T HE most important event of the week is the Bermondsey election, which took place on Thursday, and resulted in the return of Mr. Dumphreys, the Unionist candidate. Mr....

and the Unionist candidate only 3,016. That is, there was a Liberal majority of 1,759. Now, in spite of the fact that the Liberal candidate was able to go to the electors with...

grant of old-age pensions, confirms in a most striking way the prediction which we made when the Pensions Act was forced through Parliament,—that it would ruin the cause of...

upon the fate of the Budget must be very great. In spite of our detestation of the Budget, we have, as a matter of tactics argued against its rejection by the Lords, believing...

voting, it is difficult to resist casting one's mind back and thinking how very different would be the position of the Liberal Party had they remained true to the principles of...

case.

that the proverb of "the more the merrier" applies to taxes, we believe that the people of Britain still maintain their old healthy instinct in favour of allowing men's money to...

in Moroeeo gives in Monday's paper a gloomy account of the campaign. "There seems even now," he says, "to be an impression in Europe that the Spaniards hold Mount Gurugu. This...

lawyer on the night before his execution, is published in Wednesday's issue of M. Jaures's paper L'Humanite. In this document he protests vigorously against his sentence, and...

In its Friday issue the Daily Mail announced that Great Britain, France, and Russia, the three protecting Powers who were originally responsible for the election of King George...

the distinguished Japanese statesman, who was murdered at Kharbin on Tuesday by a Korean. He had gone to Kharbin to conduct some negotiations with M. Kokovtsoff, the Russian...

at a demonstration in Madrid on Monday, when he declared that all who opposed anarchy should join the Conservatives, and that he for his part refused all further relations with...

the Report stage of the Budget. On Wednesday Mr. Asquith made a statement as to the course of public business. He informed the House that on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday...

vicissi- tudes. It may be said without exaggeration that to him is due the transformation of Japan,—the abolition of feudalism, the introduction of a Constitution, and the...

great importance have been appointed. The first, presided over by Lord G-orell, is to inquire into the present state of the law of divorce and its administration. The other,...

last in furtherance of the appeal for £500,000 to found and endow a National Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. The principal resolution, which was supported by upwards of a hundred...

Memorandum and Articles have beeu drawn up for the creation of an Empire Press Union. This is the outcome of the Imperial Press Conference held in Lonlen last June. It was then...

Berlin Museum, of a wax Renaissance bust attributed by him to Leonardo da Vinci has had a sensational sequel. In last Saturday's Times Mr. Cooksey, of Southampton, asserts that...

of Buccleuch, the Lord Advocate, Mr. Ure, M.P., has been industriously circulating misleading statements on the subject of old-age pensions. On five separate occasions last week...

decided to run Parliamentary candidates in opposition to Mr. Burt and Mr. Fenwick. No student of politics needs to be told how much Mr. Burt and Mr. Fenwick have done in the...

ITALY AND RUSSIA. T HE threat of war when made seriously, and when it attains its immediate object, is bound to have conse- quences almost as far-reaching as war itself. Those...

W HAT will be the duty of moderate Liberals when the division-bell rings for the third reading of the Finance Bill in the Commons ? That is a question which is naturally...

on itself a mission, and now that the Constitution is apparently secure is publicly divesting itself of the powers temporarily assumed f 3r a purpose. For this is the meaning of...

We are aware that the real enthusiasts for these Land- confidence in the accuracy of his estimates. They might taxes, to their credit, have never pretended that they are vary...

HE correspondence between Lord Charles Beresford 1 and the Prime Minister published on Monday furnishes unpleasant reading for all who have the welfare of the Royal Navy at...

S ELF-IMPROVEMENT is not much talked of among the cultivated. We seldom hear of an improving book. If we spoke of one, we should mean a book the author of which had a wearisome...

W HEN a new movement has had an extraordinarily rapid and unexpected development it is time to watch it carefully lest the same unforeseen impulses which helped it should also...

A VERY ancient ceremony was performed at the Law Courts on Monday, when the King's Remembrancer, ?Hester Mellor, received . from the Corporation of London certain quit-rents due...

PEERS AND THE REFERENDUM. [To TER EDITOR OP TER " SPECTATOR:9 SIR, -Why do you in your Referendum scheme propose that all Peers should be left without a vote ? They have no...

