Gibraltar. By H. M. Field. (Chapman and Hall.)—Mr. Field paid
a visit to Gibraltar, and fell in love with the place at once. One fault only could he find,—it was too noisy ; but, as he explains, he did not stay till the noisiest time, the spring practice of the artillerymen. He has nothing but admiration for the striking position of the great Rock and its wonderful history, the curious contrasts of colour, and the kaleidoscopic life which occupation in a foreign country always gives to a place. This same occupation jarred on him somewhat; yet how much of the romance of the place would vanish without this perhaps harsh fact ! Mr. Field gives us illustrations and a capital description of the Rock, and a really stirring history of the famous siege, the best part of which is the fine sketch he draws of the heroic Elliot. Gibraltar, as Mr. Field says, has been sadly neglected by writers of all kinds, and his book is therefore a sufficient apology for itself. It is the best account published of the strongest fortress in the world, from the ordinary reader's point of view, for besides paying attention to its strength, the beauties and the peculiarity of the situation are pressed home to the imagination. And its acknowledgment of the impregnability of the position would gratify the most ardent of engineers. Though Mr. Field only found one American besides himself, he made himself very happy, and appreciated the English at Gib- raltar in the very best and most kindly way. It is from the lover of some historic spot that we obtain, after all, the truest picture of it; and thus it is from Mr. Field that we get a beautiful picture of Gibraltar, a picture which should make us proud. Of Mr. Field's style we can but say it is flowing, vivid, and dramatic; in every respect what it should be. The description of the" Great Siege" is one of the best things of its kind.
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