The Book of Menus. By Fin-Bec. (Grant and Co.)—We cannot
say much for the consistency of the author of this book. He starts with the very admirable canon that a perfect dinner-party should not consist of more than eight, yet a large part of the work is taken up with lengthy bills of Companies' banquets and public feasts, than which nothing could be further from the poetry of eating. Although Fin-Bea arrogates to himself great part of the improvement of the last few years, we are afraid he has not educated the public to the point of taking much interest in his (the author's) birth, and when and where he gave such and such a dinner, the dates of which important facts are given us, in what we cannot help thinking a somewhat gluttonous affair, viz., an "epicure's almanac." There are certainly useful hints scattered through the book, and there are plenty of less ambitious "menus" than those mentioned above, but we should hardly think such a work would appeal to a very largo class of readers. The getting-up of the book in sumptuous, both as regards print and binding.
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