How India is Governed. By Alexander Mackenzie. (Kegan Paul, Trench,
and Co.)—Mr. Mackenzie's little book tells us a number of facts about which most English readers, it may safely be affirmed, know nothing,—facts relating to the economical, as well as to the political, management of India. How many Englishmen, for instance, could answer offhand the question,—How does the Indian Govern- ment deal with white men found without means of livelihood in that country ? The Army, the revenue, education, the opium monopoly, forests, are among the principal subjects treated of. Mr. Macken- zie is for the most part content to give facts, rather than to state opinions. As to the opium monopoly, however, he thinks, that an excise imposed on a free manufacture would be better than the present system. But an excise is a very expensive and a very in- vidious' way of raising revenue. And the fact that the "transit duty" on Malwa opium gives us between two or three millions, at a cost of 23,000, is not relevant. Circumstances may make a customs duty as cheap to collect, as an excise duty is expensive.
Tantler's Sister, and Other Tales (Smith, Elder, and Co.), is collection of tales purporting to have been written for public reading, and will certainly be hailed with satisfaction by those unfortunate individuals, clergymen and others, who have to provide amusements for their parish during the winter months, and are at their wits' end what to choose for reading to amuse popular audiences. Nothing in the world is more difficult to find than pieces suitable to this purpose. They must be neither too abort, nor too long ; they must be amusing,. but not vulgar; and if they can be slightly instructive or elevating at the same time, so much the better. There are several pieces in this book which, in their different ways, carry out these requirements.
Democracy. (Macmillan and Co.)—We reviewed this remarkable little book at length in its American edition (see Spectator of Novem- ber 19th, 1881), and need, therefore, at present only welcome its appearance in an agreeable English dress. It is unquestionably the production of a man of genius.
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