and report to the monarch, and hence to speak to those ministers, came to mean your Majesty, in directly addressing him, ie. we who are before the throne." Nothing is said in either place of another and more rational interpretation, well known to all Chinese scholars. On page 486:-" Parties of tramps, called hakka, or 'guests,' roam over Kwangtung province. As soon as they increase, they begin to commit petty depredations, etc." But on p. 138 we had lately read that "these people (the Hakkas) were formerly industrious but persecuted inhabitants of Kwangtung province. After which, the reader will not be surprised to learn that with the above two entries Dr. Williams begins and ends his notices of a race which for a time absorbed the energies of a scholar like Dr. Eitel, and is now occupying the serious attention of a linguist like Mr. J. Dyer Ball. On p. 493 Dr. Williams identifies the "Water-lily sect" (sic) with the Triad Society; i.e. the Freemasons with the Oddfellows, probably on the authority of Schlegel, who was, however, wrong here. On p. 502:-"A drum is said to be placed at the inferior tribunals which the plaintiff strikes (shade of Tieh Kung-tzŭ!) in order to make his presence known." On p. 503 even the illustration is inaccurate. The two leading chair-coolies are without hats, and the second appears to have his tail tied round his head; while the last two coolies wear the huge rain hat so common in Southern China. But is this the "mode of carrying High Officers in Sedan' as seen by Dr. Williams, or any one else, in China? On p. 504, we learn that behind a magistrate's seat "a ki-lin, or unicorn, is depicted on the wall." Also, that nothing like an oath is required of witnesses, although as a matter of fact every deposition is taken down in writing, and invariably ends with the set formula, "The above evidence is the truth.' On p. 511:-" Whipping a man through the streets as a public example to others is frequently practised upon persons detected in robbery, assault, etc." This statement is accompanied by an illustration, in which the whipper has a whip distinctly non-Chinese in appearance, while the thief has all his clothes on. We will undertake to say that there is no living foreigner in China who has ever heard of a single instance of the punishment in question, still less seen it. On p. 530, the Pih Kia Sing is called by a manifestly absurd name. It has generally, and inaccurately, been known as the "Hundred Family Names"; but it was reserved for Dr. Williams to invent a new "compellation," and style it the "Century of Surnames." On p. 547 Dr. Williams "turns from his brief sketch of primary education" to describe the method of conducting public examinations and conferring literary degrees. His account is tedious to the last degree, which is the more to be regretted, as with friendly paste and scissors he might easily have furnished us with Mr. Parker's able document on the Educational Curriculum of the Chinese. On p. 597 the "li shu, or style of official attendants," is explained as "an elegant style to be employed in engrossing documents"; and on the next page we are informed that besides the six recognized forms of writing, "there are fanciful ones, called tadpole characters,' in imitation of various objects." Yet it is two years since the Six Scripts was published. Passing over "Pigeon" English on p. 624, we read on p. 772 a statement by Barrow, which Dr. Williams declares to be a true one, viz. :-"In the assortment of dishes there is a wider difference between the rich

and poor of China than in any other country." The reverse is really the case. Barrow's experience, like that of most foreigners even now, extended only to lavish spreads, which he mistook for specimens of every-day dinners among the higher classes of China. It is notorious that the ordinary diet even of the wealthiest Chinese is peculiarly simple and unpretentious in its array of luxuries. On p. 807 the old ridiculous mistake as to the meaning of "kwai tss', i.e. nimble lads,'" is perpetuated; and these, cum multis aliis, bring us to the end of Vol. I., where we propose to stop as concerns this portion of our uncongenial task. The worst, however, remains to be said. We could forgive many blunders in a comprehensive work of the kind. We could pass over extracts from Marshman's (instead of Legge's) translation of the Lun Yü (Vol. I. p. 657), and from Medhurst's futile attempt to put before an English reader the speculations of Chu Hi (Vol. I. p. 683). We could overlook omissions, even on such a scale as that which omits all mention of (e.g.) Wills, Inquests, Marionettes, Conjurers, Family Law (as recently elucidated), Folk-lore (a new science since the first edition), etc., etc. But we cannot condone the whole tenor of this work, which is, in our opinion, entirely misleading. The mere attempt of the author to reach the goal proposed has landed him en route in many preposterous and palpable contradictions. The keynote to the work is Christianity; but what with manifold

