20 APRIL 1901, Page 23

The Scottish. Parliament B.fore the Union of the Crowns. By

Robert S. Bait. (Blackie and Son. 5s. net.)—This volume con- tains the Stanhope Prize Essay (1899), and will doubtless take its place as the standard authority on its subject. That subject is, indeed, limited in extent, and not particularly interesting. It may almost be said that Scotland has had no constitutional history. It had a Parliament, indeed, but the existence of this body was of a very shadowy kind, and stands in curious contrast to what we know of the representative House of the southern kingdom. What was to be said of its history has been well said in this volume.