30 JUNE 1900, Page 39

nineteenth century from the standpoint of the politician. Mr. Sears

deals in his first book with (1) the Latin nations, (2) South- Eastern Europe and Russia, (3) the Teutonic nations ; in his second with Great Britain and her Colonies ; in his third with the United States; while the fourth and fifth are devoted to Spanish and Portuguese America and "Unclassified Countries" respectively. We cannot undertake to review Mr. Sears's state- ments and opinions, for we should have to epitomise some hundreds of leaders that have appeared in the Spectator. On the whole we do not find ourselves seriously at variance with him, but we must own that our confidence in his accuracy is severely shaken by finding the extraordinary statement that "in 1873 the British took possession of the important stronghold of Herat." Herat has been so impoi taut a factor in the Busso-Indian problem that a mistake on such a subject is most significant.