admissions that the Chinese are a very wonderful and virtuous people, as they are, and have been, without Christianity, and a boundless desire to prove that they are at the same time very backward and very wicked because they have not accepted (and we may add will not accept) Christianity,Dr. Williams, as may well be imagined, gets both himself and his readers into a hopeless state of fog. Thus, we read in one place (Vol. II. p. 742), of the great "respect for life and property" which prevails among the Chinese; in others (Vol. I. p. 335), that "thieving is exceedingly common," and also (Vol. II. pp. 632, 704) of wholesale executions and purchased substitutes which lead one to think that the Chinese can hardly value life at a pin's fee. On p. 783 of Vol. I. Dr. Williams states that there was a general want of confidence in commercial matters, so much so that there are no "associations of any kind in which persons unite their funds and efforts to accomplish an object;" while on page 389 of Vol. II. we are informed that "in large dealings" Chinese merchants exhibit that regard for character in the fulfilment of their obligations which extensive commercial engagements usually produce." Dr. Williams goes on to say that " the roguery and injustice which an officer of government may commit without disgrace would blast a merchant's reputation, and he undertakes the largest transactions with confidence.' what the Chinese themselves call " spear and shield" arguments; as though it were a warrior parrying his own blows, aiming a spear-thrust at an adversary to receive it upon his own buckler. Similarly, we read on p. 239 of Vol. II. of "the prevalence of infanticide and the indifference with which the crime is regarded;" also, that "it is exceedingly difficult to ascertain the extent of infanticide in China." Williams quotes (p. 240) Mr. Abeel's absurd estimate of "about forty per cent of all girls born in those places as being murdered; also (p. 241) Dr. Smith's evidence as to "a wide prevalence of the crime" at Hankow; no explanation being given in the former instance as to how every Chinaman manages to get a wife and sometimes a concubine or two to boot, while in the latter instance a most curious reason is assigned for the crime, viz. that "the proportion of sexes is ten men to seven women.' We shall conclude by comparing a few of Dr. Williams's own statements as to the morality of the Chinese people. Look on this picture :

This is

Dr.

Vol. I. p. 664.-"Little or nothing can be found in the writings that are most highly prized which will not bear perusal by any person in any country."

P. 829. Duels are unknown, assassinations are infrequent, betting on horse-races is still to begin."

P. 833. They have attained, by the observance of peace and good order, to a high degree of security for life and property. Industry receives its just reward of food, raiment, and shelter, with a uniformity which encourages its constant exertion."

P. 808.-"The Chinese are comparatively a temperate people."

Vol. II. p. 192.- "There is no deification of sensuality. Nor does their mythology teem with disgusting relations of the amours of their deities; on the contrary, like the Romanists, they exalt and deify chastity and seclusion as a means of bringing the soul and body nearer to the highest excellence."

P. 742.-"The simplicity of ancestral worship, the absence of the allurements of gorgeous temples, splendid ritual, seductive music, gay processions, and above all, sanctified licentiousness, to uphold and render it enticing to depraved human nature and lastly, the degree of industry, loyalty, and respect for life and property-these are characteristics which, etc."

Vol. I. p. 518.-" Officers and people are bad almost beyond belief to one conversant only with the courtesy, justice, purity, and sincerity of Christian governments and society."

P. 784.-"Unacquainted with the intellectual enjoyments found in books and the conversation of learned men, and having no educated taste, as we understand that term, the Chinese resorts to the dice-box, the opium-pipe, or the brothel for his pleasures, though even there with a loss of character among his peers."

P. 834.-"With a general regard for outward decency, they are vile and polluted in a shocking degree; their conversation is full of filthy expressions and their lives of impure acts."

P. 836.-"Female infanticide; ... the dreadful prevalence of all the vices charged by the Apostle Paul upon the ancient heathen world; the alarming extent of the use of opium (amounting really to about one-third per cent. or one man in 300, according to Sir R. Hart's careful calculation); the universal practice of lying and dishonest dealings;

...

the unblushing lewdness of old and young, etc.—all form a full unchecked torrent of human depravity, and prove the existence of a kind and degree of moral degradation of which an excessive statement can scarcely be made, or an adequate conception hardly be formed."

