3 OCTOBER 1903, Page 13

England's Mission by English Statesmen. Edited by Arthur Mee. (Grant

Richards. 6s.)—Mr. Mee has collected here utter- ances of English statesmen "from Chatham to Chamberlain." There are twenty-one names and fifty-two speeches, or quotations from speeches. Of the speakers, six, equally divided between the two parties, are alive ; ten more belong to the period between the Reform Bill and the death of Mr. Gladstone ; the others are the two Pitts, Burke, Canning, and Lord Brougham. It is impossible to say that all these politicians have had before their minds the same ideal ; but it is really surprising as one reads to see how little in theory is the difference between them. One might say very much the same as to their practice. A. British Government finds itself compelled when in power to do much that its members denounced when they were in opposition. The urgentia fate imperii are too strong for them. However this may be, Mr. Mee has made a very instructive volume.