[To THE EDITOR OP TEl g ' SPECTATOR.") have been a reader of the Spectator for over thirty- five years,-and I have read all your articles and all the letters you have published...

[TO THY EDITOR OF TEl g ' SPICTATOR:] SIR,—In advising moderate Liberals to vote for Tariff Reform candidates are you quite satisfied that we are likely to be free from...

[To THE EDITOR OP TRE "SPECTATOR.] SIR,—May one who would prefer the prefix " ardent " to that of " moderate " to his title of "Liberal" venture to express his amazement at the...

[To TRY EDITOR OF TER "SPECTATOR."] Sru,—As a candidate for one of the London Borough Councils it has been my lot, in common with other candidates, to receive during the past...

OF LAND. [To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR."] Sm,—With reference to the cost of land as an element of railway construction (see Spectator, October 16th), may I draw the...

[To TEE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") gm,—Merely as a matter of historical interest, it should be noted that when most of the British West Indian Islands possessed Constitutions...

Offices: 138 First Avenue, Manor Park, H. BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTION, 1909. Branch. October 1909, To Sin,—Learning that you are a Candidate for the Ward at the approaching...

[To THE EDITOR op THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In the discussion on this subject to which recent events have given rise I have seen no mention of the fact that the late Duke of...

rTo TES EDITOR OP TRIO " SPECTATOR...] SIR,—Will the Spectator inform me what would be the differ- ence in value of "the voice of the people" as regards a Referendum, or "the...

[To Tut EDII-CIT Tr? SPECTAT011.1 Sin,—Here is yet another deed for "Pro Patrite" On Jure 18th, 1815, at Hougoumont a shell fell among a group of officers. Captain Colquit, of...

of "Pro Patritt's " letter concerning "British Heroes" in your issue of October 16th, I must confess that I quite fail to see his reason for indulging in "grief and shame"...

Sin,—As instances of British coolness and pluck, "Pro Patritt." may like to hear of the late Lieutenant-Colonel T. Bernard Hackett, V.C., Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who when a...

the answers to "Pro Patrifes " inquiry in your columns I received a letter from a lady in India, and although the letter will not help "Pro Petri " in his inquiry, now that the...

Sin,—Among your British heroes I should like to recall to memory my old class-fellow and comrade, Joe Hughes of the 54th Foot. He was Adjutant of the regiment which sailed for...

October 16th "Pro Patrii," on behalf of a Bulgarian officer, asks for instances of specific acts of heroism, in which men, for the benefit of their country and not of...

was Major Sydney Waudby, of the 19th Bombay Native Infantry, who, though he knew the little post of Dabrai, in Southern Afghanistan, was to be attacked by a horde of Afghans,...

men already mentioned in the Spectator, perhaps I may be allowed to record the feat of lady, as it was told to me soon after the Indian Mutiny. A party of women and children...

THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.1 SIR,—In your very interesting review in last week's issue of Mr. Edgeumbe's book on Byron you write of " Astarte " : — "The book was issued...

[To THE EDITOR Or TER " SPECTATOR:I Sin,—The letters of your correspondents in last week's issue under the above heading are of great interest; there is every probability of the...

LTO TER EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR." . 1 Raeburn is angry with me (Spectator, October 16th) for writing, and with you for publishing, my letter of the 9th. That is a condition of...

[To TEE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] Sut,—I quote the following from the " geography " I use in school, and dated 1902 :— " Corm° FREE STATE was founded by Stanley, the...

[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.") good Englishmen must applaud the attempt of the Surrey Territorial Association to establish a register of trained men, and be gratified at...

SIR, — With reference to your correspondent's letter headed "A Squirrel's Ferry-Boat," I beg to state that I have on two occasions, whilst fishing in the Deveron, Aberdeenshire,...

FTO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In the all too flattering and appreciative notice of my book, "Orpheus in Mayfair" (in your issue of September 18th), your reviewer...

Fro THE EDITOR OF THE "Srscrieroz.") SIR,—Mr. Conrad Gill (Spectator, August 28th) is undoubtedly correct in stating that the information supplied through spies to Lord...

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."1 SIR, —Mr. Harvey Barton, I observe, suggests that this story of the squirrel has "filtered down from some large natural history book of the...

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR, — Quos Deus vult perdere prius dementat, — whom God wishes to ruin, He first deprives of their reason.—I am, Osberton.

