Arden's (M) Undercurrent and After-Glow, an Elegy of Goldsmith's (O.) Works: Vol. 4, Biographies, Criticisms, Steele, Selections from the 'Tatler,' 'Spectator,' and Waugh's (L.) Little Chicks and Baby Tricks, sm. 4to. 3/6 bds. FOREIGN. Theology. Böttcher (V.): Das Buch Hiob nach Luther u. der Probe- Hase (K.): Kirchengeschichte, Vol. 1, 12m. Fine Art. Menuments Civils de la France, Vol. 3, 9fr. History. Holzapfel (L.): Römische Chronologie, 8m. Monumenta Germaniae Historica: Scriptores rerum Merɔvingicarum, Vol. 1, Part 2, 15m. Monumenta Vaticana Historiam Regni Hungariae illustrantia, Series 1, Vol. 2, 20m. Philology. Calpurnil et Nemesiani Bucolica, rec. H. Schenkl, 6m. Euripiles Ausgewählte Tragödien, erklärt von N. Wecklein, Gilitron (J.): Romania, Table Analytique des Dix Premiers Volumes, 8fr. Ludwich (A.): Aristarchs Homerische Textkritik, Part 2, 18m. Moeller (L): Der Saturnische Vers, 4m. Orphica, rec. E. Abel, 5m. Pansetii et Hecatonis Librorum Fragmenta, collegit H. N. Fowler, 1m. 50. Science. Demculin: Les Locomotives Anglaises, 7fr. 50. Witz (A.): Les Moteurs à Gaz, 7fr. 50. General Literature. Annuaire Diplomatique et Consulaire pour 1885, 8fr. 50. Situation Financière (La) des Communes de France et d'Algérie, 5ir. HEATHER. stood) by Bishop William Read or Rede, A.D. 1363-83. Kemble used A rarely in fact, it seems to have been early divided into two volumes, the second of which is stamped E on the back, beginning about p. 154 (the pagination is in our early Arabic figures), and of the collection in E Kemble does not seem to have been aware. There is another collection in a volume covered with white parchment, designated Y, which also seems not to have been known to him. C. A. SWAINSON. DR. M. M. KALISCH. By the death of Dr. Kalisch, which took place on the 23rd of August, one of the most learned of Jewish scholars has been removed at the comparatively early age of fifty-seven. For nearly twelve years past he has been in in different health, and he was thus prevented from fully achieving the aim he had set before him in life-a complete critical edition of the Pentateuch. Coming to England as a young man whose political opinions were displeasing to the Prussian authorities of the time, Dr. Kalisch early attracted the notice of the Rothschilds, in whose family he was adopted as tutor. This position soon placed him in such circumstances that he was enabled to devote himself entirely to the production of a commentary on the Bible, liberal in its critical views, accurate and full in its grammatical and archæological explanations. The plan which Dr. Kalisch laid down for his work soon made it evident that he could not hope to treat the whole Bible in so thorough a fashion, and his scheme was reduced within more manageable limits - a commentary on the Pentateuch. Of this the Exodus' appeared first in 1855, the 'Genesis' in 1858, and the Leviticus' in two bulky volumes, in 1867 and 1872 respectively. It may be said of them that in each case they represent the highest water-mark of continental scholarship at the date of issue. Of the 'Leviticus,' indeed, something more than this can be said. Here Dr. Kalisch shows himself a Wellhausianer before Wellhausen. He regarded Leviticus as the last stage in the formation of the Pentateuch, against what was then the current opinion. He based his conclusion on very elaborate examination of the development of institutions, and the bulk of his commentary is taken up with a series of essays which he rightly terms "Treatises,' dealing with the successive stages The poor folk's ancient tongue, sweet, simple, of the laws concerning sacrifices and the priesthood, dietary laws, purification, the Day of Atonement, angelology, and marriage laws. all these cases he essays to show that the middle books of the Pentateuch contain later developments than either Exodus or Deuteronomy. In dealing with the subject sociologically instead of from the standpoint of literary criticism he was on the right track, and the school of Wellhausen have still much to learn from Dr. Kalisch's painstaking collection of facts. Strangely enough, they entirely neglect him both on the Continent and here. A certain want of form and the haphazard arrangement of his materials may have contributed to this neglect. A reprint of the "Treatises" might even yet be of service in drawing attention to their merits; they are in each case the most full account of Biblical customs in existence. The interval between the 'Genesis' and the 'Leviticus' was occupied with the