28 SEPTEMBER 1889, Page 24

Mr. Thomas Greenwood, who some time ago published a book

on "Free Public Libraries" has followed it up (Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.) with Museums and Art Galleries. Although he is an enthu- siast as regards the educational value of museums and art galleries, and has ideas of his own, which he expresses in special chapters, on "The Relation of the State to Museums" and "The Place of Museums in Education," the value of this book lies essentially in the fact that it tells, in not too guide-book a style, all about the existing museums and galleries in the 'United Kingdom. Mr. Greenwood does not hesitate to tell municipal authorities unpleasant truths,

as when he warns the Glasgow people that there is a lively prospect of the whole of their collection of pictures being destroyed by fire, and that their museum is " situated in an inconvenient and unsuitable position, and neither care nor money has been lavished on the collections." Mr. Greenwood has spared no pains to gather, verify, and arrange his facts, and his book is so good that we regret being compelled only to hint at its excellences.