It is greatly to be regretted that the Middle Kingdom has

re-appeared upon the scene, unless forsooth it had been re-written from beginning to end. There are many Chinese now-a-days who read English well. These volumes will hardly inspire them with a belief in Christian charity, or justice. HERBERT A. GILES, H.B.M.'s Consul, Shanghai.

IT was decided at the Fifth International Congress of Orientalists at Berlin in 1881 that the next Congress should take place at Leyden in the year 1884, and Prof. Dozy was then unanimously elected to be the President. The Great Exhibition at Amsterdam, however, induced the members to assemble a year earlier, and the Sixth Congress was opened on September 10, at Leyden. By the widely regretted death of the great Arabic scholar on the 29th of April this year, his place was taken by Prof. A. Kuenen, well known for his biblical exegese and his liberal view of divinity, and His Excellency the Minister of the Interior, M. Heemskerk, was the Honorary President. Prof. H. Kern acted as Vice-President, Prof. J. de Goeje and Prof. C. P. Tiele as Secretaries, and Dr. W. Pleijte as Treasurer. The following gentlemen formed the general Committee :-Professors J. P. N. Land, P. A. van der Lith, H. Oort, J. Pijnappel, G. Schlegel, P. J. Veth, A. C. Vreede, Doctors C. Leemans, L. Serrurier, T. C. L. Wijnmalen. The official languages were French, Dutch, and Latin; but with the exception of Prof. van Geer's (Principal of the University at Leyden) speech at the closing ceremony, only French was spoken on official occasions, sometimes perhaps, as the President humorously predicted in his opening speech, "au sacrifice d'être pitoyablement mal traité." For all communications and discussions inside the sections each foreign member used his own language-but even here the Dutch hosts had the courtesy of not once indulging in the use of their own. There were 100 entries of Dutch savants, 50 each German and English, 40 French, 20 Russian, 10 Belgian, etc. There were five sections (or rather six, for the Semitic Section was subdivided into one section for Arabic and the Mohamedan literature, and one for the other Semitic languages and Cuneiform Texts and Scripture, etc.), of which each had to elect its own President and Commitee.

THE ARABIC DIVISION OF THE SEMITIC SECTION elected M. Scheffer as President, Messrs. A. Socin and J. Goldziher as Vice-Presidents, and Messrs. S. Guyard and C. Suouk Hurgonje as Secretaries. The following papers were read:Goldziher, "Ueber die Zahiriten"-Ethé, "Nasir Khusrau's Leben, Denken und Dichten."- Land, "Recherches sur l'histoire de la gamme arabe."-Müller, "Sur Ibn abi Useibia."-de Goeje, "Sur un mémoire posthume de R. Dozy." Houtsma, "Ueber eine türkische Chronik zur Geschichte der Seldschuken Klein-Asiens."-Ethé, "Mem. sur quelques traductions turques inconnues du Livre de Kalilah et Dimnah."-Hommel, "Sur le Djamharet aux Enssab."-Landberg, "Sur la langue et les dialectes des Bédouins."

The division of the Semitic Section for all Semitic languages except Arabic, and for Cuneiform texts and Scripture, was presided over by Prof. G. Schrader, with Messrs. Robertson Smith and E. Kautzsch as Vice-Presidents, and Messrs. A. Carrière and W. H. Rylands as Secretaries. The following papers were read and discussed:-Oordt, " Méthode à suivre pour éditer le texte de l'Ancien Testament."-Müller (D.H.), Ueber und im Sabäischen."- Strassmayer, "Ueber einige Inschriften von Nabonnidus."-Tiele, "Sur la déesse Istar." Schlottmann, "Ueber den Strophenbau in der hebräischen Poesie."-Sayce, "The decipherment of the Mal-amir Inscriptions and the origin of the so-called Median texts." - Halévy, Aperçu grammatical de l'allographie assyrienne."-Oort," Causes probables qui ont fait accuser les Juifs de meurtres rituels."-Maccurdy, "Perfect inflections in Assyrian."-Müller (D. H.), "Ueber den Gebrauch des äussern Plurals masculini in den südsemitischen Sprachen." -Oppert, "Sur quelques-unes des inscriptions assyriennes nouvellement découvertes."-Haupt, "Mittheilungen über seine Ausgabe des babylonischen Nimrodepos."-Landberg, "La langue des Bédouins."-Clermont-Ganneau, mémoires relatifs à l'épigraphie sémitique."-Halévy, "Communication sur les inscriptions thamoudites."