preparation of a Hebrew grammar in two parts, the second dealing with the more difficult forms and rules. This is by far the most elaborate Hebrew grammar written originally in English, but the separation of the exceptions from the rules has proved to be injudicious. The philology of the book cannot be said to be up to the level of contemporary scholarship, so much progress having been made in comparative Semitic philology these last twenty After the production of his 'Leviticus' Dr. Kalisch only produced one work of equal elaboration, his Path and Goal,' a THE CHICHESTER REGISTERS. Christ's College, Cambridge, Sept. 1, 1885. I HASTEN to assure the readers of Mr. W. de Gray Birch's address on Anglo-Saxon charters (Atheneum, p. 271) that the two volumes in the custody of the Dean and Chapter of Chichester, which Kemble used for his Codex Diplomaticas' under the designations Reg. A xviii. and Reg. B xviii. (sic), are quite safe. They were produced to me without the slightest delay when I asked for them under those titles on Thursday last. With reference to Mr. Birch's disappointment, I came to the conclusion, from the statements made to me, that he had not asked for these registers by the titles by which they were known to Kemble and every one else who has interested himself in them. In fact, I was assured that Reg. A xviii. was placed in Mr. Birch's hands, and that he threw it down, saying he wanted something else. Both these so-called registers are collections of more ancient documents made (it is under years. In was philosophical dialogue developing the positions Îaid down in his remarks on the theology of the past and future contained in the first volume of the Leviticus.' Without much dramatic power an attempt was made to bring together representative utterances from adherents of all the chief religions of the world. As in all Dr. Kalisch's works, extraordinary erudition displayed without an equal power of using his resources for literary purposes, and the book was thus a comparative failure. Though he did not complete his Pentateuch, he issued two 'Bible Studies,' one on the Balaam episode in the book of Numbers, and the other on the kindred subject of Jonah. These have all the merits of his other works and fewer of their defects. In magnis voluisse might be said to have been his literary motto, but one cannot help feeling that his published works scarcely seem a satisfactory outcome for such erudition, industry, critical acumen, and enthusiasm for learning. In some way the vital spark was wanting, and Marcus Kalisch has made less mark, even in his own branch of studies, than many a man with not a tithe of his powers. JOHN BASKETT, KING'S PRINTER. 15, Brunswick Terrace, Brighton. In looking over a box of deeds in my possession here I have very unexpectedly lighted on to John Baskett and his printing operations at an indenture giving some facts and dates relating already known or not, but as they are not menOxford. I am not able to say whether they are tioned in the valuable account of him contributed by Mr. Tedder to the 'Dictionary of National Biography,' they may perhaps be new. The deed, which is large and in fine preservation, affords the following evidence. By indenture of January 2nd, 1711/12 (10 Anne), _the versity of Oxon" leased their "priviledge and "Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the Unithe 25th of March, 1713, to John Williams, interest of Printing" for twenty-one years from John Baskett, and Samuel Ashhurst. On the 24th of December, 1718, Baskett, who had produced "the Vinegar Bible" at Oxford in 1716 and 1717, gave a bond to James Brooks, citizen and stationer of London, as security for a loan of 4,000l. But this was cancelled, and the loan altered (on the 3rd of February, 1718/9) to 3,000l., of which Baskett was to repay 1,500. on the 3rd of February, 1719/20, and 1,500. on the 3rd of February, 1720/1. For payment of these sums he mortgaged his stock and his privilege at Oxford to Brooks. In my indenture, which is of date 23rd of May, 1720, Brooks acknowledges that he "hath received and sold Books pursuant to the terms of the mortgage "to the value of one Thousand and tive Hundred pounds," and transfers the remaining half of the mortgage to "Henry Latane of London, Merchant." The schedule appended to this indenture may be deemed of some interest ; Whereas the within named John Baskett hath appointed Charles Combes of Oxon, Printer, to manage for him the Printing of Books at Oxon aforesaid and all other the premisses within