18 JUNE 1870, Page 21

Among the Goths and Vandals. By John Blaikie. (Tinsley Brothers).

—It is necessary to translate the title of this book, and we may, there- fore, inform our readers that Mr. Blaikio has been taking a trip to Sweden. He does not tell us much more than this himself, and his book, though not long, is heavy. It is clear that his object is to inform rather than to amuse us, but though he carefully avoids the second, we cannot say that he succeeds in achieving tho first. One or two curious facts are given, as that the evidence of a man who has not been con- firmed is inadmissible in a court of justice, and that no one can be confirmed if he cannot read and write. But does this really mean that in Sweden no one who cannot read and write may give evidence ? If so, there might be cases in which the most stringent form of compul- sion would be left behind by such an indirect method, and a man accused of murder might be convicted because ho could only prove his innocence by moans of an ignorant witness. Is Mr. Blaikie sum of his facts ?