18 FEBRUARY 1899, Page 26

Boors or REFERENcE. — Dictionary of the World's Press. By

Henry Sell. (167 Fleet Street. 2 vols. 7s. 6d., or 4s. per vol.) —This work has overflowed in this its nineteenth annual issue into a second volume. Vol. I. contains informa- tion about the newspapers of the world, and not a few other things. Vol. II. is the " Commercial Section," and gives particulars about the markets of the world, about com- mercial methods, trade legislation and tariffs, advertising, together with an epitome of the newspaper information supplied more fully in Vol. I. The two together contain about fourteen hundred pages (exclusive of advertisements) and are certainly a marvel of cheapness. In the United Kingdom there are between two and three thousand newspapers. —The Literary Year Book, edited by Joseph Jacobs (George Allen, 3s. 6d.), appears again with some additions and improvements. The editor does not pretend to have reached a form that.quite'satisfies him. If he continues "to take advantage of criticisms " he will not be long on the road. There is a portentously long list of authors containing, we calculate, about fifteen hundred names. The avenues are thronged, it is true, but then there more avenues than of old, for there are more than one hundred and seventy publishing firms. We would suggest that this latter list should be kept absolutely clear of anything like praise, though information as to the special line of a firm will be useful.—Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench (Dean and Son, 7s.) appears in its "thirty-third annual edition." It contains a list of Members of Parliament, with short biographical notices, "Peers and Peer- esses," and Judges of the various Courts both in the United Kingdom and in the Colonies.—The Clergy List (Kelly's Directories) continues to improve. The advance upon what it was in early days is very great indeed.—The Englishwoman's Year-Book and Directory. Edited by Emily Janes. (A. and C. Black.)—Education and employments of women are the chief divisions under which the information here brought together is ranged.—Paimer's Index to the "Times" (S. Palmer, Shepperton- on-Thames, 10s.) is brought down to the end of 1898. With this we have the index to the year 1824.