11 MAY 1878, Page 26

There have always been published at least as many books

of travel as the public wanted, and just now, when men's eyes are fixed on the East, we bare, perhaps, a trifle more. Every one who has gone as far as the further end of the Mediterranean begins to think that his journals or letters may possibly interest others besides his own friends, and not a few actually translate the thought into fact.—The writer of A Briton Abroad, by the Author of "Two Years Abaft the Mast" (Reming- ton), has not, indeed, the motive of the prevailing interest of the day. Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, and North Italy form his " Grand Tour." He has nothing new to tell us about them, but he gives us the impres- sion that he enjoyed himself in an intelligent sort of way ; and it is just possible that he may help others to do the same, should they choose to follow in his footatops.—The only remarkable thing about West and East ; or, a Tour through Europe and the Holy Land (pub- lished for the author by Cassell and Co.) is the curious confusion of the proper names. We hear of the " Duumviri C. Quintio Valgo and M. Pollio," where it may be doubted whether the author has got hold of Italianised forms, or has been puzzled by ablatives. But who could M. Celn Holiconins have been ? Surely, too, there must be something wrong about the description of the "large theatre " at Pompeii, that it could contain about 500 spectators." And what is meant by the statement that Cicero "wrote two Offices' at Pompeii "? When we get to Athens, again, we aro staggered by hearing of a " Demetria, goddess of Commerce." The writer has been diligent in drawing up catalogues of the works of art which are to be seen in the various places which he visited.—Constantinople : How we got there, by an Engineer (Remington), presents nothing to notice.