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NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. H. SEPT. a, me.

The biographical entries, on the other hand, are for the most part, in our judgment, far too slight to be of use, and not always of the kind required in a book of reference for students, who want to be able tp turn to it for facts. The following account of the death of Socrates may serve as an illustration a single one must suffice : " A representative of the ' moderate ' party in politics, he was brought to trial and put to death in 399, by the restored democrats who disliked his reactionary politics, all the more dangerous be- cause they were not extreme, more than his supposed false teaching in religion and education." This is all very well for people who already know about Anytus and Meletus and the Apology about the refusal to escape, and the hemlock, and half-a- dozen other things so familiar, to the writer that he thought them not worth putting down. But, in a reference book, the aim is surely to inform those who do not know. By the way, is it not also curious that this particular article should not contain a word about Plato ? The old friend of our childhood, Smith, who even in the ' Smaller Classical Dictionary ' amasses a surprising number -of facts, really does better than this. One gets, in fact, from the biographical entries an impression that their contributor aimed rather at interpreting his subject afresh than at setting down concisely what is known about him or her ; haying virtually adopted the point of view of the critic or essayist, rather than the distinctive point of view of the compiler of a dictionary.

We should expect this work to go through many editions, and therefore hope that it will be found possible at some future time either to extend or to recast the biographical entries ; and we would further suggest that all the illustrations (not, as now, only a certain number) should have a note of their origin subjoined.

Lest we should seem to stint praise that is due, and show ourselves all too lavish of criticism, we had better repeat that this is a really valuable book ; and we may add that if there has been any intention to avoid dryness in the making of it, that intention has been fulfilled. In fact, we cannot call to mind any dictionary of the sort in which there is quite so much " go.'

WORKS ON THEOLOGY.

OP the four Booksellers' Catalogues we have received this month, both that of Mr. P. M. Barnard of Tunbridge Wells (No. 110) and that of Messrs. Charles Higham & Son (No. 546) describe principally works of theological and ecclesiastical interest. Many of the items deserve attention on the part of collectors, and still more on the part of any one who may be getting together a working library of theology.

We mention half-a-dozen books from each ; . another half-dozen at least equally good might easily have been added. Mr. Barnard, then, along with some attractive missals, breviaries, and books of Common Prayer, has a copy of Andrew Hart's ' Book of Common Order,' containing the original (defective) leaf for P 8, not amended as in most examples with a printed slip, 1611 (161.). A collection of occasional offices of the Franciscan Order (two MSS. bound together), in an Italian fifteenth-century hand, is offered for 51. 10s. A few leaves are wanting to both MSS. A copy of the Bale edition (1476-8) of Durandus, ' Rationale

dininorum officiorum,' in good condition, and fabricated throughout possibly by the original owner, who has written his name therein in red is not dear at 21. 12*. Clifford's ' The Divine Services and Anthems usually sung in His Majesties Chappoll, and in all' Cathedrals and Collegiate Choires in England and Ireland,' is another interesting item, 1664 (21. 15s.). The ' Libro de la perfectione humana,' by Enrico Herp printed by Zopino at Venice, 1522, and remarkable for its beautiful cuts is to be had, in a pretty good copy, fo** 5?. 10s. We may mention, lastly, the ' Libellu? de venerabili sacramento et valore missarum,' a quarto printed by Ulrich Gering in Paris about 1480 (101. 10s.).

Messrs. Higham offer for only 10s. 6d. the scarce ' Cantilenae Quatuor ex MSS. pervetustis nuper erutae ' never published by John Mason Neale. They have a ' Biblia Sacra Polyglotta ' of the Commonwealth time in 6 vols., folio, 1657 (61. 6s.) ; and the ' Opera Omnia ' of St. John Chrysostom in Montfaucon's edition, printed at Venice in 1734 (U. 4s.). A copy of Durandus is also described here : the 1494 edition, printed at Nuremberg by Koberger, in a good binding (8i!. 8s.). The ' Catholic Encyclopedia ' is offered at SI. 8s., and the ' Jewish Encyclopaedia ' at 91.

Mr. William Glaisher, in his Catalogue No. 423, of Publishers' Remainders, offers, for small sums, the principal works of Prof. Cheyne ; the " Txidor " Bible, published at 4Z. 10s. and" to be had of him for 11. 4:8. ; and several works on ecclesiastical history and biography.

Messrs. Galloway & Porter of Cambridge, who send us their Catalogue No. 84, have a copy of the library edition of Stanley's ' Jewish Church ' (7s. 6d.), and Dom Gueranger's ' Sainte C^cile et la Soci^te 1 Romaine aux deux Premiers Siecles,' Paris, 1874 (15s.).

The Athenceum now appearing monthly, arrange- ments have been made whereby advertisements of posts vacant and wanted, which it is desired to publish weekly, may appear in the intervening weeks in ' N. Q.'

Jlottas 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.

" BIRMINGHAM," J. D., and PROF. MOORE SMITH.

Forwarded.

MAJOR LWYD. The title of Lord Newton's book is ' Lord Lyons : a Record of British Diplomacy,' 2 vols. (E. Arnold).

MR. C. E. STRATTON. The New York Sun is perfectly accurate in stating that the quotation about a negress, Maria Lee, having given her name

as "Black Maria" to the prisoners' van appeared some years ago in our pages. It was sent to us nterely as a curiosity ; we have no reason to believe it to be true.