assigned or mentioned to be assigned to the within named Henry Latane: And whereas the said Charles Combes is by the said John Baskett put into the actual possession of all the Stock, etc., etc......mentioned in the Schedule hereunder written......the said Charles Combes shall......send and deliver unto the said Henry Latane all such books as shall be printed, etc., etc. The Schedule. An Account of the Letter Presses and other Stock and Implements of and in the printing-house at Oxford belonging to John Baskett, Citizen and Staconer of London. A Large ffount of Perle Letter Cast by Mr. Andrews. A Large ffount of Nonp Letter New-Cast by Ditto. Another ffount of Nonp Letter, Old, the whole standing and Sett up in a Com'on prayer in 24m Compleat. A Large ffount of Min" Letter New-Cast by Mr. Andrews. Another Large ffount of Min" Letter New-Cast in Holland. The whole Testament standing in Brev & Min" Letter, Old. A Large ffount of Brev Letter New Cast in Holland. A very Large ffount of Lo: Prim' Letter New-Cast by Mr. Andrews. A Large ffount of Picn Letter very good Cast by Ditto. Another Large ffount of Ditto, never used, Cast in Holland. A Small Quantity of English, New Cast by Mr. Andrews. A Small Quantity of Great Prim', NewCast by Ditto. A very Large ffount of Double Pica, New, the largest in England. A Quantity of Two Line English Letters. A Quantity of ffrench Cannon Two Line Letters of all Sorts & a Sett of Silver Initiall Letters, Cases, Stands, &ca. Five Printing Presses, very good, with their Appurtenances, &ca. Worke now going on. A New Nonp' bible, 12m, No. 10.000; Paper is now making by Mr. Chamberlaine of Wickham. A Min" Bible, 120, New Letter, No. 10,000; Paper is furnished by Mr. Berkford of Woolvercutt and Mr. Thomas Meale of Ainsham, both near Oxford, who make about one hundred & twenty Reams a Weeke. Long Prim' Testament, 80, No. 6,000; Paper is made by Mr. Rich near Burford. A Brev Testament, 12mo, Comon Sort, always printing, for which four hundred Reams of paper is now sending down by Mr. Stewart and at other times furnished by Mr. Berkford, Mr. Rich, etc. The furniture of the said house, which is valued at five hundred pounds. This schedule is signed "Jn° Baskett," and sealed by him with a coat of arms. MR. W. DILKE. J. H. ROUND. WE have to record the death, in his ninetieth year, of the only and younger brother of Mr. C. W. Dilke the critic, whose death in 1864 this journal had special cause to deplore as that of its former editor and proprietor. Mr. Dilke's father, Charles Wentworth Dilke, was a clerk in the Admiralty, who was detached for duty at Portsmouth during the great war. He afterwards lived at Chichester, where Mr. W. Dilke himself resided for a very great number of years, and where he is to be buried by the side of his father and mother in the cathedral cloisters. Charles Wentworth Dilke (17421824) was, like his eldest son, an intimate friend of the poet Keats, and Mr. W. Dilke, who was of the poet's age, lived a good deal with him after the occupation of Paris by the allied armies ceased, and remembered him very well to the last. In the month of July of the present year, when on a visit to his grand-nephew, Sir Charles W. Dilke, he took Mr. S. Colvin, who is preparing an edition of Keats's poems, to see over the house at Wentworth Place, Hampstead, where Keats lived. Mr. Dilke was a commissary in the Peninsula and had the Peninsular medal. He remembered vividly the battles from 1811 to 1814. In 1811, his godfather being chief clerk of the Foreign Office, he was trusted, though only a boy of fifteen, with a bag" containing a present of diamonds from the Prince Regent to the King of Portugal, and may be confidently stated to have outlived any other King's Foreign Service Messenger of 1811. In 1814, during the advance of the Duke of Wellington into France, he was left in charge of an exposed depôt of stores on the Garonne, and went through many adventures. After serving in America he returned to England in 1815 in Waterloo week, and was at once ordered to Paris, THE FAYOUM PAPYRI IN THE BODLEIAN LIBRARY. Jesus College, Oxford, August, 1885. IN the Bodleian Library at Oxford there are several fragments of papyrus from El Fayoum, mostly written in Greek cursive characters, several in Coptic, some in Arabic, &c. There are a few in Greek uncials, and in view of the recent discoveries among the Fayoum papyri at Vienna it may be of interest to describe some of the more intelligible of these. The oldest writing, a kind of long sloping