The Letters of " S. G. 0." Edited by Arnold
White. 2 vole (Griffith, Farran, and Co.)—For nearly half-a-century, " S. G. 0." (at full length, the Rev. Lord Sydney Godolphin. Osborne) wrote letters to the Times, in which he exposed with trenchant language, and with a vigour that showed no respect of persons, the social wrongs of the day. His first letter, on the subject of " The Dorset- shire Labourers," was written on May 26th, 1846; his last appeared in the year before his death. " The Condition of the Poor," " Education," " Emigration," " Ireland," "The Corn-Laws," " Church Politics," and " The Poor-Law," were among his subjects. In fact, he dealt with everything concerning social and political matters that has interested Englishmen during the present reign. To review his book would be to review the controversies of the " Victorian Era." The historian of the future will find no little valuable information here. " S. G. 0." was impetuous, and some- times a little hasty, but " his heart was in the right place." His sympathies were with all that suffered wrong; and, as Mr. Arnold White puts it, some share of the praise which is due to his con- sistent efforts for his clients is due to the great journal which gave him his opportunity. " The policy of the Times, since it possessed a policy at all, has been to stand firm for England, to denounce fraud, cant, and pretence, to protect the poor, defend just rights, and to redress real grievances." Most people, outside the ring of the open and disguised enemies of England, will agree in that encomium.
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