THE MANUFACTURE OF UNIQUE BOOKS. 4, Trafalgar Square, W.C., June 25, 1885. I HAVE been so often solicited from abroad within the last few years to purchase very and "unique" books at extravagant prices that, as the supply begins to exceed the demand, I am disposed to share the advantages of possession with other collectors. These books seldom rare appear in printed catalogues, but come by post on approval," reported with very brief titles as "unique, fifty guineas," or some such tempting price. Nothing could be fairer. The obliging seller makes no compromising statements, but instead permits his victim to see the book with his own eyes, and to take upon himself the responsibility of purchase or return. The "innocent abroad" who owns and hawks the Sermo Cancellarii Ebor., 281. The 1,059 lots prize. However, on consulting some of the book may possibly himself have been taken in 66 more I have before me a volume lately received fresh from the manufactory of uniques situated somewhere in the obscurities of abroad. It is so interesting and attractive that I cannot resist giving it this advertisement, and leaving the volume with you for inspection and, if you please, purchase. The work is done up in old plain white parchment, apparently original. is a thin folio, with two preliminary leaves, seventy-eight pages, followed by a colophon leaf, in all forty-two leaves, "quite complete, clean, good-as-new, and unique." The exact title on the recto of the first leaf is: DE ALOYSII CADAMVSTI TERRAS IN- It Under this title there is a genuine old manuscript inscription: "Ex Libris Josephi de Marco Antonio Fabroni Ciue Aretino anno 1729." On the verso are four and a half lines, under the heading "Ad Lectorem," so instructive that they are given in full : "Ex italica in linguam latinam ista itinera traduxi ut Latini omnes intelligant quam multa miranda in dies reperiantur, & eorum compriniatur au- | dacia qui cœlum, & maiestatem scrutari, & plus sapere quam liceat sapere | uolunt: quando a tanto tempore quo mundus cœpit, ignota sit uastitas ter | ræ & quæ in ea continentur.' The second leaf has on the recto: Cavtvm est ne quis in Dominis | ill. S.V. impvne hvnc li | brvm qveat- | imprime | re," verso blank. At the bottom of p. 78 are found the word "Finis" in the centre, and in the lower inner corner the catchword " Regestrum," to lead one to the colophon leaf, which has on the recto over the printer's well-known device (a cat and a mouse), two inches square, the following, arranged in ten lines: "Regestrum | Operis | Aloysii Cadamusti a.b.c.d.e.f.g. | Omnes sunt terniones præter g. qui est duernio. | Impressum Venetiis apud March. Sessam | Cura et impensis Illustriss. Venet. Senatus. | Anno Domini | MD XV· | Die septimo Nouembris." This unique volume purports to be a first and separate Latin edition of the celebrated voyages of Cadamosto, in the service of the King of Portugal, down the west coast of Africa, in 1454-63, a bibliographical rarity that had altogether escaped my research. On first seeing it, not being very alert or suspicious, I began to congratulate myself as the winner of the grand "E Patritiis Venetis Viri Praestantissimi." of The In short, the paper, the type, the binding, the scholarship, and the entire get-up of the imposition are worthy of the clever but distorted genius of the learned antiquary who presides at the manufactory. This same sort of thing has been done in London, and I can point out examples carefully preserved in the British Museum; but we are now manifestly outdone in this art. I leave with you, Mr. Editor, for a short time, this latest sample of foreign enterprise on misdirected lines of unmatched wicked ness. I purpose returning it to the painstaking Books IV., V., VI. of Glenaveril,' Lord Lytton's new poem, will be published simultaneously about the middle or end of July. The work will then be complete, and will be issued in two volumes as well as in separate parts. READERS of the recent Memoirs' will be interested to learn that Messrs. Macmillan & Co. have in the press, and will shortly publish, a volume of University and College Sermons' by Mr. Mark Pattison. A NEW edition of Mr. Matthew Arnold's poems, in three volumes, containing (1) A SMALL volume of Prayers for P Worship,' by the late Dr. John Servic about to be published by Messrs. Macm & Co. Much of his influence was to the character of these prayers, an them will be interesting, not only to is therefore thought that a selection friends, but to all who are familiar his published sermons, as a further illu tion of his teaching. MESSRS. MACMILLAN & Co. have n arrangements for the publication of a tory of English literature in four volu each the work of a writer who has dev special attention to the period under rev The pre-Elizabethan literature will be with by Mr. Stopford Brooke, Mr. Sa bury has undertaken the age of Elizal Mr. Gosse will take the succeeding pe and Prof. Dowden, beginning prob with Cowper, will carry the narrative conclusion. The idea of such a joint tory was originally due to a suggestio the late Mr. J. R. Green, at that time editor of the series for which Mr. Bro 'Primer of English Literature' was wri THE Rev. A. B. Grosart has issued spectuses of two new series of reprints. first is to consist of seven volumes of Catholic Poets of England": Crashaw, volumes; Southwell, Henry Constable. Habington, each one volume; and a v of selections from Catholic poets Chaucer to Davenant. Series the s will comprise selected works of Nic Breton, Barnabe Barnes, Humfrey Gi Vaughan the Silurist, Sir John Beau George Wither, and other poets of sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. THE Secretary of State for India determined to grant the sum of 200 Mr. Lane-Poole's 'Fasti Arabici' in ad to the 501. already voted by Christ Ch The object of these grants is to d the expense of researches in contin museums. MR. CECIL BENDALL intends to publi the autumn a detailed report on his r tour in Nepal and Northern India. Syndics