. It is sad to think of the death of Sir Frederick Falkiner, who con- tributes here an able 'Essay on the Portraits of Swift,' and also of his gifted son C. Litton Falkiner, who was engaged on an edition of Swift's corre- spondence to form a companion to the 'Prose Works.' " It is hoped that this work may now be carried out by his friend and executor, Mr. F. Elrington Ball."

This volume contains, besides the essay on the question of various presentments of Swift, another on 'The Relations between Swift and Stella,' by Dean Bernard, who holds that the two were married. All the available evidence is produced, and ingeniously worked up ; but it is not of a character to make us certain one way or the other. No one can live in the world to manhood without having ample evidence of the extraordinary confidence with which mendacious gossip is circulated.

Two more parts of this volume are of exceptional importance a 'Bibliography of the Writings of Swift,' compiled by Mr. W. Spencer Jackson, and a thorough index to the whole twelve volumes by Miss Constance Jacob. No bibliography on such a scale has been attempted before, though Mr. Jackson had the advantage of using Dr. S. Lane- Poole's considerable notes in that way published in 1884. We have tested the index, and found it of a character which deserves special commendation. It is a real aid to the busy student.

BOOKSELLERS' CATALOGUES. JANUARY.

MR. RICHARD CAMERON'S Edinburgh Catalogue 224 contains Kay's ' Portraits,' 2 vols., 4to, morocco, 81. 10-9. ; Craig's ' Ground-Plan of the Proposed New Town of Edinburgh,' 1768, 3s. 6d.; a water-colour of the Canongate Tolbooth, 1ft*. 6rf.; one of Lady Stair's house (now Lord Rosebery's), 15s.; and Bruce Home's ' Old Edinburgh Houses,' 54 plates,. imperial 4to, 1907, 11. 5s. Under Glasgow is Bald- win Brown's Glasgow School of Painters,' 1908, 5/. 5*. There is a cheap copy of the Maclise Portrait Gallery, 9s. Qd.: and a set of old copperplates of the Kings of Scotland and Mary, 1680, 11. 15s. Under Scott are Henderson's edition of 'The Minstrelsy of *he Scottish Border,' 4 vols., 11. Is.; : and a portrait after Sir Watson Gordon, 22 in. by 18in., framed, 18.?. 6d. Under Scottish Folk-lore is 'Ancient Scottish Tales,' by Peter Buchan, now first printed, with introduction by Fairley, 1908, 10. 6d.

Mr. Bertram Dobell's Catalogue 168 contains books from the libraries of Augustus and Augustus - J. C. Hare. An album of water-colours and sketches is 31. 5s. ; and an album of photographic portraits and views, 21. 2s. Under Drama is Rockstro's ' Memoir of Jenny Lind,' presentation copy from Otto Goldschmidt, 21. 5s. There are three manuscript volumes relating to the family of Edward Stanley, Bishop of Norwich. The first contains ' A Parent's - Notes Year by Year,' in which there is much about the Dean of Westminster when a child : this is priced ' 4/. 4. There are also two volumes of manuscript poems by him and his brother Owen. We wonder if the writing of the future Dean is as mystical as it became later. The Dean, at the instance of H. F. Turle, who succeeded Dr. Doran as editor of ' N. & Q.,' took our printing staff over the Abbey, and entertained them to tea in the Jerusalem Chamber. In expre_ssing the pleasure he felt at receiving them, he said the compositors and readers of The Athenceum and ' N. & Q. were the only ones who deciphered his writing, and had not to fill the proofs sent to him with queries. The general portion includes Milton's pamphlet on ' Church Discipline,' 281. ; 'The Doctrine of Divorce,' 10*. 6d. ; and 'The - Tenure of Kings and Magistrates,' 81. 10-s. (all first editions) ; Paltock's ' Peter Wilkins,' first edition,. 1751, 51. 5s.; first edition of Morris's 'Guenevere,' 1858, 2/. 2s. ; and Shelley's ' Alastor,' 1816, 207. , and ' The Cenci,' 1819, 28/. (both first editions). There are first editions of Ruskin and Thackeray, and a number of items about Scotland, including laws and ' tracts. The catalogue closes with a list of pam- phlets.

Mr. Francis Edwards sends us Part VIII. of his valuable Military Catalogue, perhaps the most complete that has ever been issued. The items amount to close upon seven thousand, and the last, ' In Morocco with General d'Amade,' by Reginald Rankin, Times War Correspondent, brings it to the present year. In this last part there are pamphlets on the Volunteers and on national defence, 1852-71. A section is devoted to British Regimental Re- cords ; and under Napoleon is Arnault's ' Vie Politique et Militaire de Napoleon,' illustrated after designs by French artists. The compiler of the catalogue, Mr. Edward A. Petherick, at the desire of Mr. Edwards, has written a short intro- duction. Mr. Petherick tells us that it is " pro- bably the last catalogue I shall have the oppor-