Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 5.djvu/555

 io- s. v. JUKE 9. woe.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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Concerning 'Gulliver's Travels,' which, though it resembles the novels in appearance, is published under separate supervision, nothing is to be said, except that it is exactly reprinted from the first edition, and contains, among other additions, Henry Morley's account of Cyrano de Bergerac and his voyages to the sun and the moon, and a note on the name Gulliver, together with half a dozen other writings of Swift, including his reflections on the death of Mrs. Johnson (Stella). The very capable introduction is, like the concluding essay on Cyrano de Bergerac, signed H. M., which suggests that Henry Morley is responsible for both. Text and introductory matter are alike satisfactory, and the edition is exemplary in all respects.

The English Historical Review. April. (Longmans.) THE Rev. Dykes Shaw, D.D., contributes a paper of great value on ' The Fall of the Visigothic Power in Spain.' Early Spanish history is in many of its phases so saturated with legend, and, as we hold, on occasion with absolute falsehood, that it is nearly impossible to winnow the good corn from the noxious seed which accompanies it. Dr. Shaw is assuredly not too sceptical, but he wisely rejects very much that some people have hitherto been content to accept as verifiable history.

Prof. Abbott continues his study of the Long Parliament of Charles II. (the longest of all English Parliaments). He has followed the only true method of historical investigation. We cannot find the least trace of party feeling in his pages, though the facts given demonstrate a painful state of affairs.

Mr. C. H. Firth draws attention to the fact that there is preserved at Paris, in the Archives du Ministers des Affaires Etrangeres, a long series of debates in the British Parliaments of the eighteenth century. They are, we are informed, specially valuable documents for our own political history, for the reports which appeared in our own maga- zines, and wers afterwards reprinted in ' The Parliamentary History,' are well known to be in many cases very untrustworthy. The writer sug- gests that a Parliamentary grant should be made for their transcription, and the copy deposited in the Record Office. He furthermore expresses a hope, with which we ardently sympathize, that, some day or other, a new edition of ' The Parlia- mentary History,' with necessary additions and corrections, may be produced.

Mr. William Hunt reviews the last two volumes of Mrs. Paget Toynbee's 'Letters of Horace Wai- pole.' He labours under the impression that no such work was called for at the present time. The chief reason for this opinion seems to be that certain letters, probably of an important nature, are at present withheld by their owners. This is much to be deplored ; but we cannot see any reason on that account for depriving the present generation of a relatively complete edition, because at some indefinite future period access may be gained to the secluded documents. Had Carlyle reasoned after this fashion, we should still be waiting, it may be, for 'The Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell.'

The Quarterly Review. April. (Murray.) is a paper dealing with the correspondence of Cicero and Pliny, and then, at a bound, passing to the men and women of the eighteenth century.
 * SOME LETTER- \VRITERS, ANCIENT AND MODERN,'

Cicero was an artistic and entertaining letter- writer, though only a second-rate philosopher. His weak character constantly appears in his corre- spondence, and we cannot admit that the disturbed time in which his lot was cast makes more than a very slight excuse for his want of moral firmness Hardly any correspondence during the Middle Ages is important when regarded as literature. The letters of St. Bernard and St. Thomas of Can terbury are mines of information, but cannot be classed with those which in themselves furnish entertainment. The correspondence of the Paston and Plumpton families, though valuable to the historian, is mostly on matters of business and the domestic utilities. When we come to the seven- teenth century it is much the same ; the letters of Oliver Cromwell, and, in a less degree, of Lady Bnlhana Harley, are political documents for the most part, not letters of friendship or gossip It is not until we arrive at the time of the Georges that correspondence became once more a fine art-an art which has, we are sorry to know, decayed with, the introduction of penny postage.

Mr. P. F. Willert contributes a paper on * The- Literature of the French Renaissance,' which will repay perusal. It may not be true, though we think it is, that France gained and lost more bv the new birth of learning than any other country - but it is certain that the surface effects were far greater there than in Germany, Spain, or even in the land of its birth. The writer takes a dis- passionate view of Rabelais, though there are cer tain passages which might awaken controversy

' w u r C ambri( ? ge ' is worthy of attention especially by those who still labour under the delusion that the University, as distinct from the colleges, is a rich body. So far is this from being the case, that it may be described as being verv short of funds. We hope this paper will be widely read by those who can help forward the good work which Cambridge is accomplishing in so mauv directions. *

Among other articles of interest we may notice- one of importance on Pascal, by the Rev. M. KaufT mann, and An Indian Renaissance,' by Mr T Monson, which brings before us the revival nf culture among our Moslem fellow-subjects in India'

The Burlington Magazine.

THE frontispiece to an admirable number of The Burlington reproduces, from a drawing by Gentile Bellini, a 'Turkish Prince,' now in the possession of Mr. F. R. Martin in Constantinople. 'The Place of William Blake in English Art,' by Mr. Robert Ross is illustrated by six full-page plates, consi/t- ing of 'Adam naming the Beasts,' 'Pity.' 'Queen, Katharine's Vision' 'A River 'of Life,' ^ 'The Sacrifice of Jephthah's Daughter,' and 'The Com passion of Pharaoh's Daughter.' The Blinding of Samson,' by Rembrandt 'from the Frankfort Gal- lery, and three plates of Netherlandish art in the- Guildhall, are conspicuous among the contents.

THE period of fatigue which has followed that of storm and stress in politics has rendered our maea zinesmuch more interesting, and after one utterance on the education question and two on the condition of things in Russia, The Fortnightly Review devotes itself to literature and kindred subjects. Writing upon Richard Burton, Ouida utters sentiment! with which we are in accord, and narrates action taken by herself which we ourselves also took Tn depicting 'The Rum of Middlesex,' Mr J B Firth