4 NOVEMBER 1922, Page 23

ROUND ABOUT THE UPPER THAMES. By Alfred Williams. (Duckworth. 12s.

6d. net.)—This book is a running stream of anecdotes, enlivened by very good dialect conversations about villagers, customs, places, and legends of those county borders round the source of the Thames. It contains many quotations of folk-doggerel, and one extract from the books of the Churchwardens of Lechlade which is worth quoting here :—

£ s. d.

1795.—Ye Bread for ye Communion • • • • • •

0 1 0

Ye Bottles of Wine ..

3 12 0 Paid for Sparrows .. .. .. .. .. 0 7

4

For casting the little bell and postage of a letter 1 6

0

For 3 Pole Cats . .. 0 2

0

1797.-82 doz. Sparrows' Heads .. 0 13

8

Beer for the Ringers .. 0 5 0 Coal for Man to clean Church Clock .. 0 0 81 1798.—For two Prayers for Victory over Dutch Fleet .. 0 2