JOHN MURRAY: LONDON.

23. The Story of the Ionic Revolt and Persian War as told by Herodotus. Selections from the translation of Canon Rawlinson. Revised by C. C. TANCOCK, M.A., late Headmaster of Rossal School. The object of Mr. Tancock is to give a continuous narrative, in a convenient form, of the invasion of Greece by Xerxes. The readers of Herodotus will be pleased to renew their acquaintance with his history in an English dress. The selections are well chosen for the purpose, and in the light of modern warfare and the recent events in Crete and Thessaly, the work will be read with much interest. The copious notes, maps and illustrations, with an excellent index both of events and proper names, enhance the value of the volume.

24. Twelve Indian Statesmen, by G. SMITH, C.I.E., LL.D. The author, a veteran advocate of the liberty of the press, whilst supporting the Government in India-we refer to the eminent editor of "the Friend of India”—has written, chiefly, if not entirely, from personal acquaintance, the lives and labours of twelve Indian statesmen-C. Grant, H. Lawrence, J. Lawrence, J. Outram, D. M'Leod, H. M. Durand, C. Mackenzie, H. B. Edwardes, J. C. Marshman, H. S. Maine, H. Ramsay, and C. U. Aitchison. The statements are, generally, vivid and unprejudiced, except where the Puritan feelings of the author enter the lists. The attitude towards the Panjab University of Sir Donald McLeod is wrongly described, as is also that of Sir Charles Aitchison. The former suggested an enlargement of vernacular schoolbooks from which the writer of this notice, after years of struggle, developed an Anglo-Oriental University, the Oriental features of which Sir C. Aitchison sought to destroy. To Sir Donald, the best of the statesmen described, and the wisest of frontier governors, Dr. Smith seems to award the least credit, although he does so in a tender manner.

JAMES NISBET AND Co.; LONDON.

25. The Bible and Islám; or, The Influence of the Old and New Testaments on the Religion of Mohammed, being the Ely Lecture for 1897, by HENRY PRESERVED SMITH, D.D. It is a strong recommendation to a book when it fulfils its promise. The present work certainly does this. The author has made the subject his own and has a clear view of the ground which he undertakes to survey. His object is to show the relation of the Qur'ân to the Bible in respect of subject-matter. This he does in a course of ten Lectures, the number required by the terms of the Lectureship; and he covers the whole ground by taking up the question of the "Apostleship" of Muḥammad, the relation of the Qur'ân to pre-Islámite "Heathenism," the "Narrative" element in the Qur'ân, its doctrine regarding the Nature and Attributes of God, its doctrine regarding the method of the Divine Government, its attitude regarding "Revelation" and "Prophecy," "Sin" and "Salvation," the Worship of God, the subject of the Future State of Existence, and the teachings of the Qur'ân on the question of the mutual relation of Church and State. Anyone who is acquainted with. the Qur'ân and with its attitude towards the several

systems of religion, which it is supposed by Muḥammadans to supersede, will at once perceive at a glance how well adapted such a series of topics must be to develop the question of the influence of the Bible upon the mind of the author of that unique production. Dr. Smith exhibits neither prejudice against the Qur'ân nor partizanship in favour of the Bible; indeed, we know of no work in which the subject is dealt with with greater fairness and freedom from the bias of a foregone conclusion. The work is not a contribution to controversy; it is written in a reasonable and judicial spirit; and the intelligent follower of the Prophet may read it from end to end without fear of lighting upon anything that might hurt his religious sensibilities. It is well to know the conclusions of men whose opinions ultimately differ from our own. The dictum traditionally attributed to the second Khalifa--" If the books are in agreement with the Qur'ân they are superfluous, if they are not in harmony with it they are false; in either case they are fit to be destroyed"—will hardly, in these advanced days, commend itself to any educated Muḥammadan. It should be added that Dr. Smith evidently does his very utmost to avoid imputing conscious and intentional plagiarism. Such correspondence as he finds between the subject-matter of the two books, the Bible and the Qur'ân, he does all in his power to attribute now to ordinary coincidence, now to the affinity of the Shemitic languages in respect of idiom, and now to some source (such as ancient legend or popular proverb) common to the writers of both books.

