Essays. By Arthur Christopher Benson. (W. Heinemann.)— Twelve out of
these thirteen essays have appeared in various periodicals ; that on "William Blake " is now published for the first time. The characteristic excellences of Mr. Benson's work, his insight, an intellectual keenness reinforced by a certain moral inspiration, and a singularly large command of apt expression, are, we doubt not, already known to many of our readers. But we think that even they will be impressed by the general force mani- fested in this collection. The author has done well to bring these scattered efforts together. They do him justice. The themes are various ; some of the personalities of which they treat are obscure and almost insignificant, but there is not one which it is not a pleasure and a profit to read. Ask the average educated man,—Who were the ever memorable Hales and John Earles ? What were the names of the Cambridge Platonists ? What did Vincent Bourne write ? The answers will pro- bably be unsatisfactory. Gray and Andrew Marvell aro better known, for they have penetrated into "Elegant Extracts" and its modern substitutes. But, known or unknown, Mr. Ben- son handles each subject with an illuminating force which will certainly forbid his reader to forget it hereafter. In a different style are the " In Memoriam" notices of Dr. W. H. Thompson, sometime Master of Trinity, and the Cambridge Librarian, Henry Bradshaw. The latter of these two is instinct with a feeling which must touch even those who had no personal knowledge of the man. Of William Blake Mr. Benson says that he has had admirers but never a critic. It is the critical office that he himself assumes, but only, we may say, in respect of Blake's literary work. Of the art he, tco, is little else than an admirer. And, indeed, who is not or has not been ? No one, we might say, but King George III.; and of his remark, when some of the drawings were shown to him, " Take them away, take them away," Mr. Beason says that "though it may have been purely fretful," it was probably due "to the timid sympathy of insight," a remark of much acuteness.
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