31 MARCH 1894, Page 26

The Praises of Israel. By W. T. Davidson, M.A.., D.D.

(C. H. Kelly.)—This volume belongs to a series entitled "Books for Bible Students," and, indeed, admirably answers the description. Dr. Davidson deals with his subject in a very candid, cautious, and reverent spirit. He does not blindly assail the "higher criticism; " but he states various considerations which must be taken into account. "Those who are anxious to prove a natural development in the history of Judaism from what is called a monolatry ' but little removed from Polytheism, to the spiritual worship of Jehovah attained only in the latest stages of Jewish history, obviously find the Psalms in their way." The Psalms are spiritual to the core ; and if any of them belong to the tenth or the eleventh century B.C., the contention of sun'i writers as Renan falls to the ground, and the alternative thew of a divine revelation, to which the advocates of "a natural development" are hostile, becomes necessary. Dr. Davidson is quite open to argument. He sees that certain Psalms, ascribed commonly to David, cannot be his,—cxxxix. is full of Aramaisms ; " cxxii. and cxxiv. clearly belong to the Restoration ; " " the 53rd Psalm con- tains a direct reference to the Captivity." But he does not accept the extremist views of Professor Cheyne. His volume, which is, it must be understood, intended quite as much for edification as for study, will be found to serve both purposes admirably well. The Book-Hunter in Paris. By Octave Uzanne. (Elliot Stock.) —Mr. Augustine Bissell introduces this book to the English reader in an agreeable preface, which we would gladly have found of much greater length. The book itself, though it can scarcely be called disappointing, requires for its appreciation a special kind of knowledge which few English readers, it is pro- bable, possess. It is not every one, even among the well-read, that can turn over an English second-hand bookstall with satis- faction and interest ; and the necessary condition of knowledge— and the knowledge of books is quite another matter from the knowledge of literature—is still less frequent when the bookstall is French. The charm of style is, it is true, present in a rare degree. No one can gossip quite so pleasantly as a clever, well- informed Frenchman; and M. Uzanne has the gift in perfection. In English we have nothing quite like the Book-Hunter, though Mr. Andrew Lang has given us some very agreeable fragments on the subject. But then we have no place that answers to the " quays between the Pont Royal and the Pont Saint Michel." The nearest approach to it, but sadly inferior in picturesqueness, is the Whitechapel Road. Inferior as it is, nevertheless the curious may find some things worth looking at even there. One of the most interesting things in this volume is the account of the dinner given to the bookstall-keepers in accordance with the bequest of M. Xavier Marmier, who left 1,000 francs for this pur- pose. Ninety-five guests sat down, and were addressed in a very sympathetic speech by M. A. Choppin d'Arnouville.