The concluding articles of the series entitled " A Pilgrimage of British Farming " which have lately appeared in the Timtes deal with Ireland, and their significance is well...

HaiiC Rude Notes, a publication issued by the Home Rule I Council, Great Smith Street, London, has received a message from Mr. Asquith, in which the following statement...

I The question of the publication of the " Diournals," or secret denunciations, hundreds of thousands of which were discovered at Yildiz Kiosk after the fall of Abdul Hamid, is...

In the House of Lords on Thursday Lord Curzon called I attention to the state of affairs in Persia, and inquired as to the policy of his Majesty's Government. The hope of...

On Thursday Mr. Bonar Law made in his constituency an I admirable speech on the Home Rule question. Dealing with finance, be pointed out that if a country chooses to select as...

I Speaking at Plymouth on Tuesday Sir Edward Grey said that if France and Germany had made up their differences about Morocco there would probably be a beneficial effect upon...

Mr. Taft's Presidential Message to Congress was delivered on Tuesday. It deals solely with the Anti-Trust Law. It is often said that the dissolution of trusts is only a sham,...

Another case of alleged espionage is reported from Ports- I mouth. On Tuesday Heinrich Grossi, stated to be a captain in the German merchant service, was charged at the...

Mfemories of Two Citics. By David Masson, LL.D. (Oliphant, I Anderson and Ferrier. 7s. 6d. net.)-The " two cities" are Edinburgh, where David Masson spent the last forty years...

Three 3Ien of the Tudor Time. By Lady Frances Bushby. (D. f Nutt. 7s. 6d.)-The "Three Men" are Edward North (14961564) and his two sons, Roger (1530-1600) and Thomas (born...

I Three volumes have been published by Messrs. G. Bell ani Sons containing the libretti of three famous comic operas by Sir W. Gilbert, Tite Mikado, Patience, and the Pirates...

I The Surgeon's Log. By J. Johnston Abraham. (Chapman and Hall. 7s. 6d. net.)-Tbe author, ordered a change of climate on account of health, determines to go as a ship's...

I A Hardy Dictionary. By F. Outwin Saxelby. (G. Routledge and Sons. 8s. 6d. net.)-The sub-title of the book is this: "The Characters and Scenes of the Novels and Poems...

Bangor. By the Rev. W. Hughes (S.P.C.K. 3s. 6d.) is one of I the series of " Diocesan Histories." It would be welcome at any time, and the present situation gives it a special...

I Scottish Life and Character in Anecdote and Story. By William I Harvey. (Simpkin, MarshaU and Co. 53. net.)-As one might expect in a book of Scottish humour, no...

[TO THE EDITOR or THE "SPECTATOR."] Si.,-According to Lessing, the first man to write, not English hexameters, but English hexameters which put every accepted rule at defiance,...

LTO THE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR."1 SIR,-I have read with the utmost interest your article on English hexameters. May I call attention through your columns to the merits of Dr....

ENGLISH HEXAMETERS. [TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,-It is strange that in your issue of December 2nd no mention occurs of Dr. Hawtrey, who was a master of translation...

[To THE ECDrTOR OF THM " SPECTATOZ."] Sir,-Without venturing to disagree with your admiration of Clough's treatment of the English language in the first specimen you quote of...

THE BRITISH SCHOOL AT ATHENS. THUE twenty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of the British School at Athens which was lately celebrated in London is an event whichl, even...

On Thursday the King made his State entry into Delhi. I The gorgeous ceremonial and the enthusiastic and sincere manner in which he was received by his Indian subjects have...

NEWS OF THE WEEK. THE King-Emperor and Queen-Empress arrived at Bom-| bay on Saturday, and were received by the Governor- General, the Governor of Bombay, and the principal...

The news from Tripoli this week is good for the Italians. I On Monday they captured Ain Zara, the position from which the Turks made their attacks on the Italian lines. The...

I It is clear that poor working men like the MeNamnaras had not the money necessary for the campaign of terrorism and assassination. The question is, who supplied all the...

On Tuesday in the Reichstag Herr von Bethmann Hollweg replied to Sir Edward Grey's recent speech in the House of Commons. The curious fact about the speech was that it did not...

The investigation into the dynamite outrages at Los Angele. which had continued for more than a year, culminated on Saturday in a confession which has filled the United States...

The Third Reading of the Insnrance Bill was discrtsscd in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Mr. H. W. Forster moved on behalf of the Opposition an amendment the principal...

HOME RULE AND THE HOUSE OF LORDS. [To THo EDITOR OF TIM "SPECTATOR."] SIR,-" This decentralization of the machinery of national insurance is making bay of our arrangements; let...

