26 DECEMBER 1868, Page 25

Life of Sir Walter Ralegh. By James Augustus St. John.

(Chapman and Hall.)—Mr. St. John has given fifteen reasons for undertaking a now Life of Ralegh, a task to which he has devoted seven years. Some of these reasons, as, for instance, his belief that he throws now light on Ralegh'e connection with Prince Henry, and on his relations with France, would alone be sufficient to justify the attempt, which is not without its success. Mr. St. John has, too, had valuable opportunities for• personally examining the MSS. preserved in Madrid. The numerous class of readers who are glad to have conclusions from evidence drawn for them rather• than the evidence itself from which to draw their own will find Mr. St. John's history valuable and sufficient.