It was a happy thought that inspired the publication of
some of the Prime Minister's recent speeches under the title of Our heritage (Hodder and Stoughton, 12s. 6d.). The hasty newspaper reader will probably be surprised to find how entertaining they are. Mr. Baldwin is one of our most cultured statesmen, devoted to books and art, and possessed of a pretty wit—as he shows, for instance, in his St. David's Day address of last year, or his speech at the Royal Society dinner. He is typically English in his restraint. I am
one of those politicians—I do not know if there be many—
who has a profound distrust of rhetoric—I have never prac- tised it—but who prefers to lower the temperature of political life by very often putting his thoughts into a refrigerator." But this very restraint heightens the effect of his speeches on great national and Imperial themes. We are glad to find in the book the memorable addresses that he delivered on his tour in Canada last summer—addresses that made a profound impression by their simplicity and sincerity. We are glad also to see his excellent speech on Anglo-American relations at the opening of Dartmouth House, the new home of the English- Speaking Union, in February, 1927. " We ought," he said, " to display a wise reticence in the criticism of each other, and a wise propaganda at home, each towards the objects that we have at heart."
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