I THE ANCIENT FUNDS OF THE WELSH CHURCH. I LTo Tmz Enrrro 0 or Tu "S'pcTAton."J SIB,-Mr. Macfadyen refers in his letter to the possible removal of the disabilities of...

THE STATUE OF DUTCE WILLIAM AT PETERSFIELD. LTO THR EDITOR OP TU " SPECTATOR."] I SiB,-There stands in the Market Place at Petersfield a lead equestrian statue of William III....

MR. A. C. BENSON ON MATTHEW ARNOLD. LTo R5 EDITOR OP TER " SPECTATOR."J Si.,-While expressing my gratitude to Mr. Truman (Spectator, December 2nd) for his protest on behalf of...

A PARALLEL. rTO To EDITou or J 'SPECTATOR." Sn,-. . . " periit postquam cerdonibus ease timendus eceperat" (Juv. iv. 153). When cruel and crafty Domitian held sway, His...

TITHES AND RATES. [TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sip.,-In his letter in your issue of December 2nd Mr. Camber Williams apparently lapses into the very error which he has...

THE PERSIAN CRISIS. A RUSSIAN protectorate of Northern Persia seems to A be approaching. This does not mean that Persia will be markedly less independent than she has been...

rTO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SiR,-I read your two articles on this subject with interest and substantial agreement till I came to the quotation from Greene, where your...

THE UNJUST RATING OF THE CLERGY. [To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,-The accompanying Memorial, with over 1,700 names of tithe-paid clergy of all ranks, shows the grievous...

THE CHURCHMENS UNION. [To TER EDITOR or TH "SPECTAToR'1| SIR,-In reply to Mr. Darwin Fox's letter in the Spectator of November 25th will you allow me to say that the office of...

HAS THE COST OF LIVING INCREASED? [TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.'] SIR,-I have observed that on several occasions, both in reported speeches and in newspaper articles, the...

[TO TEE EDITOR OF THR " SPECTATOR."] SIR,-The quotation from Nash in your article on "English Hexameters " (Spectator, December 2nd, p. 955) should surely be printed as...

STEVENSON'S " WRECKER." [To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] . I SiB,-May I be allowed to enter a protest against your endorsement of Mr. Andrew Lang's criticism of the...

MOSQUITOES AND MILLIONS. [TO THZ EDITOR OF THU "SPECTATOR."] Si,,-Your correspondent Archdeacon Bindley may possibly not have seen the Annals and M3agazine of Natural History...

SENSE OF HONOUR AMONG WOMEN. LTo mn EDrrOz or TN "rSPECTATon."I SIR,-So many foolish things are written about women that the writer almost withholds this letter lest it should...

ALPINES AND NATIONAL SERVICE. [TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,-I beg to say, thanks to your kindness, that I have been able to help efficiently the cause of National...

SIR ROBERT MORIER.* SIR ROBERT Moninn. was by common consent one of the greatest diplomatists of the Victorian era; indeed, we might go further and say that he brought to his...

THE KING'S SPEECHES.* Tnu publishers very properly inform the readers of this volume that they are " solely responsible for the arrangement and issue of the collection." It is...

A BIRTHDAY BOOK.' BIRTHDAY books are always with us, though we most of us possess our owf unwritten birthday books, with the anniversaries which belong to our lives and the...

1To Tim EDimOot oir To " SPECATOL"] Sut,-The Government Aetuaries' note of warning in their report on the effect of the amendments made during the Committee Stage of the Bill...

THE LORDS AND THE INSURANCE BILL. [To imu EDITOR OF TER " SPECTATOE.j SIR,-With all respect to your better judgment I sincerely hope that the Lords will not be so ill-advised...

THE NATIONAL INSURANCE BILL. [To TEm EDITOa or my ' SrEcTATOR.'] SiR,-Mr. Lloyd George has repeatedly said that every onethat is, all parties-accepts the principle of the...

A Safety Match. By Ian Hay. (William Blackwood and Son. 6s.)-This story has two main themes, how Sir John Carr, alias "Juggernaut," married Daphne Vereker, and how he dealt...

NOVELS. FLEMINGTON.* MRS. JAcoB draws in her new romance on that unexhausted treasure-house of romance-Scotland of the 'Forty-Five-and the highest praise that we can give her...

Peter and Jane. By S. Macnaughtan. (Methuen and Co. 6s.)-It is not for the first time in a pretty long experience of fiction that we found ourselves enjoying a novel very much...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK. -c- | Under this Ieading tce notice such Bccks of the ireek as have ftot becn r Deserved for review in other forms.] The First Christian Century. By...

Post-Victorian Music, with other Studies and Sketches. By I Charles L. Graves. (Macmillan and Co. 6s. net.)-This is a . collection of nearly fifty essays, all of which have...

