Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/506

 82 LITERATUBE., [1899.

and the traditions of that venerable foundation. If he shows some ground for modifying the view of William of Wykeham which regards him as the founder of a new type of school, he is also able to trace the immense influence which Wykeham's foundation had on education throughout the country. The carefully written Annals of Shrewsbury School (Methuen), by Mr. 6. W. Fisher, takes to some extent the form of a chronicle of the doings of its head masters— in modern times par- ticularly of Butler and Kennedy — for in this case, more than in that of Winchester, the history of the school is closely bound up with the lives of its head masters.

A History of the British Army (Macmillan), by the Hon. J. W. Fortescue, is the first attempt to trace the history of the Army as a whole, and should be read side by side with the numerous regimental histories which have appeared of late. Part i., which is all that is at present published and which consists of two volumes, carries the story down to 1763. Mr. Fortescue proves himself in this book a thoroughly competent authority, and his work is especially valuable for its full account of the war of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War.

Lastly, turning to contemporary history which has hardly yet passed out of the sphere of journalism, we may single out for mention The River Wsr (Longmans), by Mr. Winston Spencer Churchill, a book giving a graphic and comprehensive account of recent events in Egypt up to Lord Kitchener's victory at Omdurman, which will certainly be of value to the historian of our times ; and another book which has been widely read, called The Transvaal from Within (Heinemann), giving the history of events in the Transvaal before the outbreak of war, and written by Mr. J. P. Fitzpatrick, who had been intimately connected with the Outlander agitation.

Social Economics.

Under this head the past year has been very barren in any works of importance. A useful addition to the library of the student of economic history was made by an American, Dr. C. H. Hull, who edited, in two volumes, with notes, The Boonomio 'Writings of Sir W. Petty (Cam- bridge University Press), including with them the " National and Political Observations upon the Bills of Mortality " of Captain John Graunt. Statistical science in England sprang largely from Sir W. Petty, and the revived study of it at the present day called for a sound and intelligent edition of his works, such as Dr. Hull has supplied.

Ricardo's correspondence is full of interest for the economist, and much of it has been published during the last few years. The Xietters of David Rioardo to Hutches Trower and Others 1811-1823 (Claren- don Press), is a book worth noting as completing, with the previous volumes, the publication of the economist's letters. They are edited by Mr. James Bonar and Mr. J. H. Hollander, and touch upon a great variety of subjects, economic, social and political.