11 APRIL 1903, Page 25

The Statesman's Year-Book. Edited by J. Scott Kehl°, MA., with

the assistance of J. P. A. Renwick, M.A. (Macmillan and Co. 10s. 6d. net.)—The notable feature in this year's issue (the fortieth) of this invaluable handbook is the result of recent cen- suses here and in other countries. In England the population of seven counties has decreased,—Devon, Huntingdon, Hereford, Norfolk, Oxford, Rutland, and Westmorland ; and of three county boroughs,—Bath, Chester, and Huddersfield (by 412). The popula- tion of Ireland has diminished from 8,175,124 in 1841 to 4,458,775. But a country with so few large towns is better off with 137 to the square mile than with 251. The latter figure exceeds the density of Wales by 20 per cent., and is nearly double that of Scotland. It is needless to say more of a handbook so well known and so much valued than that it continues to maintain its high standard of excellence.