Dunstable : its History and Surroundings. By Worthington G. Smith.
(Elliot Stock, and others. 6s. net.)—This volume belongs to the praiseworthy series of the "Homeland Library," and is published by the joint enterprise of the Homeland Association and the Corporation of Dorchester,—a sagacious combination of forces which should be imitated elsewhere. The author begins at the beginning, the Palaeolithic and Neolithic remains with which the neighbourhood abounds, and passes under review the history of the place, and all the objects of interest, new and old, which the town affords. It is not always a pleasant story which he has to tell. The fine old church has suffered greatly. Let any one read pp. 82-83 ; if he can keep his temper, he will do well. " The old pulpit was sold by auction in the market-place. A scaffold pole was put through Thornhill's picture, and it has now been rolled up in the church tower for many years. Any one who liked could take a brass or a piece of old carving. In this way the knight's helmet and hour-glass
were lifted The superb carvings on the south of the vestry were thrown into the churchyard and left unguarded ; some were used for fires." And there are more of such abomina- tions. Mr. Smith deals with places of note in the neighbourhood, and has done his work well and thoroughly.
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