13 NOVEMBER 1897, Page 26

Lord Bolingbroke : being Extracts from the Political Writings of

Henry St. John Viscount Bolingbroke. Edited (with an Intro- duction), selected, and arranged by the Hon. Stuart Erskine. (The Roxburghe Press.)—Mr. Erskine's extracts from Boling- broke's political writings are put forth, he tells us, with the design of tempting the public by the method of excerpts "thoroughly to explore" that author's writings. It is unlikely that the general public will ever study Bolingbroke in the whole, but if they read this little book of selections they will have made acquaintance with a majestic prose style, which they may dimly perceive to be different from the English of leading articles, and with thoughts as majestic. Mr. Erskine has given them a pretty edition. It would be a pity if Bolingbroke should ever cease to be read by " well-read " people. Not a safe model in himself, he is yet a master from whom many English men of letters have learned much.