Transactions of the Philological Society. 1864. (Asher and Co.) — The transactions
of this verylearned body appear to consist of four treatises of some of which the value very greatly exceeds the attractiveness. First we have a very learned treatise on the "Character and Origin of the English Possessive Augment," by Serjeant Manning. That little "'e" which is to be found in the expression "John's horse" has been honoured by being made the subject of four separate theories. There is Bishop Lowth's theory, and Dr. Wallis's theory, and Dr. Priestly's theory, and Dr. John- son's theory. Serjeant Manning, after displaying a world of recondite information, seems to be dissatisfied with all these, and not to be ready with any of his own. Mr. Francis Newman contributes a translation of the Iguvine inscriptions, which is not so amusing as Edgar Poe's puzzles. Dr. Barnes sends a useful glossary of the Dorset dialect. And Judy, Mr. Whitley Stokes has relieved the tedium of a voyage to India by editing and translating the Cornish mystery of "The Creation of the World." The excessive inaccuracy of Mr. Davies Gilberts edition, which appeared in 1827, makes this a valuable acquisition not only to students of philology but of our early native drama, and Mr. Stokes brings to his task not only philological learning of no common extent, but all that conscientious industry and critical acumen which are neces- sary for a work of this sort. Editor's work could not be better or loss obtrusively performed.
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