Hoche, in La Vendee. Of defensive warfare on the frontier,
the
recent story of Chitral is perhaps the best illustration. In the James Thomson. By William Bayne. (Oliphant, Anderson, case of Chitral, however, as in many other cases quoted by the and Ferrier, Edinburgh.)—The author of "The Seasons" is not author, it is impossible not to feel that it was the spirit and not the most striking or fascinating of "Famous Scots," to the useful the skill of the defenders that won the day. Possibly they made series telling the stories of whom this biography belongs. In the most that could be made of their very poor resources ; but spite of "Rule, Britannia," he recalls the porter in his own there was nothing so very admirable in the disposition of the "Castle of Indolence," fat and "swollen with sleep ; " one defence that one can compare it with the splendid courage and positively likes to believe the tradition of his eating peaches with self-devotion displayed by all ranks. The defence of Thobal by his hands in his pockets. One of the most successful of literary Lieutenant Grant is more suggestive, but here too the main Scotsmen who have invaded, or annexed, England, there was factor of sucess was an audacity almost amounting to reckless-
nothing in his life, regarded simply from the personal point ness. In fact, the general moral that we derive from Major of view, that can be considered eventful. Although he was Younghusband's work is pretty much in accordance with the fine disappointed as a lover, a •'dearest Miss Young," to whom contempt for " theories " professed by Private Mulvaney after he made a proposal of marriage, having preferred an Admiral Campbell, it may be doubted if, in spite of his latest biogra- the taking of Lungtunpen. We must do the author the justice to state that this is not his opinion, and that in some cases, at least, pher's repetition of Tennyson's "loved and lost," he could have he is able to deduce very useful lessons. We should add that his been absolutely inconsolable when he could write : " Believe me, chapters on commissariat, transport, and other similar matters though happy here as the most beautiful scenes of Nature,
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