of the Cambridge University 1 publication has been undertaken by and will include reproductions of inscrip discovered and other illustrations of I archæology, as well as classified list MSS. acquired and information as to rarer works of Sanskrit literature exi in several places visited. THE fragment of an early gospel f on the papyrus of Archduke Rénier as follows. The letters said to be in fectly legible are enclosed in brackets: [+]ATEINSC[E=]H[TON]IIA ΤΗ ΝΥΚΤΙΟΚΑΝΔΑΛΙΟ ΤΟΓΡΑΦΕΝΠΑΤΑΞΩΤΟΝ [II]POBATA^IACKOPIIICOHC ΥΠΕΤΚΑΙΕΙ ΠΑΝΤΕΣΟ ΟΑΛΕΚΤΡΥΩΝΔΙΣΚΟΚ κι' ο πάντες, οἱ ἐκ ἐγώ, ἔφη αὐτῷ] Ὁ ἀλεκ - τα εις κοκ κύξει καὶ σὺ πρῶτον τρὶς ἀ]παρIr death of Mrs. Henry Lynch occurred Saturday last, June 27th. She was the thor of several volumes of poetry, and her prose writings were 'The Red House' and Years Ago.' M. EDGAR SANDERSON writes: Will you kindly allow me to correct your retee (in issue of June 20th) of my work 'OutLunes of the World's History'? This is not 'an ed edition, but an entirely new book; not merely attributed' to me by the ishers, but entirely my own work. I am your reviewer has praised the account of rea: Civil War in America, for it is entirely wn composition, though I am indebted for e facts to American sources." Thursday last the frequenters of the Reading Room of the British Museum preted to Dr. Richard Garnett an illuminated adress, in connexion with his retirement from the post of Superintendent of the Leading Room. This testimonial was the taneous result of the high regard in with Dr Garnett is held. Mr. F. Hitchand Mr. John Ashton acted as secre es to the subscribers, and it was mainly wing to their exertions that the matter was ried to a successful issue. Dr. Garnett a-appointed Superintendent on the 31st of 1875, and he relinquished the appointon the 8th of November, 1884, in order ndertake the special work of superintendng the preparation of the new Catalogue. I'E. GARNETT declined to accept any substantial proof of the esteem of his friends, it at length consented to receive an illuLated address. The presentation was in one of the rooms at the end of the Amongst those present were E. Bond, Principal Librarian of the K: Mr. G. Bullen, Keeper of Printed Mr. E. M. Thompson; Mr. ForSuperintendent of the Reading and other officials connected with Meum, together with a number of rs and friends of Dr. Garnett. Mr. , in a few well-chosen words, made Tentation, and Dr. Garnett, who was applauded, responded with much GENSBURG would be obliged to any who would tell him if any systematic has been made of the Septuagint the Hebrew text besides Wellhausen's of Samuel, and that of the Minor es in Stade's Zeitschrift. ecmittee appointed some time ago pa code for the transliteration of anese characters into the Roman ported to have concluded its task, are commenced the publication of a tary and various school-books in the apted alphabet. ATORY of dealers in second-hand the United States is to be pubd shortly. MACMILLAN & Co. will publish ya translation of Dr. Hertel's Cover-pressure in Danish high with an introduction by Dr. Crich, who considers it an eminently and scientific treatise, which places light the dangers and difficulties best educational enterprise in the Test day. calculated to form an Introduction' to the The may be interesting. Of Mr. Anstey's 'Tinted Venus' 23,000 copies have been disposed of, and Mr. Arrowsmith is selling 500 copies a day. Of Mr. Cobban's 'Tinted Vapours' 15,000 have been sold by Messrs. Warne. at A CORRESPONDENT writes :"The third volume of the Publications of the Pipe Roll Society, just about to be issued, should properly have been the first, judging from the nature of its contents, which are justly study of these rolls and of the legal forms and ceremonies which concern them. THE wholesome reforms introduced photographic plate of a portion of the Pipe Roll Westminster by Mr. Rutherford have, of of 5 Henry II. is a fine specimen of the accurate course, provoked much opposition among reproduction of ancient MSS., and in regard to those conservative of every tradition, good its usefulness in conveying a faithful idea of the or bad, connected with the school, and a contents and character of the roll it is beyond praise. It is greatly to be desired that the meeting of the opponents of improvement Society will illustrate future volumes of their is shortly to be held. Few schoolmasters work with as many plates as they can reasonhave had a harder task to accomplish than ably give their subscribers. The book contains Mr. Rutherford, and he deserves the syma chapter on abbreviations, and a list, extend-pathy of every friend of sound education. ing over twenty-five pages, of abbreviated words occurring in the texts, which will prove of value to those who are unacquainted with the contracted forms used by the official scribes. Another chapter is devoted to the elucidation of the system of the Exchequer, including sections descriptive of the Exchequer,' the 'Great Roll,' the 'Summonses,' the Writs,' the Trial of the Pyx,' and the 'Tallies. This is a chapter which, although modestly asserted in the introduction to be solely intended for the use of beginners, will be read with interest by a large number of readers who are more than beginners in the subjects of which it treats in so interesting and instructive a manner. The work concludes with a copious glossary of words and phrases with explanations derived from the best authorities, for general purposes, and not intended to apply exclusively to the Pipe Rolls of Henry II., the preparation of a special glossary to these MSS. being, as stated by the Society, at present impracticable. The informaSociety, at present impracticable. The information contained in this volume is always sound and not infrequently new, and may be fully relied on; and the book will be certain to be in demand far beyond the limits of the Society and the small number (only 350) of the copies printed." THE new system of teaching Arabic in a shorter period at