Deux

Prof. R. von Roth was the President of the Arian Section, Profs. A. Weber and Lignana Vice-Presidents, and Messrs. Rhys Davids and Michel Secretaries. The following papers were read:- Kern, "Sur un dictionnaire Sanskrit-Kawi

trouvé dans un ancien MS. Japonais."-Cust, "On the Asoka inscriptions and the origin of Indian Alphabets."Shyamaji Krishnawarmâ, "The use of written characters in ancient India."-Max Müller, "On the ancient Alphabets of India" (read by Prof. G. Bühler).-Speyer, Sur le mythe de Nahusha."-Lignana, "Pompei e le favole Indiane. Bourquin, "Considérations sur quelques points de l'astronomie, de l'astrologie et du rituel de l'Inde."-Milloué, "Transcrip tion et traduction du texte sanskrit-japonais du Prajn ramita-Sutra."-Feer, "Adaptation au sanskrit de l'alphabet de transcription usité pour le pali."-Leumann, "Die Benah. ungen der Jaina-Litteratur zu den übrigen Litteratur-Zwer Indiens."-de Milloué, Aperçu sur le jaïnisme par Jaini."-Senathi Raja, "On some little known points concen ing the religious customs of the Hindus in South India. Beauregard, Sur la dénomination ethnique Singhalais. -Peterson, On the Subhashitavali of Vallabhadeva.”— Bhagvanlâl Indraji, "On the Inscription of Udayagiri, hither to known as the Inscription of King Aira" (read by Prof. Peterson).-Kallovicz, Sur l'influence des langues orientales sur la langue polonaise."-De Harlez, " l'âge de l'Avesta.”— Rhys Davids, "On Pali Literature."-Halévy, "l'origine des écritures indiennes."-Feer "Une polémique entre Tirthaka et Boudhistes."-Führer, Bana's Biography of Sriharsa deva of Kashmir."- Monier Williams, "On the Application of the Roman Alphabet to Sanskrit."-Leitner, “The Professional and Secret Trade-dialects, the argots or dialects of the criminal and wandering tribes of Northern Inda, and the cryptographic and other characters of the Panjab, Kab and Kashmir."-Idem, "The State of Learning and items of Instruction among Muhammadans, Hindus, Sikhs in Upper India."-Idem, "Further proofs in support of the influence of Greek art on the Buddhist Sculpture of the Panjab."

In the African (Egyptian) Section, which was presided over by Prof. J. Lieblein, assisted by Prof. A. Eisenlohr as VicePresident, and Mr. W. Golénischeff as Secretary, the follo ing papers were read:-Pleijte, "Sur le couronnement des momies."-Eisenlohr, "Die Anwendung der Photographie für Monumente and Papyrusrollen." Lieblein, "Zwei Vorträge über ägyptische Religion.". Golénischeff, "Ser l'origine de la valeur alphabétique de certains hieroglyphes." -v. Lemm, "Einige Bemerkungen über die sahidischen, MSS. der K. Oeffentl. Bibliothek zu St. Petersburg." Wiedemann, "Die aegyptischen Grabkegel.” — Lieblein, “Mém. sur la religion égyptienne."-Leemans, "Sur hypocéphale égyptien du musée de Leyde."— Edwards (Miss A. B.). Mem. on a fragment of a Mummy-case apparently of the XXIst dynasty, containing the cartouche of a king previously unknown to history" (read by Prof. Sayce.)-Lefébure, "De l'utilité et de l'urgence de déblayer le tombeau de Ramses II." (read by Prof. de Millotel -Wiedemann, Ueber die Menas-Vasen."-Lieblein, “Les quatre races dans le Deva égyptien."-Eisenlohr, Ueber die Feldertexte von Edfu.-Abel," Ueber den vocalischen Ablaat im Koptischen; "-and several small notices by Oppert, Delgeur, etc., etc.

