27 MARCH 1915, Page 25

Private family histories are not likely to ho of very

great interest to the general public except in a few rare cases. And it is doubtful whether The History of the Evelyn Family, by Helen Evelyn (Eveleigh Nash, 16a. net), is concerned with people of sufficient interest to make it one of these exceptions, though the author of the " Diary " was a man of some dis- tinction. The history is traced back as far as the French family of Melba, from which the Evelyne claim descent, and is brought down to the present day, while it includes a detailed account of the life of the late Mr. W. J. Evelyn, M.P.