21 AUGUST 1886, Page 26

Cosmopolitan Essays. By Sir Richard Temple. (Chapman and Hall).—Nihil humani

a me adienum puto, might very well be the motto of this volume, for although the papers here collected relate chiefly to the British Empire, they do not deal exclusively with it. One of the most interesting gives a view of the state of Greece in 1885, and there are also essays on the "Population of China," " Sites and Scenes in Palestine," and "American Characteristics." On some current political questions Sir Richard Temple has very decided opinions, which will not commend themselves to all readers ; but his judgments are always based on a careful examination of the facts, and are consequently well worthy of consideration. On the whole this collection of his fugitive pieces should materially add both to his literary and political reputation.