29 JULY 1893, Page 24

Founders of Old-Testament Criticism. By T. K. Cheyne, M.A. (Methuen.)—This

volume gives us a history of Old Testament criticism in a biographical form, its fault being that the bio- graphical element is not made sufficiently prominent. The fact is that Professor Cheyne departs from his programme,—so far, at least, as it is set forth in his title. About 124 out of a total of 872 pages are devoted to an account—friendly indeed, but dis- tinctly critical—of the writer's colleague, Professor Driver. Now, this seems to us a little premature. The time may fairly be said to have come for estimating the work of such men as Eichhorn and De Witte, and our own Colenso ; it has not come for Professor Cheyne to estimate Professor Driver. We must not be understood to question his perfect right to criticise a contemporary critic; but this is not the opportunity for exercising the right. If the former part of the book had been enlarged and the latter omitted, it would have better fulfilled its object. No man is more qualified to speak on this subject, though we cannot but think that he goes too far in the direction of destruction.