21 MAY 1881, Page 25

A Short Manual of the History of India. Vol. I.

By Roper Leth- bridge, M.A., C.I.E. (Macmillan and Co.)—Mr. Lethbridge's com- pilation will make an admirable class-book, and it is to be hoped that English schoolmasters will not fail to utilise one of the books beat fitted to dispel a disgraceful ignorance of India, that is only now

'beginning to be remedied. Mr. Lethbridge commences with a clear account of the social and political condition of India under British

rule. In this section its physical conformation, racial and linguietio character, literature, and religion are concisely and adequately treated. The history proper succeeds, and is carried from the period of the non-Aryan population down to the present day. Of course, the compiler does not pretend to exhaust his' subject within the 'modest limits to which he is restricted ; but what ho aims at doing he has done well. His careful explanation of Brahminism and Buddhism appears to ns extremely praiseworthy, and the account of the Mahom- aledan invasion and the Moghal empire will come to the English school- boy as fresh as a new story of adventure. A good index makes the book useful for reference. One suggestion we.would make to Mr. Lethbridge, which is that he should give a list of the principal autho- rities for each period, for the guidance of those who may wish to pursue the subject further.