The Parliamentary History of England from the passing of the
Reform Bill of 1832. By John Raven. (Elliot Stock.)—We can hardly commend the style of this work as one likely to attract a large number of readers. It is a bare narrative of the chief acts of each Parliament daring the last fifty years; and, though practical enough, we detect in its pages nothing of the enthusiastic style of a spirited raconteur; nor is the writer altogether successful in merging his party feeling. The book, however, is likely to prove useful, as it covers a period to which frequent reference has to be made without the aid of an existing handy work for consultation. A list of the members of the different Cabinets since that of Earl Grey is prefixed, and important divisions, which have terminated Ministries, are recorded. Thirteen of these latter have taken place within the last fifty years; and as the author-sets forth, our constitutional growth daring that time has been mainly due to a more just and liberal treatment of Dissenters and Jews, to the mitigation of the Penal Code, and the repeal of the Corn Laws.
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