20 JANUARY 1872, Page 21

CURRENT LITERATURE.

Monuments and Monumental Inscriptions in Scotland. By the Rev. Charles Rogers. Vol. I. (Griffin.)—This is the first volume of a work which is published for the "Grampian Club." It has some value as furnishing materials for general history ; as a contribution to local and family history it is of great importance. Scotland, indeed, is not peculiarly rich in monumental art and literature. The violence with which the old order of ecclesiastical affairs was swept away brought with it a terrible destruction of such remains, and the new order has not been favourable to their development. Dr. Rogers intends to include what seems a fairly exhaustive work on his subject in two volumes. What, we should like to know, would be required for such an undertaking in England? We have already noted the use of the book ; the general reader will not fail to get some amusement and instruction from turning over its pages. He will learn, probably with some surprise, that neither Knox nor Buchanan "have been honoured with a memorial stone." Buchanan, indeed, had a "flat stone" over his grave, but it was eaono- mically applied to cover the last resting-place of a sexton. His skull, however, has been honoured with a place in the College Library of the University of Edinburgh. Another interesting study is that of the monuments which testify to the Wallace idolatry. Wallace was, we learn, from one inscription,— " Above all pain, all passion, and all pride."

But he left in three English counties "nothing but blood and ashes.' Among the moat vigorous inscriptions we can find are these :— " Hero lies John Smith,

Whom Death slew, for all his pith;

The starkest man in Aberlady,— God prepare and make us ready."

Here in a lonely spot the bones repose

Of one who murdered rhyme and slaughtered prose; Sense he defied, and grammar set at naught, Yet some have read his books and even bought Where'er he went he found an opendoor; The folks all liked him, and the bard was poor; A ream of paper, and a pound of snuff, Pens, and his 'specks,' and Edward had enough. Along life's road he jogged at easy pace. Dismounted here, and found a resting place."