1 APRIL 1876, Page 24

The Mind of Shalespeare, as Exhibited in his Works. By

the Rev. A. A. Morgan. (Routledge.)—" The following work," says the preface. not without a certain magniloquence, "embraces the whole system of Shakepeare's philosophy and ethics." But surely a system, to be any- thing, must be systematic. Whoever beard of a philosopher who expounded his views on morals, metaphysics, etc., in alphabetical order? And yet this is the way in which we have the mind of Shakespeare set out for us by Mr. Morgan. Doubtless he has done the best he could. To expound the whole system of Shakespeare's philosophy and ethics would be a gigantic task, which it is jest possible might exceed Mr.. Morgan's powers. But to arrange a number of quotations under headings alphabetically arranged is not overwhelmingly difficult. It is possible that some people may like to have their Shakespeare thus hashed up for them. Ands speaker wishing to adorn the oration which he is preparing with an apposite quotation might find the volume useful. We have indeed little fault to find with anything except its exaggerated pretensions. What in the world has this heading, " Apothecary : de- scription of a needy one," got to do with Shakespeare's ethics ?