Constantinople, instituted by H.E. Ibrahim Effendi, having proved successful on trial, the Sultan has given a house for a college, in which there are now 150 pupils. It is expected that this system will leave more time to the Ulema for European and other studies. THE first part of an encyclopaedic dictionary in Bengali, edited by two native scholars, has just been published in India. It contains descriptive derivations of Sanskrit and Bengali words, with Sutras quoted from Panini the grammarian; Arabic, Persian, and Hindi words introduced into the Bengali language; notes on the ancient and modern religious beliefs of India, the Vedans, Puráns, Tantras, and other sacred books; besides short articles embracing the whole range of modern science. THE publication of Mr. John H. Ingram's work on Edgar Poe's 'Raven' is postponed until September. MR. REGINALD LANE POOLE is to be subeditor of the English Historical Review which we mentioned last week. A NEW novel by Mr. Hall Caine has just been published in America by Messrs. Harper & Brothers. Its scene is the Isle of Man, and it is described in the American papers as "powerful in lusty types of "powerful in lusty types of humanity." The story has appeared in The story has appeared in newspapers in England, but is not otherwise published in this country. A WORD or two with regard to the sale of the stories recently published at a shilling He has already effected a change for the better at Westminster that is little short of marvellous. SCIENCE A Course of Practical Instruction in Botany. By F. O. Bower, M.A., and S. H. Vines, M.A., D.Sc. With a Preface by W. T. Thiselton Dyer, M.A. Part I. Phanerogama-Pteridophyta. (Macmillan & Co.) THE necessity for a book of this character is but too familiar to all those whose duty it is to scrutinize examination papers. Whether in examinations of an elementary character or in those to which advanced students are subjected, the same want of thoroughness and lack of practical tuition in botany are but too apparent. The reasons for this are obvious. The candidates have been duly lectured at, they have been shown a number of diagrams, a few specimens have been placed in their hands, and the more industrious of them have supplemented the lectures by a diligent study of the text-book upon selves have been based. Such candidates, which, in all probability, the lectures themwhen confronted by examiners who exact, assimilation of this raw material, are very apt as all should do, practical evidence of the to fail woefully. If this be, as we believe it is, a correct statement, the blame attaches less to the pupil than to the teacher. At one time there was scarcely an institution in the country where practical botany was taught in the same sense that practical anatomy was beaten into the memory of medical students. Even now such establishments may be counted on the fingers of one hand, and the great mass of students are unable to avail themselves of the facilities offered in such botanical laboratories as we have. The teachers, moreover, were, with few exceptions, ill qualified to impart practical instruction; they, too, depended largely on text-book knowledge. With a view in some degree to remedy these defects, some ten years ago the Science and Art Department at South Kensington undertook what was virtually a new departure in botanical teaching. The department was fortunate enough to secure the services of Mr. Thiselton Dyer, who, assisted by Mr. Lawson, at that time Professor of Botany at Oxford, arranged a course of instruction which, within the limits imposed by the necessities of the case, was singularly complete and satisfactory. The plan adopted was to take a certain number of selected of selected types; point out their characteristics by means of lectures, diagrams, and preparations; and then to place in the hands of the learners specimens, with the necessary microscopes, dissecting apparatus, and chemical reagents, and require them then and there to work out, each for himself, the details of structure or composition which had been indicated previously. The plan bore a resemblance to that adopted by the late Mr. Squeers for the purpose of making his pupils acquainted with the nature of windows, but was of a more comprehensive character. A whole day was thus given up to the study, say, of a chara or of a fern, while the next day was devoted to the investigation of some other plant and to a comparison of its peculiarities with those of the specimens previously examined. By this method of compelling the pupils to examine into everything for themselves, and to depend upon the text-book or the teacher only as aids to personal research, a very thorough knowledge of a few well-selected types was obtained in a short time, a general knowledge of the phenomena of plant-life was obtained, as well as of the points of difference between animals and plants. Provided with such knowledge the pupil was well equipped to pursue his studies by himself. The scheme was admirable, and it was well carried out. The work now before us shows that it has been extended and improved upon by Mr. Bower. The excellence of the method is beyond dispute, but in practice it still leads to superficial work on the part of the student, who comes into the examination well primed as to his "types," but too often unable to apply the knowledge he has gained to any plant other than those he has specially studied. He is like the sign-painter who could design red lions with facility and fidelity, but who was unable to represent green dragons with equal success. In this case the fault lies with the student and not with the teacher or the book, and if he now break down under the examination ordeal he has only himself to thank for it. The present work is admirably suited for the advanced student who is familiar with the rudiments of the subject, and who now requires to know how to work and how to see for himself. In this respect the book is unique. We know of no handbook to laboratory work of