Studies in Little - Known Subjects. By C. E. Plumptre. (Swan Sonnenschein
and Co.)—There is a gentle and ingenue simplicity about these essays that almost disarms criticism. But with the burden of literary overproduction now upon us, some under- standing must really be arrived at even with the mildest and most innocent of authors, as to what is and what is not worth republication. The papers here collected by Mr. Plumptre are not "studies," but the merest articles, reviews, even reviews of reviews, all reprinted from "periodicals." The anther does not seriously pretend that " Thackeray's Letters" or "John Francis and the Athenxion" are in the year 1893 "little-known subjects," and his notice of the latter work is padded outyith a reprint in full of the "touching poem" on "Victoria's tears" by Miss Eliza- beth Barrett," afterwards Mrs. Browning"! The essays on Bruno, Ochino, and Vanini might perhaps form part of some volume of permanent interest, though they, like the rest of the work, seem to consist chiefly of talk about books, possibly the cheapest literary fabric on the market, decorated with easily accessible quotations. But in any case lucubration s of eight or ten pages apiece concerning "The duty of Honesty in our convictions (1889)," "The reasonableness of personal direction in personal matters (1893) " (correct English, we believe; but oh what does it mean ?) "mind as controlled by matter (1895) "must be dazzlingly original to secure (1898) a patient hearing. And when we come to "The Wisdom of Looking at the bright side of Life" (also " 1895," but why 1825 would be better) the hand of the ordi- nary ungentle reviewer will insensibly slide towards his toma- hawk.
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