THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM SIMPSON, R.I.
The Autobiography of William Simpson, R.I. (T. Fisher Unwin. 21s. net.)—It is now so long since the late William Simpson was actively engaged as a special artist that his name is probably little more than a name to a great number of readers. But in his heyday, before the camera had to so large an extent superseded the draughtsman, "Crimean Simpson" of the Illustrated London News was a power in journalism. That he was also an interesting and observant man this volume proves. Simpson travelled far in the service of his paper and kept notes of all that he saw, ultimately fusing them into an autobiography which he wrote late in life. The result is a lengthy and informing, but in no sense a rich work, with much to say about the Crimean War, India after the Mutiny, Abyssinia, the Holy Land, and Paris under arms, together with descriptions of such special events as the• opening of the Suez Canal. Famous figures cross the page now and then, but we regret to say that Simpson, who is not, on paper, what is called a "full man," has preserved few of their remarks or characteristics. It is disappointing, for example, to come upon Laurence Oliphant's name as Simpson's companion in Russia, and to find the acquaintanceship yielding no further news of that curious personality. The following passage may be quoted as describing one of the least normal of Mr. Simpson's experiences, and also for such bearing as it may be considered to have on the Eastern question of to-day. Mr. Simpson, we should state, was strolling about Batoum in 1855 when he met a "curious-looking fellow with a most sinister face," in a costume so novel that the artist at once proposed to sketch him. While the drawing was in progress the Duke of Newcastle and his Georgian servant, a great linguist, conversed with the man, who turned out to be a Kurd. Simpson writes :—
" It was noticed that he had a gun, but no sword. On his attention being called to this, he said he did not require a sword, it was not his way of doing it.—' Doing what?'—' Killing people.' Who do you kill ? '—` Travellers.'—' How do you kill them ?
I watch on the road, and when I see travellers coming, I hide behind a rock and shoot them as they pass.'—' How many have
you killed ? Thirteen, and five Russians.' He did not explain the reason why he made a distinction in the case of Russians. It may have been perhaps some patriotic sentiment. He was then asked what he was doing in Batoum P To which he replied, 'Some business.'—' Where are you going when you leave this Back to the mountains, where, please God, I hope to shoot some more travellers.' While this was going on the brute was picking the skin off pieces of walnut and eating them with a pleased and satisfied smile on his countenance. The process of being sketched was soothing to his vanity, and hence the good-nature that for the moment had touched his feelings."
The task of preparing Simpson's manuscript for the press has been capably performed by Mr. George Eyre-Todd. Some excellent reproductions of Simpson's drawings are given. "The Fall of Sebastopol" is very striking.
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