Victoria, Queen and Empress. By Richard Davey. (Roxburghe Press.)—This volume
differs somewhat from the other records of the Queen's reign and life. The first chapter describes " London on the eve of the Queen's birth." England, thinks Mr. Davey, was still plunged in barbarism, with a veneer of civilisa- tion among its upper classes. Well, "barbarism" is a relative term. The " barbarism," say, of Coomassie or Benin is not quite the same as that which our author finds in the London of 1819. (We have not a word to say against Mrs. Fry's work in gaols, or Mr. Davey's contention that these places were in "an awful con- dition ; " but it is scarcely likely that " young women and girls went into gaol modest and virtuous.") After this chapter the book proceeds on the usual lines, though Mr. Davey speaks more plainly about certain disagreeables than other writers have done. This faithful historian also tells us that the "orb " at the Corona- tion was too heavy for the Queen to carry with comfort, and that the ring was so small that it had to be forced on to her finger. Faithful, however, as he may be, he is not always exact. Dr. Hook was never Bishop of Chichester. The book is not without. faults, but it is distinctly more interesting than most of its rivals.
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