Naw EDITIONS.—The Life of Queen Victoria. By G. Barnett Smith.
(G. Routledge and Sons. Ss. 6d.)—Mr. Barn ett Smith has carried on the narrative (it was first published in 1897) as far as the Queen's death. This continuation is included in the two last chapters, and extends to about twenty pages. We can understand the importance of being early in the field when com- petition is so keen. Nevertheless, it will hardly be denied that a period of between three and four years, years, too, of transcen- dent importance, required a fuller treatment than could be accorded to it in so narrowly limited a space. The account of the last days is but perfunctory, and an opportunity of giving a really impressive account of an event which has scarcely had a parallel in history has not been properly used. The subject of the grief of the whole British Empire—it may be said of the whole world —is dismissed in some sixteen lines, more than half of which are occupied with a single telegram.—In the "New Century Library" (Nelson and Sons) we have The Antiquary and Rob Roy (2s. net per vol.), an excellent quid pro quo, as we have already taken the opportunity of saying.—In the series of "Temple Dramatists" (J. M. Dent and Co.) we have Ralph Roister Doister, by Nicholas Udall, edited, with Preface, Notes, and Glossary, by W. H. Williams, M.A., and P. A. Robin, M.A. This, whether the work of Udall or not—this seems to be a not very certain conjecture—has certainly a right to be called the "first regular English comedy." It was first acted about 1550 (N. Udall died in 1555), and first printed in 1566. Many of its numberless successors have far less fun in them than Ralph Roister Doister.—The Truth about Newfoundland. By Beckles Willson. (Grant Richards. 38. 6d.)—Mr. Wilson's book appeared for the first time in 1897. The most important of the questions with which it deals, the "Treaty Shore" and the French rights, is now prominently before the public, and there are ex- pectations of its being amicably settled. Mr. Willson cannot be blamed for vigorously championing the Newfoundland cause, but it is scarcely the time for discussing the matter in the Press. 4. Co., Bankers. By Ralph Richardson. (Elliot Stock. 78. 6d.)—Mr. Richardson has made some additions to his narrative, the chief being some notice, by Sir Walter Scott, of the lady (Harriet Mellon) who, having married Thomas Coutts in 1815 (twenty-seven days after the death of his first wife, Susan Starky, housemaid), was left a widow in 1822, and five years afterwards married the Duke of St. Albans.—Handbook for India, Burma, and Ceylon (John Murray, 208) appears in a "fourth edition." "Fourth" refers to the one-volume edition. In earlier days there was an edition in four volumes. A journey to India was a formidable undertaking, and whether the traveller had his guide in one volume or four mattered but little. That is all changed. The tourist who elects to go to India wants to have his vade mecum as bandy and manageable as if he were going to Switzerland or Monte Carlo. And here he has what he wants.
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