The Section for Central Asia and the Far East elected Dr. G. Schlegel as President, M. Léon de Rosny as Vice-President, and M. Henri Cordier as Secretary. The following papers were read:-van den Gheyn, "Les dialectes de l'Asie centrale."-Schlegel, "Sur l'importance de l'emploi de la langue hollandaise dans l'interprétation de la langue chinoise." - Groot, "Buddhist Masses for the Dead at Amoy." Tomaschek, "Zur ältesten Völkergeschichte Mittel-Asiens." -de Harlez, "Décret de l'empereur Yongtching (entre 1733 et 1736) adressé aux Huit Baunières et rapports des mandarins."-Howorth, "On a volume of the Yuan chao pi shi."-Idem, "Note on the affinities of the Huns."-Rosny, Quelques observations sur les caractères de la langue chinoise au Japon, au huitième siècle de notre ère."-Leitner, Languages and races of Hunza Kafiristan and of the socalled neutral Zone.'

It was proposed by the President and carried that the following petition should be presented to Her Majesty the

Queen of England: "The Congress of Orientalists, convinced of the necessity, scientific and practical, of a complete Chinese-English and English-Chinese Dictionary, addresses itself to her Most Gracious Majesty, praying her to appoint a Special Commission composed of the most eminent Sinologues of Europe, America, and China, to undertake the task of compiling a complete Chinese-English and English-Chinese Dictionary on the lines of the great Sanskrit Dictionary edited by Messrs. Boehtlingk and Roth under the auspices of the Russian Government."

Abbé Faure was the President, Messrs. R. N. Cust and van Musschenbroek Vice-Presidents, and Messrs. A. Marre and H. Humme Secretaries of the Malay and Polynesian Section, in which the following papers were read: - Pijnappel, “Les racines dans la langue Malaise."-Vreede, "Les racines dans la langue javanaise."-van der Lith, Sur l'importance du Livre des Merveilles de l'Inde."-Kern, Rapports de la langue Mafoure et des langues Malayo-Polynésiennes."Marre, "Sur les affinités lexicologiques du Malgache avec le Javanais, le Malais et les autres principaux idiomes de l'archipel Indien." - Humme, "L'influence de la langue Javanaise sur le caractère et la civilisation du peuple." Hunfalvy, "Quelques observations relatives aux noms de nombres 8 et 9 dans les pays du Nord aussi bien que dans le Malaisie."-Long, "On the importance and the best mode of collecting the proverbs and folklore in the Dutch, Russian, and English settlements in the East."-Matthes, "Einige Eigenthümlichkeiten in den Festen und Gewohnheiten der Makassaren und Buginezen."-Wÿnmalen, " Fr. de Houtman, considéré surtout comme linguiste."-Schnellenbach, "Vestiges de la migration d'une civilisation ancienne depuis la

Haute Asie, à travers l'Océanie jusqu'en Amérique."—Veth, les noms Malais des plantes."

The Congress was opened by His Excellency the Minister of the Interior, M. J. Heemskerk, Hon. Sec., who welcomed the Members in the name of the Dutch Government, and after shortly dwelling on the history of the University of Leyden, expressed his regret at the death of Prof. Dozy.

The President, Prof. Kuenen, then rose and said that it caused him much pain to take the Chair, which had been appointed to Prof. Dozy. He also spoke on the object for which they had assembled and the work that had to be done. Dr. Leitner announced the establishment of the AngloOriental University of the Panjab by the Indian Government. M. de Goeje proposed: "That the Congress expresses the wish that in future savants, who would be prevented from visiting the British Museum personally, shall be able to obtain the loan of such MSS. as they may require for their studies under the same conditions of guarantee as are in use elsewhere, and that the assembly authorizes the Council to submit this desire to the Trustees of the British Museum, and to beg them in the name of the Congress to give it their kind consideration, and to solicit their powerful influence with the British Government in furtherance of the object of their petition."

This petition was carried at the closing ceremony, at which Prof. Bühler read a manifesto of the Austrian Government expressing the wish that the seventh Congress of Orientalists might take place at Vienna. The assembly accepted this invitation, and it was decided to meet in Vienna in the summer of 1886.

