1 JULY 1865, Page 18

article on " Numismatics " and ends with one on

"Puerperal Mania," and it fully maintains the standard of merit of the previous volumes. There is an admirable paper on the word "Parliament, in which, however, we notice one incautious expression,—" The period to be fixed for the as- sembling of the new Parliament, formerly 40 days, was by 7 and 8 Wil- liam IV. reduced to 35 days." The fact is that the period between the issuing of the writs and the assembling must not be less than 35 days, but there is no reason why it should not be more, though in practice it seldom is. The geographical articles are also very careful and full, for instance, the notice of Peru. The biographical articles on living per- sons are often, however, too long. Mrs. Margaret Oliphant, the author of some clever Scotch novels, has more space allotted to her than Olivares, the Minister of Philip IV. of Spain.