Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 8.djvu/193

 10 s. VIIL AUG. 24, 1907.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

159

NOTES ON BOOKS &o.

The Cambridge Modern History. Vol. X. The Restoration. (Cambridge, University Press.)

THE ninth volume gave iis the brilliance of Napo- leon ; its successor is a little dull to the. ordinary reader, for it contains no commanding figure, and the tendency to idealize Alexander of Russia as a mystic of high aims does not appeal to us as it does to some of the learned contributors. We know that he was cruel, and suspect the soundness of his fantastic proposals and dreams. The editors, how- over, have made the best of their period, and nothing is more striking than the way in which they have secured foreign contributors to fill out their scheme. Prof. Segre writes well on Italy, and Prof. Altamira, long a valued correspondent of The Athencnim, still better on Spain. Dr. Askenazy imparts abundant interest to his sketches of ' Russia ' and ' Poland and the Polish Revolution ' ; indeed, we confess to having been more taken with his chapters than those of a solid merit which will appeal to the specialist.

One thing is certain : that the scientific historian will admire the broad range of the 'History' in this volume. Seldom has so wide a net been cast over the intricacies of history, which includes, moreover, economics. The reader will find an able chapter by Prof. J. S. Nicholson on Adam Smith, Ricardo, Malthus, and Godwin names of abiding influence wherever the laws of industry are discussed to-day.

Literature itself is not neglected. Prof. J. G. Robertson deals with that double glory of Germany, Goethe and Schiller; Novalis, an important and much-neglected figure ; Uhland, an exquisite poet, who ranks high in the "world-anthology" as we should conceive it; and finally Heine, who seems to us somewhat unduly patronized for not adding to "Romantic Dreams and "Young German principles."

Dr. Courthope's chapter on ' The Revolution in English Poetry and Fiction' comes to us as a grateful surprise in an historical work. It is full of that assured taste and sound judgment which we expect from him. We are glad to see praise of Coleridge's invaluable ' Biographia Literaria ' com- bined with recognition of the weakness of the " Lakists," to use a disagreeable word ; while the verdict on the Waverley Novels is one which should be read far and wide, if only to put a check on the inconsidered scorn of those ultra-modern writers who have done much to spoil English style.

Two other chapters will be of special value to some readers, ' The Papacy and the Catholic Church ' and 'The Doctrinaires,' both by Lady Blenner- hassett, who shows the importance of aspects of philosophy and religion apt to be neglected by the ordinary man. Only the prejudiced (who form, we fear, a large portion of the public) will fail to profit by this writer's contributions to the history of ideas, which is the real history of importance to the thinker. Lady Blenrierhassett seems to \\s brighter than most of the contributors to this volume, and no less sound. Not that we object to their style as a whole. Given an adequate previous knowledge of the main facts, the writing is effective in a dignified way which is a good model for the

present age. We look to ' The Cambridge Modern History' for a thoroughness which is unexampled, and we are nearly always satisfied. And though specialists may grumble at a want of co-ordination. due to the views of its promoter, the late Lord Acton, we are convinced that no history on a large scale affords so much information in a compact space alike to the instructed and the ordinary reader. Ihe success of the venture is, we believe, assured ; and we expected no other result after the scheme had been well started. Acton's open-mindedness and wonderfiil zeal for the truth at all costs are now justified in a great history.

The Scots Peerage. Vol. IV. (Edinburgh, David

Douglas.)

THE present volume of ' The Scots Peerage ' deals with twenty-five different peerages (excluding the ancient Earls of Fife and the ancient Lords of Galloway), representing twenty -two surnames; and fifteen writers have been employed to tell the tale. When such a syndicate of learning is requisitioned, it would need nothing less than a similar syndicate of critics to do complete justice to the book, which travels from the ancient Earls of Fife to the Earls of Hyndford. As such a method of criticism is virtually impossible, the individual reviewer must form his opinion from the one or two- families which he or any other one man can really master.

But it does not demand extensive knowledge to- see that the contributions differ largely in scope and treatment. The most complete are those written by enthusiasts bearing the same surname as the family treated. Thus Mr. Evelyn G. M. Carmichael, in presenting the Carmichaels, Earls of Hyndford, goes into far greater detail in his descents than most of his colleagues; and his method of printing the far-off collaterals in small type is admirable, indicating to the general reader what may be conveniently skipped. The- same laborious care is devoted to the Earldom of Glasgow by Col. Boyle, to Lord Herries's family by Mr. David C. Herries, and to the Earls of Home by Mrs. Fullarton, nee Home. On the other hand, the greatest space is devoted to peerages treated by professional genealogists, the Dukes of Hamilton, by the Rev. John Anderson, getting most space of all (58 pp.), followed by the Earls and Marquises- of Huntly and Dukes of Gordon, brought con- veniently together by Mr. Anderson and the editor, Sir J. Balfour Paul (56 pp.). The latter article presents the most succinct account of the noble- I'amily of Gordon yet published, and is an admir- able bit of work, even although it might have contained with advantage far more detail than is attempted. It is of such quality, however, as to suggest the advisability of it and a few others being issued as pamphlets complete in themselves.

Of the twenty-five titles dealt with (excluding the ancient Fifes and Galloways), four are extinct, three forfeited, two are of doubtful destination, and one is dormant. ' The Scots Peerage ' lacks the- spice of G. E. C., but now and again the subiect i approached from the standpoint which regards the personages dealt with as having been human beings, and not mere objects of charters and deeds. A good example of this human treatment is the pun- gent account by Mr. Andrew Ross of Alexander Ogilyy, of Deskford and Findlater, and his disposal of his patrimony. We have noted one or two errors, and a certain lack of uniformity; but taken as a.