2 DECEMBER 1893, Page 13

The Siege of Platwa. By John M. Sing. (Rivington, Percival,

and Co.)—Mr. Sing has made an excellent little school-book out of the narrative of the surprise of Platosa, its siege, the escape of part of the garrison, and the doom of the survivors. The original has been compressed, and, in case of need, simplified. The notes are of good quality, those on grammatical questions being par- ticularly good. Mr. Sing illustrates the constructions by showing what variations of meaning come by using a different mood or tense. The story is a highly interesting oae, though it is no little trial to our capacities of belief. How could these few Plat:Bans have held out, answering each attack by the besiegers with new defences ?