15 MAY 1897, Page 24

Polities in 1896. Edited by Frederick Whalen. (Grant Richards.)—The plan

of this book happily enables us to dis- pense with criticism, for to criticise would be to write again the " leaders " of last year's Spectators. Dr. Traill, Mr. Massing- ham, and Mr. G. B. Shaw give " General Retrospects" from the Conservative, Liberal, and Socialist points of view; Mr. G. W. Steevens discourses on foreign affairs ; Mr. H. W. Wilson on the Navy, and Captain F. V. Maude on the Army ; Mr. Albert Shaw writes about the United States, and Mr. Robert Donald on London.