The E'asterti* Archipelago. By W. H. Davenport Adams. (Nelson and
Sons.)—To this work, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Crawfurd, Mr. St. john, Mr. Bickmore, Dr. Junghuhn, Dr. Schwaner, Madame Ida Pfeiffer, and Mr. Davenport Adams all contribute, the former, however, only by quotations from their works. Mr. Adams has managed to produce something which is neither a book of travel nor a useful geographical handbook. The compiler's plan of " lifting " any striking scene or de- scription from the works of the well-known writers before mentioned
entirely breaks the flow of the narrative, and deprives it of the great • charm of personal sympathy. His own "useful information" corn.
snouts go some way towards justifying his tconsultation of qualified
authors. From the religious and moral tone of this book, we infer that it is intended as a bait for the book-giving Briton. We must warn this respectable person against the snare; let him, when in a generous mood, choose some complete work, which will leave the impress of a strong and healthy personality on his young friend ; then shall he get hints that another present would be acceptable. In the Eastern Archipelago, there are two other points worthy of montion,—firstly, sixty illustrations of a poorish kind ; then, in the space of one para- graph, a patronising refutation of the scientific theories of Mr. Wallace and Mr. Darwin.
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