30 JANUARY 1909, Page 13

• Description of the Natural Etstori, of the Coasts of

North America. By Nicholas Denys." Translated and Edited by William F. Ganong, Ph.D. (Champlain Society, Toronto.)— Richard Denys, born at Tours in 159S, and descended from an early explorer of North America, was engaged in the Acadian fisheries for many years. He had various ups and downs of fortune—the French adventurers in the New World were not very scrupulous in their methods—but in 1654 he was a great man, sharing with La Tour the command of a largo region in North America. His book was published in 1672 : sixteen years later be died, probably at his North American home. The "coasts" described are those of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, and Prince Edward Island, and of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The picture that he gives of this region is highly interesting. The writing is of the simplest, one might say the rudest, kind; but tilts fact may well be taken as adding to the value of his testimony. The Champlain Society have done well to republish the book, and they could not have chosen a more competent editor.