20 JULY 1867, Page 22

An Essay On English Municipal History. By James Thompson. (Longman.)—We

cannot say that the contents of this book correspond at all strictly with its title. Mr. Thompson has collected many curious and interesting facts with regard to the early history of certain boroughs, and has shown us those boroughs at a time when municipali- ties had to struggle with powerful kings, lords, and abbots, and had to represent the growing liberties of the townsmen against their oppres- sors. But there is nothing in the essay which brings out the exact bear- ing of these facts on municipal history.