London Souvenirs. By C. W. Heckethorn. (Chatto and Wincing. 6s.)—Mr.
Heckethorn has much that is curious and amusing to tell us ; but his book is not wholly satisfactory. He wants the right temper of the raconteur. The writer who would please in this line must have an imperturbable temper. He must have no prejudices, no animosities, no convictions even, if these convictions are to colour his narrative. Mr. Heckethorn has some disagreeable things to say about Londoners, about doctors, about London itself, which "lacks diversity of surface and lacks water." Diversity of surface is a nuisance, and the hills we have we are fain to abolish. As for water, London is better off than Paris. He has, indeed, a very low opinion of the city, differing in this respect from good judges, who hold that there is one region of it, bounded by Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's, by the Thames and the line of Holborn and Oxford Street, which it would not be easy to surpass anywhere. Any- how, this kind of thing does not suit the book which we have here. We can fond our own judgments; let Mr. Heckethorn give us facts as many, as interesting, and as curious as he can find.
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