THE MUHAMMADAN DYNASTIES OF ASIA.-Major H. G. Raverty, late of the Bombay Native Infantry, has translated the Tabakat-i-Nasiri by the Maulana Minhaj-ud-din Abu-Umar-i-Usman, which is a general history of the Muhammadan rulers of Asia from A.H. 194 (810 A.D.) to A.H. 658 (1260 A.D.). Major Raverty's perfect knowledge of Persian renders it certain that this important work on Oriental history is well translated. Twelve manuscripts were collated, so as to secure the most correct version of the original, and not content with merely translating the work, the translator has supplied valuable notes correcting the author from reliable sources when he is in error, and trusts to report rather than to his own knowledge, as he does in the case of the Syrian and Egyptian Dynasties. The work forms two bulky volumes of nearly fourteen hundred pages, printed by Messrs. Gilbert & Rivington for the Bibliotheca Indica of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Messrs. Trübner & Co. are the London Agents for the sale of it.

Dr. GUSTAV OPPERT.-This gentleman, who is Professor of Sanskrit in the Presidency College, Madras, will, we hear, soon return to his duties in India. He has attended the meetings of the International Oriental Congress at Leyden, and the British Association at Southport, and has been invited by Professors Virchow and Bastian to give a lecture at Berlin, on his new system of Classification of Languages, which is based on physiological and psychological principles and which coincides entirely with ethnology. Professor Oppert's work on the Classification of Languages will appear in a second edition published by Messrs. Trübner & Co. in England, and a German edition will be brought out by the well-known Berlin publisher Julius Springer.

PROFESSOR PETER PETERSON.-The Senate of the University of Edinburgh have conferred the degree of Doctor of Science in Philology upon Prof. Peter Peterson, of Elphinstone College, Bombay, who has been paying a short visit to this country after attending, on behalf of the Government of Bombay, the late Oriental Congress at Leyden.

NOTICES OF SANSKRIT MSS.-Bahádur Ráyá Rájendralála Mitra, LL.D., C.I.E., has issued his Notices of Sanskrit MSS. Vol. VI, part 2, No. 17. The present report catalogues and describes 158 manuscripts, and gives the total number purchased during the year at 238, representing all the branches of Sanskrit literature, including several works of great merit. A copy of the "Bhatti Kávya," a common school book, has been purchased, but this particular copy is 479 years old, besides being uncommonly correct. Dr. Rájendralála Mitra has been able to settle several questions of literary importance by means of this MS. He finds its real name to be Rávaṇa

badha, and through it be has been enabled to determine the age of the Bengali character which has been in use for upwards of seven centuries.

THE BEHARI GRAMMAR.-In the early part of the year 1881, the Bengal Government deputed Mr. G. A. Grierson, then the joint-magistrate of Patna, to make a thorough investigation into the various dialects current in Behar. One of these had already been treated of by the same gentleman in his Maithil Grammar and Chrestomathy, published by the Asiatic Society of Bengal, and they all formed varieties of the so-called Eastern Hindi language treated of by Dr. Hoernle in his Gaudian grammar. One of the results of this investigation has been the placing on a firm basis our knowledge of the language spoken by some 60 millions of people inhabiting Eastern Hindustan, and the possibility of the compilation by Dr. Hoernle and Mr. Grierson of the dictionary of the Eastern Hindi, or, as they now prefer to call it, the Bihari Language. Mr. Grierson's investigations have been presented in the form of seven dialectic grammars, forming, with an introductory part, eight volumes. They constitute the first attempt which has been made to bring into one focus all the various dialects which occur between the High Hindi of the Doab and the Bangali of Purniyā and Birbhum, covering roughly a tract of over 100,000 square miles. The introductory volume (which contains three coloured language maps, and a coloured language chart), and the volume (No. III.) treating of the Magadhi dialect of Patna and Gaya, the home of the old Magadhi Prākrit, have been published. The volume (No. II.) for the Bhojpuri dialect of Western Bihar is in the press, and will shortly be available. The other volumes are ready for the press and will appear at intervals. The whole series can be obtained from Messrs. Trübner & Co, as published.

THE POCKET TAMIL GUIDE.-Mr. A. M. Ferguson, jun., of Colombo, Ceylon, has published a second edition of " Inge Va, or the Sinna Durai's Pocket Tamil Guide," which he has revised and greatly enlarged. This little guide is intended for the use of overseers of plantations, and is divided into sections, giving the operations and objects on a plantation, which makes it eminently practical. Directions for pronouncing Tamil are given in the preface, and the author says "the vowels should be pronounced as they are in almost every language under the sun except English."

