The November Cornhill offers as its chief feature of interest
a most entertaining paper of reminiscences entitled "In the Early Forties," from the pen of the veteran publisher, Mr. George M. Smith, the friend and publisher of Thackeray, Charlotte Bronte, Browning, and above all the founder of the great "Dictionary of National Biography." The outstanding figures in what we sin- cerely trust is only the first instalment of a series of papers are Waghorn, " Orion " Horne, and Leigh Hunt. Of Waghorn's impetuous and explosive temper Mr. Smith gives several diverting illustrations. Mr. Smith's first venture was the pub- lication of a volume of essays by Home—a sufficient proof of his sportsmanlike temper—and the history of the negotiations is immensely funny. Horne was one of the most eccentric literary figures of the century, and the account of the visit in which Horne sought to persuade his publisher by playing the guitar, of Home's acting as Shylock, and of his amazing unpublished novel, proves Mr. Smith to be a raconteur of the first quality. There is also a delightful picture of Leigh Hunt at the Bank of England. No one who reads this paper will fail to cry "Encore "
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