uncials, very like the writing of the Papyrus Psalms in the British Museum, is on four fragments, which evidently belonged originally to the same roll. The first of these, measuring 10 in. by 3 in. (25 cent. by 9 cent.), runs as follows, the doubtful letters being enclosed in brackets: 7. [Η]σενμεκαι 8. Θεις του Ιακωβ iii. r. (from left-hand side of column). iii. v. 1. Τωειμ 3. [Αι] γαρ περ[ιε] μου [οτιοι]εωρακότεςεμεουμη 1. [Ε]λπι πιστε[υσ] 4. Νεμοικαι.. με εθ]εωρακωτε[στοναυτον] 2. Hvo 3. Molk 5. [Ο]υ[σι]νκαι[ζησονταιπασ]δ[εοιστ]ραψας 4. Τέτω 5. Ιυμα The second is 8 in. by 54 in. (21 cent. by 13 | 6. OELT. cent.); it seems to be part of the right-hand side | 7. Tovr of a column : Three fragments in a later style of uncial, and forming together a strip of a column 12 in. broad (31 cent.), contain a passage from the book of Daniel (vi. 20) :— 1. Χωρ 2. Μεγαλ [η]φων[η]χρησαμενοςε[ν]εβοησελανιηλωδουλετου υπου which he entered before the allied sovereigns 3. .[w]v.[os]otswaтpevεisevõeλex@seiπec&vvn.[ω]ν.[ος]οθςωλατρευεις ενδελεχώς ειπεεδυνηθησελεγωνεξελεσθαι after a very dangerous ride, and was employed to make arrangements for the entry. He served in Paris throughout the occupation, and was a deputy assistant commissary general of 1816. His father received Keats and Charles A. Brown at Chichester on their southern tour, and Mr. W. Dilke could remember vividly the poet then as well as in their more frequent intercourse at Hampstead, when Mr. W. Dilke was on visits to his brother. Mr. W. Dilke's only son, Capt. W. Wentworth Grant-Dilke, of the 77th Regiment, died of cholera at the advanced camp of the Light Division during the Crimean war, and his loss was a heavy blow to his father, who was greatly attached to him. Mr. W. Dilke leaves two daughters. 8. Θον 9. Φο 2. [Me]rous. 3. Παντού τ 4. Υλακηνε 5. Συ[ι]κρι[οι]. 6. Θηως[η] 7. Γαρηνα . 8. Στινευ 9. [Σ]ωτο Another set of fragments which might identified shows the following letters: 1. Σονεμαυτον . 1. EKELOT 2. Ειμημονατα της ακό 3. Ης χώρας εκενής πολ 1. 2. [Ο]ιςκακοιςεμ 3. θ. . [αφ]. 5. Ντοιςδιδασ] 6. Οςτον πρα 7. Υεπιστρε[4] 2. μψεναυτον 1.. 2. 3. 4. 4. γοραζων και τ νχωρανεκει 5. οπουτης παρθεν 6. . . ουληνοβατεί 7. Εκειλιμοσιου 8. Οπο[υ] WALLACE M. LINDSAY THE LATE MR. THOMS. Castelnau, Barnes, S. W. I HAVE many letters and reminiscences of th late Mr. Thoms-one of the warmest-hearte men I ever knew. During the gossips I used have with him in the room where he lived late, all surrounded by his books and papers, h related to me many an anecdote, and showe me many papers, which I always urged him t Thes have printed as autobiographical essays. I hope will yet see the light. A portion of the were printed in 1881 in the Nineteenth Century and the last time I saw Mr. Thoms out of door was once when he called upon me in a grea state of mind, arising from the following circum stance. Mr. Knowles had expressed his willing ness to publish a second series of 'Gossip of a had sent him another paper; but it was dis Old Bookworm,' and Mr. Thoms accordingl covered that almost all the stories told in th first paper had been again told, so treacheron had been his memory. I well remember th concern of the good old fellow as to wha "Knowles would think of him after that"; and when I suggested that he would think exactl as the case was, Mr. Thoms went home quit contented. I do not think in telling this tha I am revealing any editorial secret. In the early days of the Folk-lore Societ Mr. Thoms, together with Mr. Ralston, M Solly, and Mr. Coote, was the pioneer; and some of our first meetings, with Lord Verulam as chairman, did not take us much beyond the literary side of folk-lore. It was a sorrow to Mr. Thoms to feel the subject slipping from his grasp, though he always rallied at the thought that he had coined the word, a fact which he put into the following doggerel at the back of a portrait of himself which he me: If you would fain know more Of him whose photo here is, Probably one of the best things Mr. Thoms ever Among the archives in St. George's Square here must be many papers worth printing, and should like to urge this being done as reiniscences of a school of book-men now almost rtinct. Mr. Thoms once gave me a little colction of titles of books relating to "iads," the Rolliad,' 'Rosciad,' &c., and these I have 6 6 Lewis Hough ; 'The Champion of Odin; or, *. Many such bibliographical morsels must THE NEW PUBLISHING SEASON. MESSES. CASSELL & Co.'s list of new and forth- -- acyclopaedic Dictionary,' Vol. VIII. (Inter-Mel), the