Heroes of the Victoria Cross. By T. E. Toomey. (G.
Newnes.) —Mr. Toomey, late Colour-Sergeant of the 1st Battalion of the " Royal Irish," has put together, in this neat little volume, some interesting facts, illustrated by photographic portraits of the persons described. He begins with an account of the " cross " itself, how the decoration was instituted, and in which way it is bestowed ; and goes on to give a list of the recipients. Mr. Charles David Lucas (then "mate," now Rear-Admiral) was the first person to receive it (June 21st, 1854, being the date of the action, and January 29th, 1856, the date of the warrant establish- ing the decoration). The memoirs of service and photographs number two hundred and twenty-seven. It shows the dispropor: tion of the opportunities for distinction which the services present that more than four-fifths of these were soldiers. About eight crosses have been given to medical officers, a number which certainly does not do justice to their devotion.—Another volume on the same subject is For Valour, the " V. O.," by J. E. Muddock (Hutchinson and Co.) —We miss the photographs, but have
somewhat longer narratives of the deeds of valour. These narratives are, we are told, " compiled and edited from the State papers." On the whole, if we have to compare the two, we should say that as a personal record the first noticed, as a historical record the second, is the more valuable. But both have their merits and their uses, and both may be commended to readers.
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