23 JULY 1881, Page 23

Lilian Adelaide .Neilson. By M. A. de Leine. (Newman and

Co.) —Mr. de Leine calls his brochure "a memorial sketch, personal and critical," which appears unnecessary, as any biography, however slight, can scarcely avoid possessing these properties. We should not discuss the title of this book, were it not that there is nothing else to notice. The sketch is simply a random stringing-together of recollections and newspaper criticisms, with a few trite moralisings like, "No doubt, she had faults, both as an actress and a woman. With the latter, we wish to have nothing to do, but rather to point out the undoubted excellences in her character that may be admired and imitated." Is this memorial, or personal, or critical, or what ?