3 NOVEMBER 1894, Page 10

The Villa of Okudiv,e. By the Rev. Edward L. Cutts,

D.D. (S.P.C.K.)—This "tale of the Roman-British Church" is a pleasantly written story of the end of the fourth century, when

the Roman power was growing weak in Britain, and the Count of the Saxon Shore had his hands full in holding back the pirates from the East of Europe. A young Roman, who has adhered to the ancient faith, comes out to Britain, and is attracted to Christianity in various ways, the beauty of the young Claudia, daughter of a Romanised British gentleman, being among them. A pirate, Earl Rolf, who disguises himself as a pedlar, and an ambitious British prime, are among the characters. The acces- sories seem carefully studied, but we doubt whether it can be said that a table was " covered with amphorcs and drinking cups." The amphorcs were over large to be put on a table. Why is the intro- duction of Christianity into the island put so late as "the middle of the third century "?