4 OCTOBER 1890, Page 27

CURRENT LITERATURE.

Speeches Delivered in India. By the Marquis of Dufferin and Ara. (John Murray.)—" Lord Dufferin," writes Mr. D. M. Wallace, who edits this book, "was compelled during his term of office to deliver 177 speeches." After all, that is not a very great number for five years, considering that the speaker was the ruler of something more than two hundred millions. Has not Sir George Campbell delivered as many and more during five months ? Here we have ninety-two out of the total number, six non- Indian speeches being added to make the volume complete (the editor, oddly enough, says "four," though it is he, it is to be presumed, who has inserted three delivered before Lord Dufierin's departure for India, and three made after his return). We need not say that these utterances are well worth preserving. To speak in detail of them, or to discuss in any way the questions, political, social, and commercial, on which they touch, would be clearly beyond our province in these columns ; but we may note the tact, moderation, and self-restraint which they show. The speaker is quite able to be exceedingly brilliant. This competence keeps him from being dull, but it does not tempt him to depart from the role of sound, practical good sense.