8 FEBRUARY 1902, Page 28

lkfemorials of Old Buckinghamshire. Edited by P. H. Ditchfield, M.A.

(Bemrose and Sons. 12s. 6d. net.)—Mr. Ditchtield has collected here one-and-twenty papers about famous houses in Bucks, about sundry relics of the past that are to be found in it, its literary and historical associations. Three of the papers he has himself contributed. Perhaps t wo of the best known places, thanks to their proximity to the Thames, are Medmenham Abbey, where however, little of the ancient building remains, and Fawley Court, about a mile below Henley-on-Thames, where the good taste of the present proprietor has brought to light again the original red brick (Mrs. Climenson has written " Medmenham " for " Remenham " as "the village opposite Fawley Court"), .Medmenbam was an obscure monastic foundation, made notorious by the " Hell-fire Club" of later days. Fawley Court was built by Wren, who spent much of his later life in the neighbourhood, for Bulatrode Whitelock. Other famous places are Claydon House—the seat of the Verneys, who, fortunately for the world, have preserved many family records—Stowe, Hampden House, and Burnham Abbey. The editor has written two interesting papers on "The Civil War in Bucks" and "Literary Bucks" ; the latter subject is also dealt with in the "Homes of Milton" and "Shakespeare in Bucks.' Eton, naturally, is not forgotten, Mr. F. St. J. Tbackeray, himself an old Etonian of renown, writing about the College. Library and "Eton Montem " it old time. The book is admirably illustrated by PhOtpgrfy4i