Memories of the Arbuthnols of Kincardineshire and Aberdeen- shire. By
Mrs. P. S. M. Arbuthnot. (G. Allen and Unwin. 63s. net.)—This substantial volume of family history has been compiled with care, and an exceptionally good index makes the information accessible. The Arbuthnota were originally a Kincardineshire family, but since Dr. John Arbuthnot, of the Aberdeenshire branch, came to London in William the Third's reign, there have been many Arbuthnots in England. The doctor, who became Queen Anne's physician, is remembered as the satirist who personified England as John Bull. Another member of the Aberdeenshire family was Charles Arbuthnot, the Duke of Wellington's friend, who spent his old age at Apsley House, where he died in 1850. Charles Arbuthnot held minor office in the Tory Ministries of a century ago and was British Minister at Constantinople in 1807 when Admiral Duckworth forced the Dardanelles. Admiral Arbuthnot, who commanded the First Cruiser Squadron at Jutland and went down with his ship, the !Defence,' was a distinguished member of yet another branch of the family. The authoress devotes much space to the attempted abduction of Miss Eleanor Arbuthnot by a landowner named Carden near Clonmel in 1854. It may be noted that the man who planned this detest- able outrage excited " strong sympathy " in the district, and the Government were accused of " persecution " in not releasing him unconditionally when he had been sent to prison for two years. Irishmen always seem to sympathize with criminals,
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