THE ENGLISH ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE.-Under this title Messrs. Macmillan commenced in October a magazine which they intend shall be the best magazine at the price, which is sixpence. The October and November Numbers now before us do not belie Messrs. Macmillian's intentions; the November

number is even better than the October, showing that the publishers had no intention of publishing a showy first number. The articles are good, in fact almost too good, for the large public an illustrated sixpenny magazine would appeal to, and the illustrations are made for the articles, and not the articles written for the illustrations, as is sometimes the case with illustrated periodicals.

BEOWULF. Mr. James M. Garnett, M.A., LL.D., of Garnett's University School, Ellicott City, Maryland, whilst reading with a post-graduate class at St. John's College, Annapolis, Md., made a line-for-line translation of Beowulf for his own use. This translation he has since revised and arranged as nearly as possible in a rhythmical form, which he has published with Messrs. Ginn & Heath of Boston, Mass. Beowulf, the oldest heroic poem extant in any Germanic language, is placed by some in the seventh and by others in the eighth century, and gives the best account we have of Scandinavian tribal manners and customs. According to the best evidence the poem belongs to the first half of the eighth century; it may be divided into three divisions: the fight with Grendel, the one with Grendel's mother, and that with the dragon. Mr. Garnett gives a bibliography of editions and commentaries of Beowulf in his introduction, and his translation runs very smoothly for a nearly literal rendering. A Glossary and Notes will be found in the volume.

ARTISTS' PIGMENTS.-Mr. H. C. Standage merits the thanks of artists for a table of pigments he has prepared, showing their composition, conditions of permanency, and adulterations, effects in combination with other pigments and vehicles, and giving the most reliable tests for purity. Standage is a practical chemist, and well qualified to produce a work of this kind; the arrangement is tabular, which is a great saving of time when referring to any particular pigment.

Mr.

FRA LUIS PONCE DE LEON.-Luis Ponce de Leon was born of a noble family at Granada about the year 1528, and belonged to the St. Augustine order of monks, which he entered at the age of sixteen. One of his early poetical productions was a translation of the Song of Solomon, for which the Holy Inquisition rewarded him by five years' solitary confinement. He was finally released and restored to all his ecclesiastical dignities which he enjoyed until his death in 1591. His poems are all written after the classical model, and it has been said of him that for classical purity of style and moral dignity he has never been surpassed in Spanish literature.' Mr. Henry Phillips, jun., A. M., Ph.D., Hon. Curator of the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, etc., has translated de Leon's poems into English as chaste and elegant as the original Spanish, of which he has printed an edition of one hundred copies for private circulation.

Q. P. INDEX.-The latest publication of "Q. P. Index" is a Synoptical Index to the Copyright Decisions under the Law of the United States. This index, consisting of 8 pages, has been compiled by Mr. W. M. Griswold, who has epitomized the decisions so as to give the cream of them; if fuller text is wanted, the "Index" tells where it can be found.

THE MANHATTAN.-The August, September. October, and November Numbers of this illustrated Magazine are before us, and are, if possible, improvements on the first Number for July, which we previously mentioned. The November Number contains an article on " Henry Irving (the Actor) and his Work," and one on "Wordsworth and the Modern Age." The former by Arden Seymour Fitch, with illustrations engraved by H. Velten D. Shiel, and the latter by H. C. Pedder, with illustrations of the magnificent lake scenery immortalized by Wordsworth, drawn by G. Perkins and W. St. John Harper, and engraved by H. Shiel and other artists. The illustrations in this periodical are second to none, even of the best illustrated American magazines.

THE SOUTHERN CLINIC.-This is a monthly journal of medicine, surgery, and new remedies, edited by Dr. C. A. Bryce, and represents the medical thought and practice of the south and south-west of the United States. It has the largest circulation of any medical journal published in the Southern States. The headquarters of this journal are in Richmond, Va., and Messrs. Trübner & Co. act as Dr. Bryce's London Agents.

MAN A CREATIVE FIRST CAUSE.-Under this title Mr. Roland G. Hazard has published with Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., two discourses delivered at Concord, Mass., July, 1882. These discourses follow up Mr. Hazard's favourite study the "Will," and in the opening one he refers to his well-known work on "Freedom of Mind in Willing." Metaphysical students will find some valuable and suggestive thoughts in this little volume, and Mr. Hazard is an authority on the subject, as he has devoted his life to it.

