Historical Character Studies. Vol. I. Translated from the Dutch of
Dr. Jorissen by the Rev. B. S. Berrington. (R. Sutton. 7s. 6d. net.)—Dr. Jorissen deals in this volume with Marie Antoinette and Mirabeau. Both portraits are drawn with much care, and indicate no little ability. Of the Queen he takes an unfavourable view. The testimony against her is certainly formidable. That her :brother Joseph should have written such a letter, as that which be left behind him after his visit to Paris in 1777, and that she should have resumed the practices which he so strongly con- demned, is not easily to be got over. As to Mirabeau, he has not the same measure dealt to him. He is treated with much more leniency. But there never was a man who more flagrantly sinned against knowledge, and whose vices were more fatal, not to him- self only, but to his country. Nothing would have been impossible to Mirabeau if he had added to his vast genius integrity and self- restraint. This is' a particularly well-Written 'book ; it is illus- trated with some excellent portraits. The frontispiece, however, scarcely does justice to the beauty of the French Queen.
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