THE COLLECTED HISTORICAL WORKS OF SIR FRANCIS PALGRAVE.
The Collected Historical Works of Sir Franc:4 Palgrave. Edited by his Son, Sir R. H. Inglis Palgrave. Vols. V., VI., VII. (Cambridge Univ. Press. 42s. net each.)—The late Sir Inglis Palgravo did not live to finish his self-imposed task of editing his father's works. His grandson, Mr. G. P. Barker, has continued the work with the assistance of several scholars. The fifth volume contains The History of the Anglo-Saxons, published in 1831, with many notes, maps and genealogical tables prepared by Mrs. Ronald Courts. The sixth and soyenci volumes contain The Rise and Progress of the English Commo4- wealth : Anglo-Saxon Period, published in 1832, with notes by Dr. Joseph Hall and Dr. F. Bradshaw. Tho second part of this elaborate work is devoted to " proofs and illustrations," in setting forth which Palgrave did admirable pioneer work. Among the many matters discussed in the first part is the suppression of Highland liberties by the Lowland kings, who themselves complained of English aggression, much as the Sinn Feiners now claim the right of " self-determination " for themselves but would deny it to Protestant Ulster. We admire the filial piety which prompted the production of this elaborate edition of Palgrave's works, which in their day were valuable, but we cannot help expressing a doubt whether the same time, energy and money, if expended on original research, would not have yielded better results. Historical work is so poorly endowed in this country that any misdirection of labour is to be regretted.
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