27 MAY 1882, Page 24

History of the Elementary-School Contest in England. By Frank Adams.

(Chapman and Hall.)—This volume is a defence of the Birmingham League, and an attempt to direct attention to what yet remains to be done in the way of education. Without assenting to all the views which it puts forward, we may commend it to the attention of our readers. The author's references to early English history do not much impress us; the authorities which he quotes are used somewhat at random ; and he is certainly unfair to classes whom he dislikes (it is perfectly preposterous to see, in the action of the English clergy in relation to education, only a desire to " obtain the lead and control of the agitation ") ; still, he has something to say and contributes something towards that complete account of the subject which we may, perhaps, some day have.