James Frazer. A. Reminiscence of the Highlands of Scotland in
1843. (Chapman and Hall.)—The author seems to have written this book for
the purpose of describing a scene of which he was, we conclude, an eye- witness, namely, the opposition of a riotous crowd to the induction into a Highland pariah of a nominee who was distasteful to the people. This story, which, regarded from a literary point of view, is not very strik- ing, he garnishes' with sundry details of sport. There is the shooting of a deer, but as this, we fancy, was nothing better than a roebuck, it does not go for much ; and there are descriptions of a day on the moors, but with little about them that indicates the keen observation and zealous enjoyment of the naturalist or the sportsman. But the raison d'etre of the book, if it has one, is that the author has something to say about the disruption. In ono purely secular matter we take leave to differ from him. "How Scotland," he exclaims, "can be spoken of as being a poor country is a wonder !" And then ho describes a High- land dinner, with its "salmon, venison, blackfaced mutton, grouse, partridge, and woodcock." We might object that it is a rare chance which brings salmon and woodcock together. But apart from this, the truth is that your Highland dinner is admirable for a few months. But try it in May, when, except you have had the good luck to get a salmon, there is nothing left of your list of dainties but the black-faced mutton, and that has had no food to speak of for the last six months.
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