26 DECEMBER 1908, Page 28

We have received the forty-arst issue of Whitaker's Almanac (30

Warwick Lane, 2s. 6d. net). As usual, it can show enlargement of size and improvement in arrangement. Of the Almanac itself it is needless to say anything but that it gives all the information that can be wanted; the special feature of the particular issue is to be found in the supplement. Here is a specimen. The tonnage of steamship companies is as follows :—British and Colonial, 6,014,000; German, 2,361,000; other countries, 2,144,000; total, 10,519,000. The first place is occupied by the Hamburg American, the second by the Norddeutscher-Lloyd; the British Steam, P. and 0., and White Star coming next in the list. An interesting comparison between Death-duties here and else- where may be noted. It is too long to analyse, but it may be said that these are somewhat higher both in France and Italy, at least to non-relatives. These in Italy pay twenty-two per cent. and in France twenty per cent. on sums above a certain figure. —Haze/i's Annual, Edited by W. Palmer, B.A. (Hazel', Watson. and Viney, 3s. Gcl. net), is a small cyclopaedia of information, political, social, commercial, literary, and general, given in the form of biographies, tables, lists, &c., and is a most convenient volume.