24 NOVEMBER 1883, Page 25

its illustrations, with their quaint outlines and the brilliancy of

their colouring. Some of them are familiar designs. "Carlo Malatesta taken Prisoner" is from a well-known picture, and there is the

4' Brides of Venice." But most will be as novel as they are certainly

interesting. We may mention the quaint presentation of a ship entitled "In the Port of Acre," and the more realistic " Bucentoro."

Another striking naval piece is "The Siege of Ghioccia," while in another line we have "The Marriage of Sir Jacopo Foscari ;" and, again, in curious contrast to the mediaeval aspect of this last, the "Doge going in Procession," from the original of Tiepolo and Canalettos which is full of the spirit of the eighteenth century. The narrative deals with some of the most interesting passages of Venetian history,

the doings of the City in the Crusades ; one of its least creditable exploits, the taking of Constantinople ; the wars with Genoa, Src. The writer tells the story with mach skill, though we might suggest a slight improvement in the connection of the sentences. The "and" so frequently repeated produces a somewhat monotonous effect.