Memoirs of the Life of Philip Dormer, Fourth Sari of
Chesterfield. With numerous Letters, now first published, from the Newcastle- Papers. By W. Ernst. (Swan Sonnenschein and Co.)—The- author deserves credit for the diligence with which he has gathered his materials for this copious biography. There are indications of painstaking throughout the book, but we regret to say that the art of writing a "Life" is unknown to Mr. Ernst., He plods on steadily through the various periods of Lord Chester- field's career, and leaves no important event unrecorded; it is evident that he is fairly familiar with the period, but he does not know how to use his knowledge, and the volume has the blight of dullness. Whether there is room for a, fresh biography of Chesterfield may be doubted ; but if, as Mr. Ernst says, the want of such a Life has "long been the subject of regretful comment,' it is certain that he has not supplied the lack. In a review last year of Dr. John Bradshaw's edition of Chesterfield's letters, we quoted a promise made by the editor to publish at no distant date the Newcastle correspondence acquired a few years ago by the British Museum. Mr. Ernst, whose work appears from the same publishing house as Mr. Bradshaw's, has made liberal use of this correspondence; and although the letters contain nothing of great significance, they add a little to our knowledge of Chester field, and form a novel and useful feature of the Memoirs.
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