Gilpin's Forest Scenery. Edited by F. G. Heath. (Sampson Low
and Co.)—This is a partial reprint of William Gilpin's "Remarks on Forest Scenery and other Woodland Views (relative chiefly to Pic- turesque Beauty)," and reproduces the text of the first ten sections of the third edition, published in 1808, of the original work. Mr. Heath has introduce a occasional notes of his own into Gilpin's text, distinguishing them, however, by smaller type. He does not give
fac-similes of Gilpin's pictorial illustrations, but has substituted, so he tells us (p. xxviii.), "the most skilful artistic work of the present day for the conventional drawing and engraving of the eighteenth century." We do not think this substitution a satisfactory one. If the work were worth reproducing at all (and as to this we have serious doubts), it should have been brought out without importing into it any modern notions. We find ourselves so constantly dis- agreeing with Gilpin in his science, in his arguments, and in his sentiments, that a few casual corrections, such as the present editor furnishes are quite inadequate to bring the work into harmony with the exacter knowledge and deeper feeling for natural beauty belonging to the culture of to-day. Nor can we commend the altered and elabor- ated illustrations of "forest scenery" which appear in Mr. Heath's volume. Perhaps two of the humblest among them (p. 307), views of distant woods, are the most agreeable. But what word of praise can be honestly bestowed upon the "withered tree-top" on p. 19, the "curtailed trunk" on p. 21, and the heavy, unnatural foliage and stems of the so-called "well-balanced group" on p. 243
Episodes of Personal Adventure. A Book for Boys. (Blackie and Sons.)—A good collection of narratives of adventure, which we should have liked the better if the authorities had been given. Perhaps the compiler has got hold of some sources which he does not want to make too conspicuous. Indeed, he speaks of books "which seldom or ever [? never] come within the reach of general readers." We are particularly curious to know about the authority for the " Irish Sailor in New Guinea."
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