The Life of John Ancrum Winslow. By John M. Ellicott.
(G. P. Putnam's Sons. 10s. 6d. net.)—This is the second edition of a book first published in 1901. Captain Winslow commanded the Kearsarge ' in the duel with the Alabama,' the famous Con- federate cruiser. The story of the pursuit which ended in this engagement is of perennial interest, and we are now able, thanks to the rapprochement which has taken place between the two countries, to regard it calmly. No one can reasonably find fault with the indignation with which the United States Government regarded the public and private action of England in this affair On the other band, no one can be surprised at the trend of British sympathies. "Twisting the British Lion's tail" had been a not infrequent amusement of American statesmen—often, it is true, Southern statesmen—and this was not forgotten. One of the incidents of the duel was the action of the Deerhound,' a British yacht which witnessed the conflict. At the request of Captain Winslow, its crew picked up some forty of the survivors of the Alabama,' and sailed away with them. The owner candidly confessed that he did this to save them from captivity. It was irregular, but it was what most people would have done. The owner of the 'Deerhound' argued that his yacht was British territory. Such a contention might lead to inconvenient con- clusions. The vessel of a neutral might interpose itself between two combatants and stop the fight. It is clear, however, that Captain Semmes ought to have surrendered himself and his companions. One of his officers, sent to ask for help, did actually break his parole, and it may fairly be argued that the others did the same.
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