THE CATHEDRALS OF ENGLAND AND WALES.
The Cathedrals of England and Wales. By T. Francis Bumpus. Second Series. (T. Werner Laurie. 6s. net.)—Mr. Bumpus has, as we expected, found it impossible to crowd the notices of fifteen Cathedrals into a single volume. He has accordingly extended his limits of space. This second series contains eight Cathedrals,— Canterbury, York, St. Paul's, Winchester, Norwich, Peterborough, Exeter, and Wells. The decision is a wise one; that the highly interesting details which Mr. Bumpus gives 11/3 should be crowded out would be deplorable. Mr. Bumpus writes, for the most part, with moderation and good sense. He knows well, for instance, the mischief which has been done under the name of restoration, but he does not side with the anti-restoration fanatics. In the "leading case" of Peterborough he defends the action of the authorities. It will be remembered that after we had been lectured on the profanity of touching the thoroughly conscientious work of mediaeval builders, it was found that these same builders were quite capable of scamping and wing bad materials where they could escape observation. It is a pleasure to follow a guide so well informed and so enthusiastic. Possibly Mr. Bumpus's zeal leads him now and then into an excessive severity of language. Whittingham, the "Puritan Dean" of Durham, did many objectionable things ; but then he had been in danger of his life, and there is nothing that so angers a, man as fear. Mr. Bumpus is as keen on the subject of music as of architecture. One amusing story we must transfer from his pages. A chorister had to sing the recitative- " I see no City in mid-air, No bridal vision, strange and fair,"
and could not be got to put the note of disappointment into his voice. Dr. Buck, the organist, passed on to something else, but presently looked down at the floor as if searching for something, and said : "Have I dropped sixpence ? Just look for it." The boy, after looking in vain—no coin had been dropped—said, in a tone of despair, "I see no sixpence, Sir." "Ah," cried the Doctor, "that' the tone I want for 'I see no City.'"
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