a similar character to this in English except Schacht's treatise on the microscope and its application to vegetable anatomy, now out of date and out of print, too. Strasburger's admirable Das Botanische Practicum,' a work of wider scope and more exhaustive treatment, unfortunately is a sealed book to those not familiar with the language in which it is written. Not only advanced students, but working botanists will find the volume under review serviceable for the numerous indications it contains of the best methods of cutting sections, applying reagents, and the like. It is, however, devoted almost exclusively to microscopical anatomy; physiology is scarcely touched on, comparative morphology receives but very scanty notice, while classification is entirely passed over. A certain want of proportion is, moreover, evident throughout the book, as much stress being laid on certain matters of detail as on subjects of greater importance. It will thus be seen that this little treatise is intended to be used as an adjunct to the ordinary text-book, and that it includes only the so-called flowering plants and the vascular cryptogams. A second volume is promised, dealing with the other groups, in which we may hope to get a connected view of the comparative morphology of fungi and algae, and of their relations or analogies to the higher plants-points which greatly need a clear presentment such as the present authors are well qualified to give. May it not be long before they do so, and increase the value of their work by the addition of an alphabetical index and of a synonymic list of terms, greatly needed nowadays, when each new writer thinks it necessary to invent new terms or use old ones in a new signification. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. satisfied with the results achieved. The geo DR. VON HARDEGGER and Dr. Paulitschke have returned from their excursion to Harar, fully graphical position of Harar and of several other places has been determined by careful astronomical observations; a ruined city, Bia Woraba, about sixty miles to the south of Harar, has been visited; and a large collection of manuscripts has been secured. Jointly with the more important explorations of the Messrs. James this expedition will furnish materials for reconstructing the map of Somal-Land. Mr. J. Thomson and Mr. Hamilton left Lokoja on March 29th for Sokoto. Mr. Hamilton came back on April 11th, having broken his leg when within a few miles of Rabba, in consequence of a fall with his horse. Mr. Thomson is reported to have gone on, but this accident to his companion is likely to influence his future moveThe King of Nupe, on the Niger, has ments. placed himself under English protection, and no foreigners will in future be permitted to settle in his kingdom except by permission of the English authorities. Such, at least, is the purport of the proclamation made on April 5th by Mr. D. M'Intosh, her Majesty's consul at Lokoja. Signor Guasconi writes from Harar that things there are growing worse, and that dis satisfaction with British rule is increasing among excepted. His letter is dated April 20th. all classes of the population, the Somal alone Herr Friederichsen, of Hamburg, sends us his 'Karte des Westlichen Theils der Südsee,' originally designed for a German White Book. It presents us with a delineation of the eastern half of New Guinea, together with the group of islands now known in Germany as Bismarck Archipelago, and clearly shows the boundary of the German protectorate. There are six inset plans of harbours, some of them based upon recent German surveys. Herr Gottlob Adolf Krause publishes a map of the country to the eastward of Lagos, based upon two trips made by him in the company of Mrs. Krause, Consul H. Bey, and Capt. Just in May and August of last year. The paper which accompanies this map abounds in geographical, historical, commercial, and linguistical information, and is a valuable contribution to our knowA second account of ledge of the slave coast. Herr Krause's residence at Lagos will be found in our Milan contemporary, L'Esploratore. It is rather curious that the late Dr Riebeck, who defrayed the expenses of this expedition, amounting, we believe, to something like 1,500l., not once be alluded to by Herr Krause. should The Mitteilungen of the German African Association publishes Herr Reichard's account of a journey to the Katanga copper-mines, accomReichard crossed the Luapula into Msiri's kingpanied by a sketch-map. Dr. Böhm and Herr dom on November 26th, 1883. They then crossed the Lufira, and finally reached the Lualaba and 1 Lake Upembe, which that river enters, an which Dr. Böhm died on March 27th, Herr Reichard subsequently visited the c mines of Katanga, which are not being w rich. The Lualaba is described as bein at the present time, but are evidently excee inferior to the Luapula in volume, but the latter is obstructed by rapids, the Luala be navigated freely as far as Nyangwe. Msiri proved treacherous, and Herr Re had to fight his way out of his kingdom. bulk of the collections made had abandoned during the retreat. This in ant journey into a district long known by report enables us to fill up another of the Mitteilungen publishes letters gap on the map of Africa. The same n members of the German Congo expe from which it appears that Dr. Wolff has ac reached Kiamvo's residence beyond the K and that Dr. Büttner left San Salvador f same place on April 9th. The assistance rer by the Baptist missionaries is gratefully ac ledged. SOCIETIES. GEOGRAPHICAL.-June 29.-The Marquis of President, in the chair.-The following gen were elected Fellows: Dr. C. Dettenborn, Dr. den Steinen, Messrs. H. Eccles, L. F. H F. W. E. H. Johnson, C. T. Maude, and J. Sam The paper read was 'A Journey through the Country to the Webbe Shebeyli,' by Mr. F. L. SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES.-June 25.-1 Evans, President, in the chair.