1 OCTOBER 1910, Page 53

Dr. Duncan of .Ruthwell. By his Great-granddaughter, Sophy Hall. (Oliphant,

Anderson, and Ferrier. 3s. Gd. net.)—Dr. Duncan's claim to commemoration may be very briefly stated; but it means much. He invented the savings-bank. Here is the story of how he did it. He began in his own parish, and achieved a consider- able success. Some Scottish banks opposed him. That was, of course, to be expected. Another enemy, for whose action it is less easy to account, was William Cobbett. Its promoters were, he thought, "servile knaves." A third hostile power was the Times. But the movement made its way, how successfully we all know. Dr. Duncan was a leader in other things, notably in geology. We are glad that the piety of his descendant has given us this memorial of his services to his country.