MEMORIALS OF OLD DEVONSHIRE.
Memorials of Old Devonshire. Edited by F. J. Snell. (Bemrose and Sons. 15s.)—These memorials refer to modern Devonshire rather than to mediaeval, the days of the Tudors and the Revolution rather than the Plantagenets, and we bear more of Devonshire worthies than historic places. Yet this variety of treatment is in every way suitable, and in this case necessary, for the roll of Elizabethan seamen alone, if there had been none else, would have made the county famous. A fascinating chapter is that on the Grenvilles, and scarcely less interesting is the account of the Courtenays. Few of the more famous Devonians are forgotten, and we have a lively sketch of that incorrigible old smuggler, Rattenbury. Even to-day he and his kidney are the most popular characters in the West Country. Among other well-known names, coupled with contemporary sketches of their haunts, we have Herrick and Browne of "Britannia's Pastorals." It is remarkable that Herrick seems positively to have disliked mentioning Devonshire scenes in his poetry. " Ottery St. Mary and its Memories" provides what should be a regular feature of these " Memorial " volumes, and one more likely to please the greater number of readers than the historical genealogies of Grenvilles and Courtenays : these " memories " belong to the county, and the county to all interested in it. But we do not forget that the collection in this volume covers many facts of wide interest,— " The Prince of Orange at Brixham," " Honiton Lace" (an excellent account of the vicissitudes of the industry), "The Blowing up of Great Torrington Church," and "The Bloody
Eleventh." The illustrations are well chosen; perhaps the most successful is the portrait of Jack Rattenbury.
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