in of the cuckoo is attributed to the folk of many sequestered places, but there is in the first series of William Dobson's 'Rambles by Not many years ago I saw some beautiful the Ribble' (Preston, 1864) a diverting folk-stack finials at Bishopthorpe, near York. tale to the disadvantage of the " carles," "Cocks I think they were, and I believe they which may be new to your readers. At p. 40 (or their descendants) are still presiding over Mr. Dobson writes::the ricks in the yard I have in mind. I dare say MISS FLORENCE PEACOCK knows what Mr. Baring-Gould says about these things in 'Strange Survivals.' ST. SWITHIN.

Canonbury Mansions, N.

"KING OF BANTAM " (9th S. iv. 419, 488, 526). --I should like to make an addition to my note. In reference to Congreve's 'Present Majesty of Bantam,' there is a tale by Aphra Behn, called 'The Court of the King of Bantam.' In it a rich noodle, Mr. Would-be, believes himself the King of Bantam, and is duped thereupon in true Restoration fashion. If MR. PERCY SIMPSON will refer, he will find that Congreve very clearly had Mrs. Behn's tale in his mind.

GEORGE MARSHALL.

(

GROLIER BINDINGS (9th S. iv. 518).-The painted bindings are probably of a later date than the others. Mr. Herbert P. Horne, The Binding of Books,' p. 89, dates this style of work as belonging to the middle of the sixteenth century. One may possibly put a similar interpretation upon the sentence referring to Grolier, at vol. iv. p. 41, of the 'Encyclopædia Britannica,' which reads, "Some of his later covers were resplendent with gold and coloured ornament, most elaborately tooled." This, however, is so general in its reference that it is scarcely evidence. The sequence of usage of the different mottoes is some help. It is most likely that the "amicorum motto, previously used by Maioli, came first (Quarterly Review, July, 1893, p. 189). The motto "que difficulter," with the cloud, nail, and hillock design, came next ('Bookbindings Ancient and Modern,' Joseph Cundall, p. 34); and afterwards the "Portio mea Do mine sit in terra vi venti um legend. There were others occasionally used. See The Binding of Books,' supra, p. 78. An article in the Saturday Review for 30 Dec.,

"

1882, noticing the Beckford sale, second part, indicates that the "painted interstices" and the "scrolled tooling" were used with the "Portio mea" motto. On the whole it would seem that the painted bindings were, at any rate, of the middle, if not of the later, period. ARTHUR MAYALL.

Miscellaneous.

NOTES ON BOOKS, &c.

A Life of William Shakespeare. By Sidney Lee.
(Smith, Elder & Co.)
WITH a celerity all but unparalleled, and with an
absence all but complete of serious opposition, Mr.
Lee's Life of Shakespeare' has established itself
in supreme authority. A year or two ago it was
but a solitary article although naturally the longest
and most important in that great work, now on the
point of completion, the Dictionary of National
Biography.' A few months later it appeared in the
convenient shape in which it will still be most read,
and now, with illustrations that throw all the light
obtainable upon our early stage and upon Shake-
speare's associates and friends, it comes forth in an
illustrated library edition, fitted to grace the hand-
somest and best-furnished shelves. So far as regards
the text, Mr. Lee's scholarly and monumental work
has undergone little alteration. Such errors and
misprints as have been detected have been cor-
rected; the remarks on Shakespeare's autographs
and handwriting have been expanded; a descrip-
tion is now given in the bibliography of the Sib-
thorp first folio, recently brought to light, with
its presentation from William Jaggard, the printer,
to his friend and ally Augustine Vincent, the
herald; and further details have been supplied
concerning certain of Shakespeare's printers and
publishers. None of these things affects, however,
the original scheme of the work, nor has Mr. Lee,
though some of his opinions have elicited, as was
but natural, expressions of dissent and disagree-
ment, felt called upon to modify any of his more
important conclusions, and the book is practically
the same that we reviewed little more than a
twelvemonth ago (see 9th S. ii. 458).

