The Episcopal Arms of England and Wales. By An Officer
of Arms. (Arnold Fairbairns. 10s. 6d. net.)—Here we have set forth in proper colours the armorial bearings of thirty-six Sees, the only one absent from the list being Newcastle. The device of this Bishopric is described, we see, in the "Officer's" introduction as "doubtful or spurious," and is therefore omitted. We observe, however, that most of the arms are marked as "unofficial." The " official " are Birmingham, Bristol (really Gloucester and Bristol), Gloucester (the ancient See), Liverpool, Manchester, Ripon, St. Albans, Southwark, Southwell, Truro, Wakefield. By " unofficial " is meant that no official entry occurs. It strikes us as somewhat absurd that the new Sees are furnished with duly recognised arms, and that the ancient are not recognised. Birmingham and Liverpool are honoured above Canterbury and York. The College of Arms is "established." It has a house rent and rate free, and enjoys, we presume, certain, public moneys. Could it not make "some official pronouncement," seeing that, as the author remarks, "the Kings of Arms un- questionably and admittedly are the only proper officials to decide such points"?
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