13 FEBRUARY 1897, Page 22

CURRENT LITERATURE.

The Critical Review has, under the editorship of the Bev. Professor Salmond, succeeded so well, that the publishers announce an increase in its size. Probably readers of, as well as contributors to, this most judiciously conducted periodical will welcome such a change. For a tendency has of late been exhibited to attempt to notice far too many books, the result being the absence from almost every number of any paper which may be called outstanding. Thus in ninety pages in the present number there are twenty articles. If this defect be allowed for, and if room for nothing but snippets can be obtained in the Critical Bevieto,it must also be conceded that these are remarkably good. Principal Cave's paper on Aliiller's Symbolik, Professor Davidson's on Xittel's History of the Hebrews, and Professor Marcus Dods's on " Sell's Faith of Islam," deserve to be singled out for special commendation.

The Monist will soon be intelligible only to those who are experts in the subjects of which its writers treat. Thus there could not be anything more severely specialistic than Mr. Charles S. Peirce's paper on "The Logic of Relatives," bristling as it does with formula', except perhaps Mr. Topinard's on "Science and Faith." The editor's " Philosophy of Buddhism" is a trifle more generally interesting.

It needs a special enthusiasm to take a deep interest in such a quarterly as Baconiana. But it is very touching and very fruitful, as is proved by such papers in the new pad as "Manes Vera- lamiani " and "Numbers Ten and Eleven." "Anthony Bacon— was he a Poet ? " will revive interest in Francis's elder brother. It is full of forgotten and out-of-the-way knowledge.