-Mr. J. H. Mid exhibited and presented a proof of a plan Forum of Rome, measured and laid down by self, and showing the latest discoveries. Ì intended to illustrate the article "Rome Encyclopædia Britannica,' and also a book, preparation, on the existing remains, neither of would be published for some months. Such executed by an able architect, scholar, an tiquary, is a distinct acquisition to the archæo. Rome. Mr. Reddy exhibited an original imp of an unedited seal of Colchester, and presen impression of the seal of Joan of Navarre, Qu Henry IV.-Mr. J. W. Barnes exhibited a di of a grave slab from Aycliffe Church, co. Du reduced from a tracing lent him by Mr. Hodges, who has published this slab in his in ing and privately printed series of the sept slabs, &c., of the county of Durham. This slab plain upright cross on a calvary of four steps. distance of one-third from the bottom of the shaft issued on each side a pair of oak leaves, pare a grave slab at Rokeby in Boutell's 'Ch Monuments,' p. 95.) Above these again are on the dexter side a chalice, on the sinister: or textus, against each of which a bird perc feet. From the angles of the upright cross iss four limbs of a cross saltire terminating in co tional wheel-shaped flowers of eight leaves J. H. Cooke exhibited an uninscribed Britis coin from Dursley.-Mr. W. H. St. John Ha permission of the mayor, exhibited the mat the seal of the city of Rochester, which hac brought up to London for repair. Mr. Hope this seal at the middle of the fourteenth ce On the obverse was the martyrdom of St. Am with the legend, "Sigillum commune ci Rofensis." On the other side was a view, No identitied, of the keep of Rochester Castle, wi legend "Sigillum civium Rofensis (sic)." R. P. Pullan communicated an account of discoveries by Sir J. S. Lumley near Lake -Dr. C. S. Perceval communicated a a Foundation of a Chantry in Macclesfield Ch exhibited by Mr. Everitt. The date of the ment is 1471, and it is especially curious specimen of vigorous vernacular of that per Mr. W. Galloway gave an account of a horse ment which he had discovered in the isla Colonsay, in the immediate vicinity of the gra the Viking or warrior of whose remains Mr. way exhibited interesting specimens in 1884. he read an elaborate memoir.-The Society adjourned to November 26th. of Deiopeia pulchella, captured on board early one thousand miles from land.-Mr. gas communicated notes on an apple tree 1 by Sebizoneura lanigera and Mytilaspis - Mr. F. Enock read the completion ...at of the life history of Atypus piceus. -June 25-Annual Meeting.-Prof. V.P. in the chair.-The report, read Secretary on behalf of the Council, was The Journal of Hellenic Studies still rethe main work of the Society, and the fifth contains a paper by Mr. T. Bent upon the ades; a peper on Sepulchral Customs in cent Phrygia by Mr. W. M. Ramsay, representtg a farther ectcome of the researches in Asia which he intends to resume in the spring of a. Prof. Gardner's paper on Sepulchral : Mr. C. Smith's paper on 'Four Archaic Rhodes: and Prof. Colvin's account of ment which he was fortunate enough in the Lands of M. des Tombes at the Hague. cnet, which is an example of Athenian art of the best period, is published for stte on plate xxxix. The house for the tos School at Athens, upon the site granted by Greek Government, is now in hand, and may be ed to be ready about a year hence. Meanver eft is being made to provide adequate est for the director and the working exe school. The reproduction in facsimile Lasatian Codex of Sophocles has now fully accomplished, and the copies ret been issued to subscribers. The Society 1 of 30. in aid of the explorations being vid by Mr. F. Petrie on the supposed site of tik sod an account of the discoveries made Pere will appear in the forthcoming et of the Journal. The financial position of esty is decidedly satisfactory. The receipts *** year amcant to 8021. 8s. Id., which, with last ance of 911. 28., makes up a total of Ild. The expenditure amounts to Hearing a balance at the bank of 2. In this sum are included life subscrip the arrunt of 2204. 10s., which have been **ested sizce June 1st, the total sum now invested Mesa leing T1 There are, moreover, arrears tecriptions to the amount of about 1401. Since the beat annual meeting forty-five new members heap elected, and fifteen libraries added to the + filsarten Against this increase must be ls by death or resignation of eighteen, so A set increase of members and subscribers -two, the present total of members being of subscribers sixty-four. The Chair L the course of the usual address, reDo the excavation at Naucratis as having sts of great value. The find of fragpottery of the sixth century BC. had pcally rich. The objects brought by Carpathos were of great interest, le figure, which might be regarded at specimen of an idol of any size from hands. It appeared that the principal hip in those early times had been some analogous deity. Possibly these es of the primitive Carian race. Re Mr. Wood's work at Ephesus, Mr. Newton ted that more active interest were taken sk ensure the raising of sufficient funds to #conclusion. The following motion was Teebair on the part of the Council, and The meeting, "That Rule 25 be amended elife subscription from 107. 10s. to islands, and from one of the most ancient of which had come the rude figure mentioned by the Chairman. Some of these tombs consisted of several chambers chiselled out in the rock, either separate or communicating with each other. Others were natural holes in the cliff in almost inaccessible places overhanging the sea. In the latter class of tombs the pottery found was of the best period. On the whole, Mr. Bent considered that as a field for the study of modern Greek manners and customs Carpathos was almost unique, while some points in the ceremonies connected with worship, marriages, births, deaths, &c., must have formed part of the routine of daily life for two thousand years.