BUREAU OF EDUCATION.-One of the publications of this Bureau just to hand is, "Answers to Inquiries about the Bureau of Education, by Dr. Charles Warren, telling how and why it was established, its work, its library, and its pablications." Circulars of Information, No. 2, 1883, is on the "Co-education of the sexes in Public Schools of the United States." No. 3, 1883, contains the Proceedings of the Department of Superintendence of the National Educational Association at Washington, Feb. 22, 1883.

THE AMERICAN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.-The Bulletin of the American Geographical Society, 1882, No. 5, contam an article by General E. L. Viele on "The East and Wea Boundary Line between the United States and Merion." one by Paul B. Du Chaillu on Travels in Sweden, Norw Lapland, and Northern Finland. The Bulletin No. 2 for 1 contains "The Philippine Islands, their Physical Characte Customs of the People, Products," etc., by Dr. Samal Kneeland; and one on the "Currents of the Pacific Ocean by Dr. Thomas Antisell. Dr. Kneeland says of the Philipp Islands, The healthful climate, inexhaustible ferality, commanding geographical position, and magnificent scenery, fairly entitle them to their local name, the Pearls of the Orient,'-they are capable of being made the brightest jeres in the Spanish crown."

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WASHINGTON.-We have received from the Hon. Commissioner of Agriculture lowing reports made in his Department. Special Bat Division of Statistics Nos. 64 and 65, August and Sep, New Series No. 1, October. 1883, are Reports on the Condition of the Crops and Freight Rates of Transportation Compan this latter item being of the greatest importance to farmers in the United States, as when freights are high it is some times more profitable to use grain for fuel than send it to market. Each of these reports contains some amount d information respecting the European grain crops, so that farmers in the States may know what competition they a likely to meet with. Special Report No. 61 for July, 198 gives the area of corn, potatoes, and tobacco under cultion. Special Report No. 63 is one on the "Grasses of the United States." Here in forty-seven pages will be found very material information for farmers, epitomized out of expensive empra tions and surveys. A work of this kind has been long sl and enquired for; it has been prepared by Dr. Geo. Vasty, Botanist of the Department. Special Report No. 6

Observations on the Soil and Products of Florida," by Mr. William Saunders, Superintendent of Gardens and Grand In describing his journey to Jacksonville, Florida, fro Washington, he says, "I left Washington on the 27th of January and reached Jacksonville on the 28th. When I left Washington a heavy coating of snow and ice was on the streets, and snow was to be seen about 50 miles south Richmond, where it disappeared. Leaving Wilmington, N.C., at eleven o'clock at night, a perceptible change of chmate was felt, and the frogs were heard piping in the mars After passing Charlestown the pools were sprinkled w young leaves of Nuphar and Nymphae, and the dwarf p were in great plenty in low grounds, and in wet places the were massed in close thickets. Nearing Savannah cath were observed on alders and willows, and in cultivad grounds peas seemed to be about six inches in height. the kale showed thick and green in the rows. The f were showing quite bright on the swamp or red maples, n as we neared Jacksonville it became quite warm. We had passed from midwinter weather to midsummer weather in the course of twenty-four hours."

BOOKS FOR BIBLIOPHILES.-Mr. F. Leypoldt of New York who is always catering for the wants of book readers, s added three useful little volumes to the" Books for All Time Books for the Young," etc., which we have before had occasion to mention. His present issues consist of "Library Aids" (2nd edition) and "Libraries and Schools," both by Mr. Samuel S. Green, Librarian of the Free Public Library, Worcester, Mass., and "Libraries and Readers." by M William E. Foster, the Librarian of the Providence Pub Library. The first edition of "Library Aids," was prepare as a "Circular of the Bureau of Education," but Mr. Le poldt thought it merited reprinting in a more portable fort. Libraries and Schools" is a series of addresses by Messrs Adams, Green, Metcalf, and Foster. "Libraries and Readers" is intended to save the time of readers by giving them hints on right reading, corrections of aimless reading, and on special reading.

MESSRS. J. R. OSGOOD & Co's NEW PUBLICATIONS. Messrs. J. R. Osgood & Co. of Boston, Mass., have just pub Theodore A Bird's-eye View of the Civil War," by Ayrault Dodge, of the U.S. Army. An epitomised history

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