The Journal and Essays of John Woolman. By Amelia Mott
Gummere. (Macmillan. 25s.)
John Woolman's journal and essays have been reprinted times without number, but this new edition, prepared by Mrs. Gummere at the request of the Friends' Historical Society of Philadelphia, is easily the best and fullest that has appeared. It begins with a biography of some hundred odd
pages, into which many new facts have been introduced ; and the text is made still more valuable by the inclusion of numerous extracts from letters, account books and other documents, some of which are reproduced in facsimile. A great deal of trouble has beeif taken to collate the various manuscripts of the Journals, which have suffered before now from hasty editing and even from attempts " to improve " Woolman's simple and beautiful English ; and the result is very satisfactory indeed. Perhaps the most interesting Journal of all, that which describes Woolman's voyage to England in 1772 and his various travels here until the beginning of his fatal illness, is reproduced in this edition in its original form. After the Journals come the Essays, and then follows a most copious Appendix, which gives biographical notes of all the more prominent persons mentioned in the text and copies of deeds and wills. A large bibliography, based upon that published in the " Century Edition " (1900) of John Woolman's Journal, completes the volume. A number of photographs of places with which Woolman was connected and a few portraits serve to break up the solid text and even add something to its interest. Here, then, within the covers of this single volume, can be found everything that John Woolman was and everything that• he did, and readers who desire to follow in the footsteps of Lamb, Crabb Robinson, and other admirers of the great Quaker will do well to acquire this latest edition of his life and works, an edition that is a triumph of patience and loving labour.
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