-The Chairman bore testimony to the value of Mr. Bent's researches, and Mr. C. D. Cobham, Commissioner at Larnaca, mentioned some parallels in the dialect of Cyprus to the Carpathian usage described by Mr. Bent. SHORTHAND.-June 27.-Annual Meeting.-Mr. T. A. Reed. President, in the chair.-The Council presented their report for the past year, showing that twenty-three new members had been elected during the year, thirteen had resigned from various causes, leaving 171 members on the roll, against 163 last year. The Society regretted the loss occasioned by the death of Mr. F. Turner, who had taken a keen interest in its welfare, and had contributed a valuable paper' On Copyright in Shorthand.' Mr. C. Walford, Past President, had during the year represented the Society at the annual shorthand congresses in the publication of the Society, continued to flourish United States and Canada. Shorthand, the official under the able editorship of Dr. Westby-Gibson. The library had received several acquisitions, but the presentation of additional volumes was desirable. The Council felt justified in tendering the thanks of the Society to Mr. T. A. Reed for the interest he had shown in the welfare of the Society.-Mr. E. Pocknell was elected President for the ensuing year; Dr. Westby-Gibson and Mr. J. Clarke were elected Vice-Presidents; and Mr. A. W. Kitson, Hon. Foreign Secretary. ANOTHER Small planet, No. 248, was discovered by Dr. J. Palisa at Vienna on the 5th of last month. This raises the number found by that astronomer to forty-seven. WE learn from the Observatory for this month that M. F. Folie, of the University of Liège, has been appointed Director of the Royal Observatory at Brussels. A NEW work on Polynesia, by the Rev. A. W. Murray, illustrated with woodcuts and maps, is announced by Mr. Elliot Stock. Ar the first meeting of the recently appointed Council of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Mr. Hugh Lindsay Antrobus was reappointed treasurer; Dr. William Pole, F.R.S., honorary secretary; and Mr. James Forrest, the secretary. AT Nuremberg, on the 15th of July, an exallot being taken for the election of hibition of machinery for the production of motive power will be opened, and continued until the 30th of September. The chief object of this exhibition is to introduce labour-saving machines for small workshops. the former President and Vice-Presidents ed, and Mr. C. Elton, Prof. W. M. Mr. T. Bent were chosen to fill CSC the Council.-Mr. R. S. Poole made a ent of the results of the work done 3 and expressed the hope that when shed means might be found of the disposal of members of the Nety as well as of subscribers to --Chairinan regretted that Mr. F. i conducted this exploration, could to speak for himself. The personal at discomfort involved in such work are worthy of commendation.-After stay to Mr. Petrie's untiring zeal and Monterers of observation had been borne Whitehouse, Mr. T. Bent gave an account visit to the island of Carpathos. He the inhabitants were a wild race of shepestoms and folk-lore offered many 1 parallels to those of classical times. The which he gave many examples, was ays study, and a complete glossary of the mon use would be invaluable, as they asderably from those used elsewhere in presented many analogies to ancient cosion, Mr. Bent described some of tombs which he had opened in the MR. THEODORE W. BUNNING read before the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers in Newcastle-on-Tyne on June 13th a report on the results of experiments made at the König Colliery, Saarbrücken, on the influence of coal dust upon explosions. Mr. W. Galloway, who saw some of the experiments, stated that if the coal dust was removed from the immediate neighbourhood of the shot-holes, or if it was kept watered for a space of six yards, the danger of explosion was removed. M. HENRI TRESCA died suddenly of apoplexy last week. This eminent French physicist was Sub Director of the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers. He was an Officer of the Legion of Honour and a member of the French Academy. Amongst his works the most celebrated were 'Cours de Mécanique Appliquée' and 'Écoulement des Liquides.' GEORGE WITZ, of Rouen, died on the 17th ult. at the early age of forty-eight years. His contributions to the chemistry of cellulose have been fully recognized. He was a conspicuous member of the Société Industrielle of his native town. MR. BOSWORTH SMITH has been appointed mineralogist for the Madras Presidency. The Local Government order says he is "to create in the Central Museum a perfect index to the mineral wealth of the presidency, and to begin a mineralogical survey in consultation with Dr. Bidie and such other officers as Government may instruct him to communicate with." MR. E. L. CORTHELL, civil engineer, read before the members of the Franklin Institute a paper' On the Tehuantepec Ship Railway,' which is published with several illustrations in the Journal of the Franklin Institute for June. MR. G. CHRISTIAN HOFFMANN, chemist and mineralogist to the Geological Survey of Canada, sends us his Chemical Contributions to the Geology of Canada.' This paper gives the results of an investigation carried out with the object of determining the economic value of the coals and lignites of the North-West territory. The examination is complete so far as it goes, the analyses being numerous, and evidently conducted with much care. THE Records of the Geological Survey of India, Part II. of Vol. XVIII., has been received. There are several papers of considerable interest, but two, by Mr. R. D. Oldham and Mr. H. B. Medlicott, on the probability of obtaining water by means of artesian wells in the plains of Upper India, are of considerable importance. FINE ARTS GROSVENOR GALLERY.-SUMMER EXHIBITION.-The Summer Exhibition of the Grosvenor Gallery is NOW OPEN, from 9 to 7.Admission, ls.; Season Tickets, 5s. ROYAL SOCIETY of PAINTERS in WATER COLOURS. The HUNDRED AND THIRD EXHIBITION is NOW OPEN.— 5. Pall Mall East, from 10 till 6.