As a work of reference, and as a handsome and desirable volume, the work in its new shape gains greatly. Its beautiful cover, as a note inserted informs us, is taken from a fine binding of English workmanship of the sixteenth century in the British Museum, originally executed for Robert Dudley, the famous, or infamous, Earl of Leicester, Shakespeare's crest, in its proper heraldic colours, being substituted for that of the earl. The frontispiece consists of the monument affixed to the north wall of the chancel of Stratford-on-Avon Church, which is given in the colours believed to have constituted its original adornment. Four other likenesses are reproduced-the Droeshout (or "Flower") portrait, the engraved portrait on the title of the first folio, the Ely House portrait, and the seventeenthcentury bust in the Garrick Club. Then follow portraits-all carefully selected by the author, with a view of facilitating the study of the poet's lifeof Shakespeare's closest acquaintances; the quaint and anonymous picture of Queen Elizabeth, from the painting at Ditchley: the Earl of Southampton, from an original painting at Welbeck; Burbage,

Alleyn, Drayton, and Field, from the Dulwich Gallery: Samuel Daniel, from the likeness prefixed to his Civile Warres'; Spenser, from a portrait at Dupplin Castle; James I., from Paul van Somer; Fletcher, from the 1647 edition of his and Beaumont's' Works,' and so forth. Of singular use to the student are the views of Shakespearian London, presenting the Bankside, with views of the Globe and the Swan theatres and the Bear Garden. These are taken from Visscher's View of London,' executed in 1616. With these may be classed the recently discovered sketch of the stage of a London theatre made by a Dutch visitor to London in 1596, now in the University Library at Utrecht; the interior of a London playhouse, from the title-page of Roxana'; Norden's View of London Bridge from East to West in 1597,' and innumerable further illustrations of a similar kind. Most important sections are the reproductions of title-pages to Shakespeare's works, the facsimiles of autographs, signatures, seals to documents, and other like matters. It will convey an idea of the number and variety of the illustrations supplied when we say that the mere list occupies eight pages. Thus equipped, Mr. Lee's book will take up its position as the standard authority upon the greatest of Englishmen. On its literary claims we have previously insisted. If we have dwelt upon the illustrations it is because they do not serve a purely decorative purpose. Whatever information we possess as to the state of London and the stage in Shakespeare's times is incorporated in the volume. That Mr. Lee will, as further editions are called for, strive lovingly to augment the value and attractions of his work we doubt not. As it stands, however, though it will not replace, for the student, all previous or contemporary works, it will at least enable him to dispense with a library of reference, and leave no trustworthy or important information concerning Shakespeare ungarnered.

The Students Standard Dictionary. By James C.
Fernald and others. (Funk & Wagnalls Co.)
WE recently reviewed an 'Intermediate-School
Dictionary' founded on the well-known Funk &
Wagnalls dictionary. This volume is similar in
origin and appearance, only larger, running to some
nine hundred pages, and, it must be added, uncom-
fortably heavy to hold. It is meant for "the
English-speaking peoples," and therefore it seems
a pity that it is distinctly American in tone and
phraseology. The vocabulary is, however, more
extensive than that of the ordinary English dic-
tionary of the same size. It is strong in words like
breakman, which are hardly English; on the other
hand, a word like camisole is omitted-perhaps
because not American. It is very unsafe to meddle
with English university matters without securing
expert knowledge. The term Senior Wrangler is
current-not obsolete, as these pages represent;
and if this special title is included, why is
not tripos inserted, which has a much wider
application? The "Standard Script" handwriting,
of which specimens are given on p. 823, is a
really sensible thing, and the appendices are
useful, though the list of distinguished persons
occasionally donne furieusement à penser. We
notice that the big 'Standard Dictionary' includes
English editors, and suggest that in condensations
or revisions their services should be not merely to
ornament the title-page. Let them make the Eng-
lish usage as prominent as the American, or, at any

rate, give it fair representation. Then the 'Dictionary' will do, and do remarkably well, for "the English-Speaking Peoples," who care, it is probable, a good deal more about empire than English.

