SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
Mike in this column dace not necessarily preclude subsequent review.] Transactions of the Royal Historical Society. Fourth Series. Vol. I.—Professor Oman's presidential address on war rumours is curious and interesting. He reminds us of the cloud of wit- nesses who testified to the arrival of the mythical Russians in 1914, or who thought they saw cavalry covering the retreat from Mons, and he tells us not to jest at "mediaeval credulity." Four of the nine papers relate to the Empire overseas—a welcome sign that the English historical student's outlook is widening. Professor Egerton's paper on the administration of the West Indies, and especially Jamaica. is valuable ; Jamaica. as is well
known, has reversed the- usual order of development, starting with !Jell-government and becoming a Crown Colony. Mr. Wrong's paper on the. Constitutional development of Canada is highly suggestive, especially as to the relations between the Dominion and the Empire, and as to the language controversy. Mr. A. P. Newton contributes an account of " The Establish- ment of the Great Farm of the English Customs " ; from Christ- mas, 1604, the Customs were let to a body of financiers for £112,400 a year, and this ;system prevailed till after the Restoration.
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