7 NOVEMBER 1908, Page 43

Easy EDITIONS. —One of the events of the publishing year is

certainly the appearance of the cheap edition of The Letters of Queen Victoria, Edited by A. C. Benson, M.A., and Viscount Esher, 3 vols. (John Murray, Os. net). It speaks for itself ; no comment of any kind is called for.— The Life of William Ewart Gladstone. By John Morley. 2 vols. (Edward Lloyd. 5s. net.)—This is an unabridged edition of the original work, published five years ago at the price of 42s. not. It is a very creditable performance. The most arigeant purchaser cannot complain that he does not get the fullest value for his money. The paper is, of course, of the thinnest, but the print is always legible,—the two volumes, which are small octavo, contain fifteen hundred pages. Perhaps it may be well to add that the lowness of the price now charged does not in the least imply that the original sum was too great. When a book has once paid its way, it can be profitably reproduced at a very cheap rate. Jack's Reference Book. (T. C. and E. C. Jack. 3s. 6d. net.)—A wonderfully cheap bit of publishing. Here are nearly eleven hundred three-columned, closely printed quarto pages,—more than twenty-six pages for a penny.—Other new editions are Free Trade, by Lord Avobury (Macmillan and Co., 2s. 6d. net), originally published in 1903, and now in a fourth edition,—a proof, lot us hope, that there is still a good deal of sound opinion on the Fiscal question.—The Confessions of St. Augustine. (Seeley and Co. Os. net.)-1 very attractive-looking edition, with a tastefully illuminated title-page, table of contents, &c. The text, adorned with miniatures from old MSS., is that of W. Watts (1651), as thoroughly revised by Dr. Posey in 1838. —The Prince's Progress, and other Poems. By Christina Rossetti. Illustrated by May Sandheim. (A. Melrose. 2s. net.)—Early Italian Poets : Text with Translation. By D. G. Rossetti. (Shake- speare Head Press, Stratford-on-Avon. Is. 6d. net.)—Sim to Sixteen. By Juliana Horatin. Ewing. (G. Bell and Sons. 2s. 6d. net.)—A charming reissue of one of Mrs. Ewing's most delightful stories, with graceful illustrations in colour by M. V. Wheelhouse.