KHARTOUM CATHEDRAL. [To TEE EDITOR OF TEE " SPECTATOR."] Sra,-The cathedral at Khartoum, although not yet completed, is to be consecrated on January 26th next year. It is...

:POETRY. ROMANCE. As I came down the Higbgate Hill, The Higbgate Hill, the Higlgate Hill, As I came down the Highgate Hill I met the sun's bravado, And saw below me, fold on...

BOY SCOUTS. r TomEEDITOB OF THU "SPECTATOR. l AiR,-I read with interest Mr. John Hargrave's letter in your issue of December 2nd on the " Lone Scout Movement," and hasten to...

A SUFFOLK INCANTATION. ITo maz EDITOR OF THE1 " SPECTATOR." I SiR,-In the Supplement to your issue of December 2nd yon quote an old Somersetshire incantation used over a...

LAUNDRIES AN] THE INSURANCE BILL [To THE1 EDITOR 0O THE 'SrxoTjTon."] Sir,-We should esteem it a favour if you would insert this letter in your paper. The laundry industry is...

The Bill passed under conditions so strange is probably the I least considered, the most cumbrous, the most unintelligible, the most reckless, the most incalculable in its...

In the House of Commons on Friday the Naval Prize Bill F was passed by the relatively narrow majority of 47 (172 to 125), |after a heated debate. We have always -entertained...

I We wish the Unionist members in a set of typical consti- tuencies, say Manchester in the North, the Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, and Romford in the South, Bristol in the West,...

I The Referendum taken by Mr. Gretton in Rutland resulted in 2,750 votes against the Bill and only 429 for it, or a majority against of 2,321. As there are only 4,200 voters in...

Mr. Lloyd George protested against IL. Forster's amend- ment, which, he said, "is simply a verbose, shifting method of moving exactly the amendment which used to be moved in...

I Among the eleven Unionists who voted against the Third Reading of the Bill are to be found the names of Mr. Cooper, Mr. Gretton, and Mr. Aubrey Herbert. It is to be noted...

The case for the Opposition was most effectively wound up I by Mr. Bonar Law. Upon the question of the Third Reading they declined to say yes or no. " If we say no, it implies...

SOME CHILDREN'S BOOKS.* WE congratulate Mr. Strantge on the delightful folk-tales and fairy stories that lie has selected and arranged from a seventeenth century Neapolitan...

BOO KS. THE FUTURE OF ENGLAND.* IN his new book Mr. George Peel casts his argument in the form of a vision seen as he overlooks the "mighty heart" of London from Traitors'...

WALRUSES AND CARPENTERS. [COMMUNICATED.] BEFORE the eyes of its critics the world, and each little B world within the world, falls naturally into two parts. Whether we look at...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. THE ITALIANS IN TRIPOLI. [To TE EDrroz OF Till "SPXCTATOB."] SIR,-In thanking you for your courtesy in publishing my recent protest against the false...

STARLINGS. THE Middlesex County Council have removed the name of the starling from the list of protected birds, and it seems likely that in other counties it will join the...

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA.* MR. FULTON describes his book as " An Historical Acconnt of the Claim of England to the Dominion of the British Seas, The So'oreignty of the Bea....

THE NATIONAL INSURANCE BILL IN ITS RELATION TO THE VOLUNARY HOSPITAL SYSTEMS. [To THx EDITOs 0P Tni "'SrzCTATORL"1 SiR,-The National Insurance Bill is of so complex a character...

[To TIM EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,-With regard to the compulsory insurance of servants I should like to point out that if the insurance of aliens is to be compulsory then...

THE MAGAZINES. THic Nineteenth Century opens with a generous appreciation of Mr. Balfour as Leader, from the pen of Mr. Alfred Lyttel. ton. Mr. Balfour's perfect courage,...

THE HISTORY OF THE SPUR.* I "EN loial armour tout mon cceur" is the inscription which a knighlt of the mid-fifteenth century had graven upon the beautifully chased spurs which...

THE LORDS AND THE INSURANCE BILL. THE Insurance Bill has passed the House of Commons. T This means that under our new Parliamentary Constitution nothingeanprevent theBill...

TOPICS OF THE DAY. GERMAN EXPANSION. IN spite of Sir Edward Grey's speech the minds of many members of the Liberal Party still seem possessed of the notion that Germany has...

MUSIC. - THE NEW '; MUSICIAN'S LIBRARY." MHE new " Musician's Library " makes an excellent start with Sir Charles Stanford's volume on MusicaZ Compositio*.* He describes it in...

THE POSITION OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE. THE decision of Mr. Asquith to bring in a Bill foi T Manhood Suffrage has split the female suffragists once more into two contending parties....