who has already appeared before the public as the author
of a short constitutional history, disclaims any desire to throw a new light upon the period of which he treats. His aim, as he states in his preface, is to supply "a short history of the eighteenth century in England, which should not be mainly composed of foreign policy and military campaigns." This purpose he has successfully fulfilled. In his introductory chapter he sets out very clearly the events which led to the transfer of the crown to the House of Hanover. If the Pretender had been willing to embrace the doctrine of the Church of England, a restoration would have been possible ; but his devotion to Roman. ismdivided the Tory party, which was inclined to support him, and enlisted the immense majority of the nation on the side of the new dynasty. The circumstances which enabled George III. to re-establish the personal ascendancy of the Crown are very lucidly stated, and the characters of the chief politicians of that im- portant period are clearly and firmly drawn. The arrangement of the book is not strictly chronological, bat is rather designed to give a continuous view of the policy of successive administrations on par- ticular points, and to show the development of our party system, and the growth of our Colonies at the several periods ; but the intro- ductory tables here supplied render it easy to bring together all that relates to any particular year. The chapter on the Church, and the two entitled "Men of the Time," are specially good. Mr. Skottowe
is by no means a mere annalist, and expresses decided opinions on the events which he narrates. Although we cannot always agree with him, his judgments are impartial and never unreasonable. The
style is easy, though in places a little loose. On the whole, this book may fairly be used both as an introduction to the study of larger histories and as a trustworthy guide for those who, while desirous of knowing something of the growth of our present system of govern- ment and the expansion of our Empire, have neither time nor inclination for the perusal of larger and more ambitious works. The tables and maps are good.
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