The Library. Edited by J. Y. W. MacAlister,
F.S.A. (Kegan Paul.)
IN its new guise the Library is at once more con-
venient and more attractive than before. It is
more remunerative also, and its illustrations con-
stitute a pleasing feature. We are afraid that
its present level of excellence. Mr. A. W. Pollard
some difficulty will be experienced in keeping it at
contributes a capital paper, illustrated, on Wood-
cuts in English Plays." Mr. Delisle's 'Discovery of
Long-Missing Pictures' has a finely executed plate.
Mr. J. D. Brown writes on Library Progress.'
Mr. E. F. Strange deals with The Decorative
Work of Gleeson White,' and Mr. R. G. Redgrave
writes on The First Four Editions of "English
Bards and Scotch Reviewers."
tents is a portrait of Dr. Richard Garnett, serving
Among other con-
as frontispiece.

WAR subjects take up the lion's share in the reviews as in the newspapers and in general conversation. Room is, however, found in the Fortnightly for a few articles on literary and social topics. Prof. Lewis Campbell writes On the Growth of Tragedy in Shakespeare.' There are many points raised on which we should like to join issue with the Professor, but the article is thoughtful and suggestive, and is sure to be carefully studied in Shakespearian circles. Mrs. Hannah Lynch deals trenchantly with Zola and Tolstoi in Fécondité" versus The Kreutzer Sonata."" In Zola's book, which we ourselves began and were unable to continue, she finds the unexpected revelation "of a freshness and an animal simplicity, a sunshine and gaiety," which are welcomed as bestowed upon both authors, though Tolstoi is something new in his works. Severe reprobation is credited with supreme genius. bourgeois of M. Zola it is said that if the obscene Of the wealthy apes were endowed with the gift of speech they could scarcely make a more obscene use of it than do these people. There is, alas! much truth in this arraignment. Mr. J. C. Bailey writes very eulogistically concerning Stevenson's Letters,' and quotes some delightful passages, including the charming letter in which Stevenson makes over his birthday to Miss Annie H. Ide, who, being born on Christmas Day, was practically without a birthday. Few more entertaining and graceful pieces of humour are in existence. Mr. Frazer's Suggestion as to the Origin of Gender in Language' is ingenious, if not wholly convincing, which, indeed, it does not pretend to be. Dr. St. George Mivart's 'Some Recent Catholic Apologists' will scarcely commend itself, we fancy, to the authorities who have placed some of his works in the 'Index.' Prof. Sully contributes an essay on Philosophy and Modern Culture,' which was first delivered as a lecture at University College, London. Paths of Glory,' by Mr. Joseph Jacobs, deals with the kind of work that gets people into Who's Who,'' Men of the Time,' and the Dictionary of National Biography.' It is readable and entertaining.-The first five papers in the Nineteenth Century are on the war, and two or even three others are on subjects more or less closely connected with it. In the matter with which we can deal is 'Shakespeare and