To anyone acquainted with Islámic history it must be evident that many Muḥammadans "out-Muḥammad Muhammad," that they are more. 'Muḥammadan" than the Prophet himself. For example, they constantly affirm that Islám authoritatively abrogates and supersedes "the Books that went before" but whatever the Ihádís may affirm, the Qur'ân nowhere teaches this; on the contrary, it commends "the Books that went before," and attributes to them Divine authorship. Again, they assert that Jews and Christians have "tampered with the text" of their Sacred Books: this the Qur'ân nowhere does; on the contrary, it refers the followers of Muḥammad to the Taurát and the Injil for authentic information,-" Ask those who believe the Books that went before." The majority of Muḥammadans base their religious dogmas and practices not upon the Qur'ân text, but upon the ever-shifting and mutually-contradictory Ihádís,—that stupendous body of traditionary or Church literature that grew up in postMuḥammadan times as the outcome of the controversies of Shia' and Sunni, or of Musulmán versus Jew or Christian. The intelligent Muḥammadan should feel no difficulty in admitting that the sincere believer in the Divine authorship of the Bible must be as incapable of wilfully tampering with the text of that Book as is the devout Musulmán of wilfully tampering with the text of the Qur'ân. If there be not on both sides a readiness to make so simple and rational an admission as this, then must Jew, Christian, and Muḥammadan be like parallel lines,-they will go on for ever, but they will never unite.

B.

A Series of Letters

26. Conditional Immortality: A Help to Sceptics. by PROFESSOR SIR G. C. STOKES, BT., to JAMES MARCHANT. These letters were written in the first instance as to a private friend, but they are

now published by the desire of Mr. Marchant with the permission of their author. The object of the publication is apparently to show the way of dealing with those who are sceptical as to the doctrines of Christianity, or are "Free thinkers." With respect to "Eternal happiness," the reasonings of the learned author are excellent, but, by the majority of Christians, his opinions or conclusions as to "endless misery or destruction," and the "innate" quality of the Soul, will be considered illogical, and not in accordance with Biblical teaching.

OLIPHANT, ANDERSON, AND FERRIER; EDINBURGH AND LONDON.

27. The Gist of Japan-the Islands, People and Missions, by the REV. R. B. PEERY, M.A., PH.D., of the Lutheran Mission, Saga, Japan, with illustrations. Dr. Peery's work may be divided into two parts. In the first he gives a clear and succinct history of the country, with its numerous islands, its growth as a nation, and its present important and influential position in the East. He also describes the manners, characteristics, customs and religious beliefs of the people. In the second part the author, in an equally clear manner, gives the history of the introduction of Christianity from the West, the persecutions, and ultimate prohibition of the early missionaries, a re-introduction, and the numerous mission agencies now at work, including those of the Roman and Greek Churches. The long and practical experience of the author as a missionary in Japan will be of much value both to missionaries, and the Boards under which they may serve. He places much importance on the growth of native churches and agencies, so organized and conducted, as will conform, as far as possible, to the habits and customs of the people, and their intense feeling of patriotism and attachment and devotion to the occupant of their throne, whose origin they recognise as divine. The book is enlivened with good illustrations of scenes in Japan, places of religious worship, priests, customs of the people, and other views both pleasant and interesting.

Chinese Characteristics, by ARTHUR H. SMITH. This author minutely describes the various characteristics of the Chinese, and humourously contrasts them with Western civilization. His experience in the country, for twenty-two years, as an American missionary, has given him opportunity in many parts of the country, and among all classes of the people, to observe with a keen eye, and no little humour, many phases of Chinese life, manners, customs, notions of religious belief, habits of thought and modes of expression, and he has narrated them, from a genial heart, in an amusing and a racy manner. This is a popular edition, revised, with excellent illustrations, glossary of technical terms, and a copious index. Mr. Smith concludes by saying "that the needs of China are fewthey are only Character and Conscience.

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY; LONDON.

29. Pictures of Southern China, by the REV. I. MACGOWAN, author of "A History of China," etc., with illustrations. The author, with an artistic

eye, and keen observation on the manners and customs of a people, gives a graphic description of a voyage to Shanghai, Foochow, Kushan, Amoy, Swatow, Hong-Kong and Canton. He found the people hospitable, industrious, ingenious and very conservative with respect to ancient manners and customs. Their mode of the administration of law and justice is foreign to western ideas, but on the whole is suited to the people. The English settlements have produced admirable warehouses and buildings, and seem to be highly prosperous. The prejudices as to railways and the otherwise energetic efforts of the foreigner, with regard to the development of the great wealth of the country, in coal, iron, and other minerals are vanishing, and thus the way is being gradually opened up for incalculable progress. The work contains nearly eighty well-executed illustrations of the towns, the harbours, the wharfs, the steamers, the junks, lorchas, sampans and other Chinese craft, as well as the modes of locomotion on land, and the beautiful islands, lakes, mountains, valleys, temples, pagodas and churches which he visited in his interesting and instructive journey. The traveller and the man of commerce, as well as the general reader, will find much pleasure and profit in the perusal of the book. To the statesmen and the merchants of England, the following expression of opinion is worthy of their serious attention. It contains good common Mr. MacGowan says:

sense.

