18 SEPTEMBER 1875, Page 22

Ilistory of India. By L. J. Trotter. (Society for Promoting

Christian Knowledge.)—The only fault that we have to find with Mr. Trotter's book is one for which he is not responsible. To include the history of so large a portion of mankind for so long a time within the limits of a single volume of moderate size, to compress the story, a story singularly varied, of the populous peninsula of Hindostan into four hundred pages, passes all skill. Within the limits of the possible, Mr. Trotter has succeeded. The rise of Buddhism and the later developments of Brahmanism, the first Aryan settlements and conquests, tho brief episode of Alexander's invasion, the long warfare waged by Moham- medan invaders, are treated in vigorous and interesting chapters, which have no defect, except being too brief and crowded. Some time before we get half-way through the volume, the English appear upon the scone. Book iv. is entitled "The Rule of the Company," and carries us down as far as 1800. As much of the varied history of our rule in India during the present century as can be put into about one hundred and thirty pages wo find admirably told in Mr. Trotter's pages.