4 MAY 1929, Page 37

There are, it is possible, those who like to have

their Pepys. Partially digested for them, and such may enjoy Miss Marjorie, Astin's Mrs. Pepys Her Book (Noel Douglas), which is Pepys'. Portrait of his wife as copied by the brush of another. It is a Pleasant enough little book; which might have been bettered by. more copious quotations from the original, nor ,is there any reason for the author (seemingly) to deplore the fact that we are "forced " to look at Elizabeth through Samuel's

spectacles, for those spectacles were the truest, honestest glasses that ever were. Misprints like Batalier for Batelier, Pemberton for Pembleton (Elizabeth's dancing master whom Samuel so ignobly suspected), theorbo and Bauge might have been removed with a little more care. * * * *