[To THE EDITOR OF THY "SPECTATOR.") SIR,—May I through your columns be allowed to inform Old Haileyburians and others connected with the school that a memorial fund is. being...

AN EXPERIMENT. (HORA.CE TRANSLATED IN HIS OWN METRICS) (i.) ODES III. 12. How unhappy are the maidens who with Love may never frolic, Nor in wine-cup drown their sorrows,...

[TO THE EDITOR OE THZ " SPECTATOR."] SIB,—Permit me a word in reply to the characteristic reference to the Daily News in your issue of the 23rd inst. Commenting on Mr. Keir...

[To THE EDITOR OF THZ " SPECTITOR.1 SIR,—A correspondent in your issue of October 16th asks for a suggestion why the exceptional method of saving corn to which he alludes...

WE have received the following contributions in answer to the appeal of the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines' Protection Society, on behalf of the deputation to the United States :—...

rTo THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1 SIE,—Acting upon suggestions received from various sources, the Council of the Hellenic Society have decided to take some action the result...

name or initials, or with a pseudonym, or are marked "Communicated," the Editor must not necessarily be held to be in agreement with the views therein expressed or with the mode...

A NEW VIEW OF THE PRIMA DONNA. THE prima donna, as portrayed in earlier memoirs—e.g., the reminiscences of 3Iapleson and other impresarios or con- duotors—was an eccentric...

LETTERS FROM THE PENINSULA, 1808-1812.* Dn. WARRE, the former Head-Master of Eton, decided wisely in publishing these letters, which were written by his uncle who served in the...

practically an unknown religion," says Mr. Ma,cauliffe, and for his patient, long labour he deserves high praise. The religion which has inspired our once brave foes, and our...

collect together the poems which have been inspired by Italy, and the little volume edited by Mr. George Hyde Wollaston shows us what Italy means to many Englishmen. The...

THE Spectator is our illustrious predecessor of the early eighteenth century, and Mr. Lewis describes his book as "a Study of the Literature,. History, and Manners of Queen...

work is in two volumes. The first contains a history of the Franciscan Order in Scotland, a detailed account of ths Friaries established there by both the Conventual and...

the career of Sir Sydney Waterlow. He was apprenticed to a printer in the old-fashioned way, bound for seven years to work for board and lodging. But he contrived to make some...

Ma. BARING-GOULD has given, 13s here a big book,—it contains more than four hundred pages. But he has not touched, and, indeed, could not hope to touch, more than a small part...

nth EAGLE'S NEST.t READERS of Poor Sons of a Day—one of the very best of all Jacobite romances—will approach "Allan Malulay's " new novel with a grateful sense of past...

is rather difficult reading. The learned author discusses the meaning attached by Christ to the term "Son of Man." All Biblical criticism must now be supported by minute and...

has of value above the average. "Black-birding in the Pacific" is the title, and it is a remarkably vivid picture of life in one of its sinister aspects. " Black-birding "—the...

lJnwin. 5s. net.)—There are many books, and good ones, about silver, as the bibliography which Mr. Lowes appends to this volume will show, but there is still room for a new one....

[Under this heading we notice such Books of the weak as have net been reserved for resists in other forms.] In the series of "The Analysed Bible" (Hodder and Stoughton) we have...

Watson. (Methuen and Co. 6s.)—A somewhat complicated story which will repay the trouble of disentangling it.—A Daughter of the Storm. By Captain Frank H. Shaw. (Cassell and Co....

Laurie. 6s. net.)—Mr. Browne writes about his theme, "The Story of Labrador," with knowledge and with enthusiasm. The country attracted him very early in life. In 1890 he took a...

and Co. 3s. 6d. net.)—This is likely to be a very useful volume. Even a small suburban garden of, say, five hundred square yards, not half-a-rood, may be made useful without...

Bombay. Is. 6d.)—Mr. Welinkar, who is Superintendent of the Municipal Schools in Bombay, spent the best part of a year in England, and after his return communicated the...

vol.) we have three elegant little volumes, nicely printed, with charming illustrations in the text. These are Vignettes of Country Life (supplementing an earlier volume,...

Ga.)- We have been accustomed to think that for Mr. Crockett to be at his best he must have his foot on his native Galloway heath. But this tale makes us doubtful, for we have...