28 JANUARY 1888, Page 24

How to Write the History of a Family. By W.

P. W. Phillimore. (Elliot Stock.)—Mr. Phillimore first discusses what a family history

should be, and then points out the sources from which materials can be derived. There are two forms of pedigrees,—the paragraph form (something like that adopted in our peerages), and the tabular form,.

best described by the stemma or "genealogical tree." The authorities are very numerous,—visitations, probates of wills, parish registers,. University and College records, monuments (often to be found only in books, especially since the restorer has been in the field), are some of them. Mr. Phillimore's book is a most valuable guide to those who are interested, as every one should be, in such inquiries.