Three Centuries in North Oxfordshire. By M. Sturge Henderson. (B.
H. Blackwell, Oxford. 5s. net.)—This is a pleasant book to read, though it might have been pleasanter if the authoress had drawn the line at the end of the eighteenth century. We do not care on this occasion to go into the questions raised in chap. 13, "The Agricultural Labourer and Joseph Arch." We may say, however, that when we examined Mr. Arch's autobiography, as edited by Lady Warwick, some years ago, we found reasons for questioning some of its statements and conclusions. Nor must it be forgotten that Charles Kingsley somewhat modified in later life the utterances of his hot youth. But we will pass to other things. Among the subjects of which Mrs. Henderson treats, local tradition is to be found. Some curious instances of its not uncommon trustworthiness are mentioned. Thus, a carrier in passing Churchill spoke of " Warriner Hastings, who bought his wife for her weight in gold." It was a fact, but he had not learnt it from books. The "old houses" of England contribute, of course, a very large part to the story. Chastleton House, Shipton Court, and Great Tew are among them. Then the author has talked with many interesting people among the working class, and has had a sight of some interesting documents. Such is the diary of William Jones, a Friend of Charlbury. He was a weaver, and is still remembered In the neighbourhood. Another document full of curious matter, though of a very different kind, is "The Inventary of all the Goodes, Chattles, and Debtes of Walter Jones of Chastleton," dated May 14th, 1633. His clothes are valued at 120, his books at 110, and he had 160 in the house ; then we have "more money in the house," 1100; 239 oz. of "gilt plate" is valued at 173 13s., 262 oz. of "plate p'cel gilt" at 171, and 294 oz. of "white plate" at 173 10s. Hay is valued at 11 per load. The furniture of the "Great Parlor" comes to 130 6s., and of the "Great Chamber" to 143 188. The bedding seems to have been costly. "One bedd of Irish stich with taffeta curtains, taffeta Quilt, one Downe bedd with one quilt over one flockbedd under it a boulster and pillows of downe, and fustian sheet," is valued at 126 13s. 4d. Another of much the same kind is put down at 130.
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