following new volumes of the "Fine-Art brary," edited by Mr. Sparkes: Tapestry,' by agene Müntz, translated by Miss L. J. Davis; ingraving,' by Le Vicomte Henri Delaborde, anslated by R. A. M. Stevenson; 'A Manual Greek Archæology,' by Maxime Collignon, anslated by Dr. J. H. Wright, Picturesque anada,' a delineation by pen and pencil of the ominion of Canada, complete in 2 vols.,-an tion de lure of The Cathedral Churches of gand and Wales, The Deserted Village eries," consisting of éditions de luxe of farite poems: Goldsmith's 'Deserted Village'; ton's 'L'Allegro' and 'Il Penseroso; Fordsworth's 'Ode on Immortality' and 'Lines Tintern Abbey,'-third series of Character ketches from Dickens,' containing six_new ad original drawings (Mr. Micawber, Betsy rowood, Captain Cuttle, Uriah Heep, Dick veller and the Marchioness, Bob Cratchit aid Tiny Tim) by Mr. Frederick Barnard, produced in photogravure," Cassell's Shil. ing Novels," consisting of new and original of romance and adventure: As It Written, by S. Liska; The Crimson Mby A. Bradshaw; and a new story Mr. Manville Fenn, the following Christmas ooks: Follow my Leader; or, the Boys of Efth Form of St. Dominic's'; For Fortune empleton, by Mr. T. B. Reed, author of The nd Glory: a Story of the Soudan War,' by Mr. The of Fruits and Blossoms for "Little Folks " to Cæsar,' and 'Coriolanus,' Cassell's Poetry poems, 'At the Sign of the Lyre,' will be published at the beginning of October. It was at first intended to confine it to unreprinted pieces, but several omissions from Old-World Idylls' having been regretted, opportunity has been taken to expand the lections, now no longer obtainable, so as to new volume by levies upon earlier colmake it the exact companion in size and appearance of its latest predecessor. OldWorld Idylls' and 'At the Sign of the Lyre' consequently include all those pieces which the author desires at present to preserve. The new volume will have a frontispiece by Mr. E. A. Abbey, and a tailpiece by Mr. A. Parsons. The usual number of large paper copies will be issued. Dobson's Selections from Steele,' for the Clarendon Press, are also announced as to appear immediately. THE 'Lives of Robert and Mary Moffat' will be published on October 1st. The labours of their son-who is the biographer have been greatly facilitated by the voluminous and interesting correspondence in which Dr. Moffat and his wife recorded their South African experiences, and especially the stirring events connected with the establishment and history of the Bechuana mission. The work will contain several portraits, including two drawn by Mr. Rudolph Blind, and reproduced in lithography from miniatures of both Dr. and Mrs. Moffat taken in early life, before they left England. There will be illustrations of Ormiston, the birthplace of the venerable missionary, and of Kuruman, the well-known mission station. A map showing Dr. Moffat's route in 1820 and another of the same country in 1884 will enable the reader to compare the past with the present aspect of South Africa. PROF. SEELEY's new work, 'A Short History of Napoleon I.,' will be published this month. Sways-tory a handy volume edition of A PAPER read by Mr. Sims, of the British Museum, at the recent meeting of the British Archæological Association at Brighton, on the cartularies of Sussex, was one of considerable interest for the record student. Incidentally attention was directed to a supposed cartulary of Lewes Priory, which, according to Dugdale, was preserved among the ancient muniments of the Chapter House at Westminster. No such cartulary is at present known. There can, however, be little doubt that what Dugdale referred to was a collection of documents of far greater importance than a cartulary-in fact, the originals from which such registers were compiled. These original charters of Lewes Priory were, many years ago, mounted on parchment and bound up in one large folio, with the lettering, "Carta Antiq. Priorat. de Lewes Com. Sussex. Dom. Cap. Westmon." (now Chapter House, Misc. Books, B. 5, 5), and form a most remarkable series. The volume contains at fol. 41 a fine specimen, though somewhat mutilated, of a charter of Henry I., and among the other contents are at least six charters of King Stephen; several of Henry II.'s reign; a long writing of Radulfus (de Turbine), Archbishop of Canterbury, dated 1121; a chirograph of Hilary, Bishop of Chichester; many deeds of the Warrennes, earls of Surrey; and others executed by King Stephen's son Eustace, by Reginald de Garenne, