Duelling-Doys in the Army- By William Douglas. (Ward and Downey.)—Mr.
Douglas has collected here a number of more or less interesting stories. There is little or nothing in them that is new ; on the other hand, there is much that will bear telling a second time, erpecially when they have the advantage of a lively and pleasant style. The author's sympathies are always on the right side, and he has not even a lurking wish for the restoration of the practice which he describes. It is sometimes said that duelling kept in check much brutal violence, which is now restrained only by the vague and un- certain influences of public opinion. The reader of these narratives will hardly take up with this notion. Brutality and violence were rife in spite of, perhaps in consequence of, this supposed check. The practice lent itself to abominable injustice, shown not least in the favouritism which seems to have been almost universally extended to men of rank. There are few more discreditable stories in our recent social history than the narrative of the quarrel between Lord George Bentinck and Captain Herr, as it is told by Mr. Douglas. The fact is, that the more we hear of Mr. Disraeli's hero, the more dubious a character does he seem. We may remark that Pulsio and Vorenus were not "Generals" in Cmsar's army.
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