19 NOVEMBER 1898, Page 26

Cave Perilous. By L. T. Meade. (R.T.S.)—This is a story

of some sixty years ago, days when there were bread-riots. Mrs. Meade always contrives to tell an interesting story, and Cave Perilous is not an exception. There is abundance of incident, and the young reader will not have to complain of any want of sur- prise and suspense. We may, however, suggest a little more carefulness as to facts. It would not have cost much trouble to find out the maximum price of bread, and so to avoid the ex- aggeration of p. 20, where it is stated that "bread was dear—it was as much as two and ninepence to three shillings a quartern loaf." As a matter of fact, as a very easily accessible book, " Haydn's Dictionary of Dates," would have told her, the maxi- mum price of bread during the century was in August, 1812, when it was Is. 91d.; in 1800 it had been a penny higher for four weeks. The year 1839 is not mentioned, but in 1840 it was 9d.