THE SMITH AND THE BLAKE FAMILIES.
The Smith Family. By Compton Reade, MA. (Elliot Stock.) —Mr. Reade has compiled with much labour genealogical and biographical particulars of the family which bears the " Smith " name under the various forms of "Smith," "Smyth," and "Smijth" (this last form is, he explains, not a recent affecta- tion, but may be found as early as the reign of Henry VIM) For the majority of readers the most interesting part of the book is chap. 10, which gives "Celebrities of the Name," grouped under their avocations. There are, as one might expect, omissions. Several might be mentioned in the " Medical " group. Mr. Compton Reade has thought fit to use very offensive language about H. J. S. Smith, all the more marked because it is against the invariable rule of such books as this. He is palpably in the wrong when he says that H. J. S. Smith contested Oxford (the University) in the "Radical" interest. Professor Smith was the "Academical" candidate, and was supported by many who were certainly not "Radicals" (the writer of this notice among them).—With this may be mentioned the Blake _Family Records, 1315-1600, by Martin J. Blake (same publisher, 105. 6d.) The Blakes of Galway are descended, we are told, from one Richard Caddell, a feudatory of Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster and Lord of Connaught, in the latter part of the thirteenth century. Blake = "Black" (niger). His lineal descendants occupy some of his estates to this day, and the family records have been carefully preserved. The editor explains hew they came into his possession. H. M. Blake, sixteenth in descent from Richard Caddell (Blake), disposed of then' to a neighbour. This neighbour was dispossessed under the Encumbered Estates Act; before his death he gave back the records to a Blake. Part was put into the hands of Sir John Gilbert, part presented to the editor, who ultimately purchased the Gilbert portion. The last Blake to be mentioned is the Canadian Nationalist, Mr. E. Blake, M.P. for South Longford.
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