-Admission, 1s; Illustrated Catalogue, 18. ALFRED D. FRIPP, R.W.S., Secretary. MESSRS. DICKINSONS, Publishers by Special Appointment to Her Majesty, have the honour to announce the EXHIBITION of The PRESS GANG and other WORKS by FREDERICK CHESTER.-Admission on presentation of address card from 10 to 6.-114, New Bond-street, W. "THE VALE OF TEARS.'-DORE'S LAST GREAT PICTURE, completed a few days before he died, NOW ON VIEW at the Doré Gallery, 35, New Bond Street, with Christ leaving the Prætorium,' 'Christ's Entry into Jerusalem. The Dream of Pilate's Wife,' and his other great Pictures. From Ten to Six Daily.-Admission, 18. Wood Engraving: a Manual of Instruction. By W. J. Linton. Illustrated. (Bell & Sons.) his pen in order MR. LINTON has taken up 'to help toward forming a school of artist engravers." Having this laudable end in view and unusual knowledge of the subject to help him, he has written not only earnestly and to the purpose, but with no fear of calling a spade a spade. The appearance of this book is a bad omen to those of whom it has been said they "ascended at one bound to the summit of their art." No doubt these performances appeared genuine to the amateur who celebrated them; but engravers, even if they do not accept the whole of Mr. Linton's dicta, will thank him for speaking his mind on the subject. To begin with, Mr. Linton explains the nature of engraving in relief; and then he supplies a brief and clear history of wood engraving. Although he touches on some still vexed questions, we shall not stop to deal with them, as they have nothing to do with the main objects of the work. Suffice it that he declines to believe Dürer was his own Formschneider. Chatto settled this matter long ago, and Mr. Linton endorses the opinion of that practical authority. His third chapter explains the all-important difference between cutting and engraving, i. e., between the craft of the knife and that of the graver. With the use of the graver began what we may properly call the art of wood engraving, and Mr. Linton insists on the right of those who use it to be called artists per se; while the users of the knife, who, happily for us, prided themselves on faithfully preserving the veritable lines of Dürer and Holbein, were on that very account less artistic, and the practice tended to make them craftsmen. Whether we should prefer the cutting of Lutzelberger and Dürer's Formschneider to the artistic achievements of Branston and Clennell, supposing the latter two had been set to work on drawings on the blocks, is quite another matter. In fact, no comparisons of this kind ought to be made. The outlines of the old masters are precious because they could be rendered with unflinching fidelity and are autographic. The more complex drawings of the modern artists, embodying as they do tones, chiaroscuro, and light and shade, must needs be reproduced by very different methods; but (this is the main point) these qualities ought to be duced with absolute fidelity, and not "translated," however intelligently, by an operator who insists on being an independent artist. By what lines cr touches the operator effects the reproduction is his affair. The use of these means may make him an artist. "It is peculiarly the business of the engraver,' Mr. Linton, "to invent the says lines by which form, substance, and texture can best be represented." An engraver ought to be a good draughtsman, "capable of sometimes making his own drawings, and so being occasionally independent of outside slovenliness and ignorance." Without this he will be no artist. repro "The artistic part is drawing with the graver. Learn, then, first to draw, to see form, and, after earnest endeavour, to be able to express it in the easiest way, by charcoal, or chalk, or pencil upon paper.' Much technical advice, including notes on "things to be avoided," follows here, and is succeeded by a clear and concise enumeration of "things to be aimed at." The practice Mr. Linton denounces energetically is familiar to all of us. The following passage contains the gist of the book, and, as the warning of a veteran, is worthy of respectful attention: "The bit of engraving' I give here is perhaps an extreme, but it is not an unfair instance of the kind of work which I have said has come into vogue through what is called the Impressionist School' of painting. Some young men, lacking neither cleverness nor conceit, persuaded themselves that much labour, close study, and thoroughness were not requisite. They made admirable sketches in colour, and thought them as good as finished pictures. The sketches were finished enough to give you pleasant impressions of the artist's intentions, and what more could be desired? The world cares for sketches by the elder Titian; why should not the sketches of the younger Titian, just fresh from school, be cared for equally? Conceit is daring, and daring commands, when it may not deserve, success. The young Titians forthwith set the fashion; they praised each other, crowed much, and friendly young art critics joined in the jubilation. Let it be said that these Impressionist painters, whose headquarters were of late in New York, may perhaps have deserved praise for their departure from the hackneyed ways of their elders; let it be admitted that their most unfinished paintings have all the merit claimed for them. That does not concern me here. But it does concern me, and concerns my teaching, that these same painters began to draw for engravers, and to draw upon wood, and with this sketchy work of theirs inaugurated a new era in engraving,' the results of which may be best studied in two American magazines, Harper's Monthly and the Century. Our older draughtsmen on wood, the poorest as the most talented, with few exceptions, had one virtue-their drawings were careful. They were not sketches, but drawings. A drawing on the block by W. L. Leitch (the landscape painter), or by Duncan, was as beautifully complete, as carefully finished, as a watercolour painting. The drawings of Thurston and of Harvey were of the same