WESTMINSTER AND INDIA.
Recollections of Westminster and India. By J. M. Maclean (Sherratt and Hughes, Manchester. 5s.)—The bulk of this velure,: of reminiscences has already appeared in the columns of the Man- chester Guardian, and has the pleasant personal tone of letters. Mr. Maclean has had an active and varied life as a journalist ea England and India, and finally as a politician, having been Member for Oldham between 1885 and 1892, and for Cardiff from 1895 to 1900. As a Conservative who became converted to the Disraeliau creed of " Imperium et Libertas," Mr. Maclean was closely associated with the political party at present in power, and has some pleasant reminiscences to give of numerous !distinguished men, and in particular of Lord Randolph Churchill in his later years. It is perhaps rather a matter of regret that he should have dwelt as much as he has done upon his relations with the two constituencies he has represented, for what are_nowadays known as personalie have but an evanescent inters*. Mr. Maclean . is, in fact, most readable when he indicates social and other changes that he has noticed. Thus he observed of his first visit to India:'—" There were great merchants in those days who lived for many years in Bombay, kept great houses. on Malabar Hill, and entertained in good style. Their place has now been taken
by clerks who are mere agents for firms at home, or for the German or Greek houses which everywhere do so much business under the British flag. Nothing surprised me so much, when I went back to India on a visit three years ago, as to find that the Europeans in Bombay had taken a back seat. All the best houses in the island were occupied by wealthy natives, and Englishmen seemed to possess nothing except the fringe of ground adjoining the harbour on which the Yacht Club is built."
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