the Modern Stage,' by Sidney Lee. The chief aim
of the contribution is to protest against the
idea that Shakespeare in representation is to
be sacrificed to pageantry. Lovers of Shake
speare should urge simplicity in the production
of his plays. The instance is advanced of the
splendid series of revivals undertaken by Phelps
and Greenwood at Sadler's Wells. If modern
managers would be content with scenic accessories
that are adequate and illuminatory instead of
burdensome, they might give three or four plays
where now they give one. No one is better entitled
to be heard than Mr. Lee, and it is to be hoped
that the seed he sows will not fall on desert ground.
Under the title, which we scarcely like, of 'The
Prince of Journalists,' Mr. Herbert Paul has an
excellent article on Swift, with most of the conclu-
sions of which we agree. In common, however,
with most modern writers, Mr. Paul overpraises
the style of Swift, which, admirable as it is in
lucidity-perhaps the best of gifts-and in sim-
plicity, has "the defects of its qualities," and is
open to attack. This, we know, is an unpopular
view. With the remaining praise and the general
estimate of Swift we concur, and we recall
no modern apophthegm so exquisite as Swift's
"The reason why so few marriages are happy is
because young ladies spend their time in making
nets, not in making cages." Supposing the curious
ghost-story of Nathaniel Hawthorne to be, as it
professes to be, true, that admirable writer was
the most unutterable donkey that ever drew
breath. Mr. J. Cuthbert Hadden has a valuable
paper on 'The Tinkering of Hymns.' We agree
with every word that he says in condemnation of
such processes, but think that in most cases he is
far too indulgent. In this review, also, Dr. St.
George Mivart is issuing a challenge to the Roman
Catholic Church, the result of which we want to
The Jews in France,' 'The Common Mule,'
'Climate and Atmosphere,' and Can Sen-
tences be Standardized?' are all worth reading.-
The frontispiece to the Pall Mall is a fine repro-
duction of Holbein's 'Anne of Cleves,' the illustra-
tions generally being of high merit. Mr. William
Archer concludes his account of The American
Stage,' which is regarded in a favourable light.
A good description is furnished of the younger
American dramatists, with whom we are beginning
to form an acquaintance. In the second part of
'Lotteries, Luck, Chance, and Gambling Systems'
Mr. J. Holt Schooling establishes to his own satis-
faction that there is such a thing as luck. On the
whole, though we pretend to no special knowledge,
his statistics impress us less favourably than do his
reproductions of the quaint designs of our ancestors
intended to beguile people into the purchase of
lottery tickets. "Morocco, the Imperial City,'
by Mr. F. G. Aflalo, tells us little that is new,
but has some capital sketches of spots of in-
terest. 'Military Heroes at Westminster,' by Mr.
Murray Smith, of which the first part appears,
appeals strongly to us at the present moment.-
Elizabethan London,' by the Bishop of London,
with which the new volume of the Cornhill begins,
is a lecture delivered a couple of months ago at the
Queen's Hall before the London Reform Union.
It gives many particulars with which the average
student of past London is likely to be unfamiliar,
and draws together many proofs of the mistrust
with which Londoners regarded foreigners. Lady
Broome's 'Natal Memories' have painful interest

see.

when read by the light of to-day. Urbanus Sylvan
deals whimsically, but flippantly with Dr. Dowden,
Dr. Gosse, and other modern critics or writers.
One is surprised to find him speaking of the
1671 edition of 'Paradise Regained' and Samson
Agonistes' as a "large and well-printed octavo."
Mr. Stephen Gwynn gives a study of Sir Charles
Napier. There are some amusing 'Humours of
Irish Life,' and an unappetizing account of A
Boer Interior.'-The Poetry of Windmills,' which
appears in Temple Bar, expresses sentiments we have
often felt. Next to a ship a windmill is to us one
of the most fascinating of human inventions. The
author holds that "it is sacrilege to approach them
She holds that Cervantes saw aright
too nearly."
when Don Quixote entered into conflict with them
as giants. On the Banks of the Dove' is a fantasy
concerning Walton and Cotton. 'A Calculating
Philosopher deals with Babbage, the sanguine
inventor of the calculating machine, and next to
John Leech the most distinguished victim of street
noises. 'Sir Anthony Van Dyck' may be read with
pleasure. Much of the fiction is excellent.-Not
much of a dilemma to a collector is that in which
in the Gentleman's the hero of 'A Bookman's
Dilemma' finds himself. It is, however, amusing
to hear of a Kilmarnock Burns and a
Walton's Angler' being sold all but uncatalogued
in a country sale. Mr. Walters describes French
London in 1793,' the London of priestly and aris-
Miss Lily Wolffsohn depicts
tocratic refugees.

as

first

Low Life in Naples Pictured by Neapolitans,' and Mr. Percy Fitzgerald describes a residence of two days in Walcheren Island.-In Longman's Mr. Lang, 'At the Sign of the Ship,' expresses a not too favourable estimate of the "Man in the Street," and gives an amusing account Mr. of his sufferings from notoriety - hunters. H. G. Hutchinson, in A First Essay in Dreams,' speaks of flying as a common experience in dreaming. Our own observation is that it is not flying of which we dream, but a sort of levitation, with some'Kauri Gum' times a consciousness of danger. and 'Summer in the Forest' are both readable.

The chief point in Mr. Dilke's letter is the phrase "I never was a hunter after Junius." For that reason he was the better critic. The writer who has his own Junius makes light. of the evidence in support of claims put Du