Parishes of the Diocese of Worcester. By the Rev. George
Miller. Vol. I. " Warwickshire." (Griffith, Farran, and Co.)—Mr. Miller
gives a preliminary essay on the " value and price of land, labour, and agricultural produce." He goes, we think, a little too far when he says that before the irruption of the Danes, "the agriculture of England stood almost as high amongst the nations of Europe as the schools of England excelled those of the Continent." This is really throwing back the climax of English prosperity to the " Heptarehy," for the Danes appeared before the and of Egbert's reign. The statement, too, can only apply—we say nothing about the schoolsr—to a part of the country. Vast tracts were not cultivated at all. Generally, the essay is an excellent sketch of its subject. In the book itself we have an account of each parish. The ownership of the land is traced ; mention is made of any monastic foundation that may have existed ; particulars of population, rateable value, value of living, &c., are added, with local anecdotes relating to history, &c. The general decrease of population in the agricultural parishes is noticeable. The poor-rate, too, seems to have diminished. In six parishes of the Kineton Division of Kineton Hundred (for all which the figures for the two years are given), the aggregate of 1803 was £.3,476 ; that of 1886, .61,222. It is a pity that Mr. Miller does not, or cannot, give us the rateable value of the two years. This is an interesting and useful volume.
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