A Short History of Rome. By W. S. Robinson. (Rivingtons.
3s. 6d.)—This is a good book of its kind. Mr. Robinson has already shown more than once that he has a skilful hand for the writing of such books. Our own feeling is that short histories are useful chiefly to those who have read and fairly well mastered long ones; but this is a "pious opinion." In the present distress— which, by the way, is not likely to be mitigated—when boys have their subjects multiplied and their school-time diminished, history has to be learnt from these books. This volume is likely to be as serviceable as any, but we doubt the utility of such studies. .All the details have to be omitted. Tigranocerta, for instance, one of the most picturesque battles in history, is described in a line and a half. But it is useless to complain; these epitomes have become necessary, and we are glad to see them so well done.
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