22 MARCH 1879, Page 23

Russian . and Turk : from a Geographical, Ethnological, and His-

torical Point of View. By R. G. Latham, M.D. (W. H. Allen and Co.)—This is essentially a republication of two other works by Dr. Latham, and must be considered disappointing in almost every respect. It is behind time, coming after the many valuable and informatory—some of them very lively—works which have recently appeared on the same subject. Dr. Latham writes in a flabby style worthy of a worn-out pupil-teacher answering historical questions against time and a sarcastic inspector of schools. Here is a speci- men of his writing, taken at random :—" The result [of the battle of Cairo] was an alliance against France between Turkey, Russia, and England. The details of this lead us on to Syria, this being the time of Napoleon's repulse at Acre, a repulse followed by his return to France, leaving Kleber in his place. Kleber wins the great battle of Heliopolis, but by this time the French are well out of Egypt." To a certain extent, the work will be valuable, as a gazetteer is valu- able; the reader should consult the table of contents, and then seek the information he requires. The chapter on the Lithuanians is that which most nearly approaches liveliness. The Doctor says such a book as this should not be written in the spirit of a partisan, and yet he thinks "England has much for which she may be both proud and thankful" in the Berlin Treaty. Dr. Latham's Jingoism is very innocuous, however.