perfection. George Cruikshank's were as clear as his etchings, perhaps more precise. But the new men have been, and are, disdainful of this drudgery. Yet, with a strange inconsistency, while insisting that any hasty or unconsidered sketch is good enough to be engraved from, they require from the engraver a slavish adherence to the slightest and most trifling accidents, and most flagrant errors of their crude performances. From this unsatisfactory pretence of drawing, coupled with the unfortunate use of photography, instead of drawing on wood, has proceeded the present degradation of the art. Will the art critic open his eyes? Everywhere one hears it said, authoritatively, and repeated, as if there could be no doubt, What a wonderful advance has lately been made in wood engraving!' I protest, unhesitatingly and positively-If I know what engraving is, or should be, this vaunted admust be condemned as retrograde, and as the degradation of the art." vance 6 mechanism, which is not an advance in art. "I find a most marvellously successful Let my reader take any number of the Century or Harper, and try if he can discover (except in the portraits, and some other cuts, I cannot remember many) any lines that have beauty, or fitness, or any sign of intelligence. Colour is kept admirably; delicacy that is fineness, thinness of line-is most remarkable; the often needless, sometimes unhappy, minuteness is astonishing. I am surprised at these accomplishments, often exceeding what I thought possible in wood engraving. It is the triumphant assertion of mechanical skill. What eyes these men must have! what nicety of hand! But then I have to speak as an engraver. In the prettiest and most successful of these engravings I look in vain for anything to tell me that the engraver had any brains; that he could have known or understood the forms he was engraving; that he had any thought of perspective, any perception of differences of substance. In nearly all the cuts the foreground objects are on the same plane as those in the background-there is neither air nor distance, sky may be wall, and water may be folds of drapery, for any difference of treatment; and the lines throughout are laid with utter disregard of the things to be represented by them, in seeming ignorance or wilful rejection of all the laws of linear beauty and perspective recognized and cared for by the masters of engraving, both in wood and copper. The horizontal lines of a sky are crossed perpendicularly; the bark of a tree, a woman's cheek or bosom, a sheep's back, have no distinction of line to denote differences of substance; foreground and distance are cut with the same unvarying fineness; all things stick together; all things are undefined, muddled, confused. Colour, I have said, is excellently kept; and your first impression, not noticing the lines, taking the picture only as a clever and very exact imitation of a photograp strike you very pleasantly; but if you re it, if you examine it, you will get no satis from it. The enduring pleasure of a be engraving it will not give you. Forget t altogether, it may be possible to like it; b will not care to look at it again and again more closely you examine it, the greater your disappointment. Does not that of condemn it?" We cannot follow Mr. Linton furt his powerful plea for learning and wood engraving. He points out wh the true characteristics and qualities art, and he wisely prophesies ruin right mode if the use of photography severed in. His heaviest indictment however, to be directed against the tices of the Impressionists, who, as pa are the fathers of the so-called "photo imitations." Severe as he is on the sense uttered by an anonymous “art who belauded the use of photograp calculated to "elevate" the art of t graver, Mr. Linton's words are not at strong. Such criticism as he denou not only discreditable to the writer, jurious to the art. We have not sp more on this subject than may suffice commend Mr. Linton's remarks to all they may concern. : MR. W. S. W. VAUX. A CORRESPONDENT Writes :"The late Mr. Vaux never showed t advantage than in his last post, that of tary to the Royal Asiatic Society. British Museum, though he was fully all that was going on in the various depa of antiquities, he somehow fell short ideal official; and though he did an in amount of laborious work in the coin ment, it was more in arrangement an porary classification than in final catal The truth is that his interests were to and his studies too diffuse; he cared for many subjects that came within his ran keeper in the British Museum; he wr Assyrian discovery, on the Greek cities Minor, on Persia, on the Arabic coins Atabegs of Mosul, on Greek, Romar coins. So wide a range implies a want fection in the details, and Mr. Vaux, w marvellous reach in matters antiquaria often inaccurate in the minutiae of the subjects he discussed. No man, howev more ready to admit a mistake, and na lower price upon his own work. In the Society he relinquished the part of writer to others, and contented himself m with the task of making the Society as and efficient as possible, especially devoti self to the library, which under his n ment has been partly catalogued, rearrang made doubly serviceable to members, to Mr. Vaux was unwearying in his generous ance, getting out books for them on rece postcard, and sending them to their add indeed, he took too much trouble that mig have been taken by the members then It was the hobby of his life to foun maintain societies. How many he had a h I cannot remember, but he certainly too in the foundation and management of n the literary societies of our time, and esp the Royal Society of Literature and the 1 matic Society and the Anthropological Ins The Numismatic Society in particular much to his efforts; for years it dwelt his wing in Lincoln's Inn, and for a lon Mr. Vaux devoted his energies to the c of the meetings and the Chronicle, all su vice being, of course, purely honorary. Asiatic Society was in a somewhat drear |