ESSAYS.—A Paladin of Philanthropy, and other Papers. By Austin Dobson.
(Chatto and Windus. Cs.)—Mr. Austin, Dobson has collected in this volume some twelve or thirteen essays published in various periodicals. The "Paladin," from which the volume takes its name, was General Oglethorpe, whose claims to cen- tenarianism have been dissipated by recent research. As a matter of fact he was born in 1696, and died in 1785. Oglethorpe is now chiefly remembered by his connection with the two Wesleys, and by his appearance in Boswell's "Life of Johnson." We are glad to read this pleasant account of him. We have some of the criticism which is one of our author's strong points, in "Goldsmith's Poems and Plays," "Angelo's Reminiscences" (Angelo was a fencing master), a paper about Boswell, another about" Old Whitehall," and other pleasant reading.—A Trip to Paradezia. By T. H. S. Escott. (Greening and Co. 5s. net.)—Mr. Escott describes his book as "Social Fact and Political Fiction." Possibly the humour may be said to be a little thin. It may be conceded that the text, "Famous according as he had lifted up saes upon the thick trees," would have suited Mr. Gladstone very well, but the joke is hardly enough to justify thirteen pages of "How I Became Bishop of Barum." The papers are sufficiently readable, all the more so as they have the advantage of large type.—More. By Max, Beerbohm. (j. Lane. 45. 6d)
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