SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Under this heading we vatic., such Books of the week as have not been treeerred for review in other forms.] The Historical Record of the Coronation of King George V. and Queen Mary, 1911. Prepared by H. Farnham Burke. (McCorquo- dale and Co. 84e.)—Nothing could be more complete than this "record," and we have the satisfactory assurance as we read that everything is correctly given. It has been put together by a high official, for Mr. Burke is Norroy King-at-Arms, and his work comes with the highest approval. We begin at the beginning, the "Orders in Council" and "The Proclamation of the Coronation." The latter of these two gives occasion for the first illustration, the reading of the Proclamation by Somerset Herald from the steps of the Royal Exchange. The proceedings of the Court of Claims follow, and may be said to give a touch of the amusing to the story, as when we find that Lord Carrington's claim to act as Lord High Chamberlain is admitted, but that he does not got the "forty ells of crimson velvet" which he claims. (We cannot help regretting that the attendance of the Champion was ruled out by a previous decision—possibly ho is out of date.) After this we have the Earl Marshal's Orders as to Dress and the Order of Procession. Then comes the Sixth Section, "The Ceremonies Observed," occupying eighty out of the two hundred and sixty-three pages of the book and adorned with seventeen out of tho twenty- one illustrations. (One has been mentioned before; another serves as frontispiece, giving portraits of their Majesties, and there are two of "Indian Princes.") The illustrations are, on the whole, quite satisfactory ; the effect of the robes is well given and the portraiture element adds the touch of reality which things so far out of the common scorn to require. Among the pictures may be mentioned (1) Coronation of the King, (2) Coronation of the Queen, (3) Tho Homage, (4) The Recognition. But we may say that there is not one which does not add to the interest and value of the volume. "The Royal Progress of June 23rd" and the " List of Guests Invited to the Ceremony" complete the Record. " The Homage," wo may say, is followed by a list of the peers who were present. They numbered, we see, about 450, and the peeresses, with the dowagers, were rather more. Tho list of guests occupies 101 pages, and must contain some six thousand names. We see that it includes a few names of persons who established their right to be present to the satisfaction of the Court of Claims, but had no duties assigned to them. Can such persons be described as "guests" P
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