"The present system of admission to the Consulate service is by competitive examination held in London on certain subjects. Those who obtain the highest marks in these literary contests are appointed to the vacant posts in China. Promotion comes by seniority without any reference to the mental capacity or the idiosyncrasies of the members of the staff. A man may be exceedingly able, with large views of what England's policy ought to be, and enthusiastic in his profession, or he may have the merest shred of common sense. He may be one whose opinion is looked upon with contempt by all sensible men, or he may be indolent and make it the business of his life to do as little officially as he possibly can. The Foreign Office takes no cognizance of these conditions in the promotion of its men. They simply serve their time, their seniors are promoted or retire or vanish out of the field of vision, and as they rise step by step, till the full Consular authority is bestowed upon them. What risks are run by a system that no great commercial house would ever dream of adopting will be obvious to any thinking man."

The importance of this opinion will be more apparent, when it is considered that our representatives in China have not only to do with commerce in its various forms, but with the protection of the rights and liberties of Englishmen, as well as the responsibility of seeing that our Treaty rights are maintained. Hence Mr. MacGowan concludes, that the men who should be appointed to those responsible posts ought to have a knowledge of business and be distinguished in commercial life-thus they would know the requirements of the country, and promote the legitimate and honourable extension of her commerce, and prevent the rise of international disputes, which often end in great expense and even bloodshed and war.

GRANT RICHARDS; LONDON.

30. Studies in Brown Humanity, by HUGH CLIFFORD. This work consists of a number of short stories, based, for the most part, on legends current among the various races of the Malay Peninsula, but also embodying actual facts of Malayan life and history. The stories are skilfully and graphically told; while the writer's ready sympathy with, and genuine insight into, native character as revealed to him by fourteen years' residence and work in the country, still further enhance their interest. In fact, it is not without a feeling of regret that he contemplates the rapid extension of Western civilization, with its order and its monotony, to the remoter parts of the peninsula, in which cruel customs and misrule still go hand in hand with much that is noble and picturesque.

There is, further, no lack of "local colouring" in these stories; the descriptive passages-more especially the river scenes--showing a keen appreciation of natural beauty, combined with a considerable degree of literary ability. To all those who are interested in the human factor or living material of our Empire in the Far East, Mr. Clifford's book should prove as instructive as it is entertaining. G.

RIVINGTONS; LONDON.

31. The Early History of the Hebrews, by the Rev. A. H. SAYCE, Professor of Assyriology, Oxford. Prof. Sayce has written his interesting history from the standpoint of archæology. He has, with great industry and ability, applied the various discoveries in Egypt, Babylonia, and other regions of the East, to the elucidation of the Scripture narrative, and in doing so he has completely undermined the basis of what is called the "higher criticism" by philologists. "Discovery after discovery," he says, "have during the past few years crowded upon us from the ancient East, revolutionizing all our past conceptions of early Oriental history, and opening out a new and unsuspected world of culture and civilization," and in this revolution the criticisms of scholars as to the structure of the Pentateuch, its narratives, and other portions of Scripture have been swept away "as with a flood," and in the light of those discoveries from sites of temples, tablets of stone, monuments, inscriptions and other archæological sources, philological fabrics erected chiefly in Germany and England have vanished away like "bubbles." The author has applied his "searchlight" along the vista from the origin of the Hebrew race in "Ur of the Chaldees," through the ages of the Patriarchs, their sojourn in Egypt, their exodus, their settlement in Palestine, the times of the Judges, the establishment of the Monarchy, to the death of Solomon, culminating in a complete vindication of his opinion. The work is of extreme importance and value to the intelligent student of the Old Testament record. The work is accompanied with a copious index, referring to the vicissitudes of "a nation called into existence, which neither defeat nor exile, persecution nor contempt, has ever been able to destroy."