17 DECEMBER 1898, Page 25

The Dreyfus Case. By F. C. Conybeare. (George Allen. 3s.

6d.)—Mr. Conybeare in his clear and concise history of the Dreyfus case quotes a letter which appeared in the SiOele newspaper, signed" Un Diplomate," addressed from Berne, March 25th, 1898, Major Panizzardi was at that date the 3/ litary Attaché accredited by the Italian Government at Paris, Brussels, and Berne. Mr. Conybeaie considers this letter to have been written or inspired by him and by gchwartzkoppen. This letter is the key to the book, and if Mr. Conybeare correctly attributes it, it is the key to the whole case. All the evidence seems to be in favour of the state- ments made in it accusing Esterhazy and acquitting Dreyfus. Mr. Conybeare quotes from l'Autoriti, a newspaper hostile to Dreyfus, the scene of his military degradation. We never read four pages so full of unconscious satire. The effrontery is described which enabled "the abject wretch" to behave like an innocent man, and to reply in a strong voice to General Daras, who pronounced his degradation, " I am innocent. Vive la France !" The General's own voice " was touched with emotion." "Filthy Jew," cried some one from the pressmen's corner. The first and last chapters of Mr. Conybeare's book deal with the present state of France. We cannot help thinking that he accounts for too much of the "monstrous growth of wickedness detailed in these pages " by religious fanaticism.