Smith' (Lane), whose strange story has again been told, by Mr E. Keble Chatterton in the 'Golden Hind' Series, does not occupy a more prominent place in the national memory. He had a most adventurous life; he fought, explored, and administered courageously; he was a picturesque figure; yet to the many he is merely a name, and that chiefly through his brief association with Pocahontas. Somehow the opportunities given to biographers through his personality and career have not been fully utilised by them; and again, even in Mr Keble Chatterton's experienced hands, the story lags. What a man Smith was!-and what a work in Virginia he would have done if it had not been for the muddle-minded interferences of the Council at home! Here was a born explorer and administrator, hampered by fools in office, who not merely troubled him with fatal instructions, but listened to the whisperings of the treacherous, and throughout provided him with unsuitable companions-'ne'er-do-weels, footmen for labourers, libertines, poor useless gentlemen, adventurers all in the worst of senses, who respected neither God, man's law, shame, nor the respect of their friends.' The story of John Smith is material for an epic. Some day it will be greatly told, and then his name will be numbered, as it should be, with the supreme makers of our Commonwealth, The The recent discovery, that was a shock to many, of the continuance of slavery in an administered State in Africa, makes opportune the account of 'British Slavery and its Abolition' (Longmans) which Dr W. L. Mathieson of Aberdeen has written. It is precisely one hundred years since the movement which destroyed slavery among negroes in the West Indies was in agitation and being brought to triumphant fulfilment. story, naturally, is not so romantic as the corresponding account of the abolition of slavery in the United States; for it had no John Brown for its white martyr, and no Civil War to seal it with sacred blood; but, nevertheless, it is an essential chapter of our imperial history, and is entitled to a place on the historical bookshelf. The volume, 'France and America' (Allen and Unwin), which that very active statesman and diplomatist M. André Tardieu has written with the determination to bring together, by showing their common ideals, the two great republics, has but a distant interest to us. Nor would it have held even that interest were it not that the peace of the world requires their mutual understanding and co-operation. M. Tardieu certainly has no half-measures in his appreciation of the wartime services of the United States to France; and that is something to set against the serious misjudgments recently expressed by certain Frenchmen against America. The quality of the book rests in the approach it makes to a general ideal-European peace and the success of the League of Nations; otherwise it has the partiality of a special pleader, and therefore misses much, Mr Frederick Chamberlin has certainly been fortunate in his discoveries. At first it was Queen Elizabeth, of whose physical health and courage of character he has written a revealing volume; and now it is the talayots and other prehistoric monuments of Minorca, which he has made known to students in a manner that will compel archeologists to go to The Balearics' (Lane) to examine, explain, and justify. Mr Chamberlin has written a racy and readable book-its occasional lapses from an extreme purity of style are easily forgiven -which not only describes those unique and ancient remains, but vividly paints the human and natural life of the islands in one of which he lived, with his eyes well open, for a number of years. Those islands are indeed a happy hunting-ground for holiday-making historians; as, besides those prehistoric constructions, Ancient Roman and Moorish remains in excellent condition are to be found in settings of orange groves and olive-trees, and within sight of the blue and turquoise loveliness of the Mediterranean. It is not possible in such constricted space as is here available to treat with anything like fullness the theme, examples, and arguments of 'Gnostic Scriptures Interpreted' (Daniel) by Mr G. A. Gaskell; but this can be assured-it has absolute sincerity and honesty of endeavour and treatment; qualities not only desirable but essential in a work like this, which boldly endeavours to probe and reveal the truths of Christian inspiration as expressed in the ancient Gnostic writings. It is a work for specialists in religious philosophy, and to their frank investigations we leave it. The title of Mr Morrison I. Swift's book, 'The Evil Religion Does ' (Liberty Press, Boston, U.S.A.), is a challenge; but it is not justified. His first assertion that the outstanding error of civilised religion was its election of love instead of intelligence as its law' allures; but the possibilities are not worked out. Instead of fulfilling the promise of such fine argument the book proceeds to be merely anti-Jewish, anti-Catholic, and to a less degree antiProtestant; that is, it lifts a flaming banner and blows intolerant trumpets merely to march through commonplace. The author misses his way, and the answer to him is easy. The Christian ideal of love does not rule out intelligence; and he must not blame religion because so many of its advocates who profess and call themselves Christians' are unworthy. Love is essential to the world; but love can and must discriminate. And that is one of the many points that Mr Swift has missed. Finally to a little fiction. Mr Vernon Bartlett's 'Topsy Turvy' (Constable) is brilliant, and strange to say of present-day fiction has a common and yet an especial interest. Its stories have for setting the tangled, difficult, ugly, and bankrupt conditions which followed the War and the Peace. Mr Bartlett, whose chief character is a witty and ubiquitous newspaper-man, touches irony and pathos; and brings home the truth that behind the guns and the diplomatists, and all the harm they did, was flesh and blood, humanity, suffering, and sometimes profiteering. It is a relief from the actual short-sighted follies and shams of European politics to read this work with its fictional representation of their aspects and consequences, for every one of its stories is well-told and bright with interest. Sometimes, as with his concluding tale, 'Reconciliation,' he touches the fine emotions as well as the truth. A book of stories for the informed and thoughtful really to enjoy. And finally Trollope. We all are Trollopeans nowadays, thanks to the general fact that interest in the Barchester chronicles has never died, and to the particular fact that Mr Michael Sadleir has recently re-established Anthony Trollope on his throne. Here is an attractive collection of sketches of 'London Tradesmen' (Elkin Mathews and Marrot) reprinted from the 'Pall Mall Gazette' of forty-seven years ago. They are an example of Trollope's aptness and thoroughness. Tireless in his endeavours their author spared no pains in searching for the truths of his subject, and undertook labours which a lesser man would surely have avoided. The result is a little book which the eager followers of Trollope may profitably add to their collections. It is vigorous, true stuff, written with plenty of shrewd insight, and characteristic. INDEX TO THE TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINTH VOLUME OF THE [Titles of Articles are printed in heavier type. The names of authors of A. Abercrombie, Lascelles, extract from Acton, Lord, on Machiavelli, 64, 65 Adams, Francis, translator of Hip- Agriculture in 1927..257-272. America, The Religion of, 22–35. 'Astley's,' three volumes of prints, Baker, Prof. Philip, 'Disarmament,' Balfour, Rt Hon. A. J. (now Earl), Bartlett, Vernon, Topsy Turvy,' 421. Beaven, Rev. Dr, 186. Beddard, Prof. F. E., F.R.S., 'A Behrend, William, Ludwig von Bell, J. J., The Great Ones of the Benson, E. F., Sir Francis Drake,' Bensusan, S. L., Agriculture in Béranger, extract from poem by, 232. Bird, Major-General Sir W. D., 'The Blake, William, centenary of the Books, Some Recent, 205-214, 412- Bridgeman, Rt Hon. W. C., extract from his speech on the Navy Bulfin, General Sir Edward, 241, 242. Friendship,' 215, 216, 222, 225, 233. |