Viscount Dundee, by Louis A. Barbe (Oliphant, Anderson, and Ferrier,
is. 6d. net), is the latest volume of the "Famous Scots Series." We have no fault to find with the tone of this biography. Mr. Barbe appears to be a Jacobite, and regards Claverhouse with favour, if not with partiality. He urges, reasonably enough, that Claverhouse did but perform a soldier's duty ; he obeyed orders. That he should have thrown up his commission was not to be expected ; in fact, he had no difficulty or scruple about carrying out the most severe commands. When there was a suggestion of instituting a milder regime he strenuously opposed it. He doubtless regarded the Covenanters as enemies of God and man. That a hot-tempered man, as he certainly was, in possession of authority, dealing with people whom he cordially hated, should never have gone beyond the bounds of law is scarcely likely. Nothing has been brought home to him by absolute proof; it is hardly to be expected that it should; but the constant tradition that he bore himself harshly has something behind it. He was merciless rather than cruel.
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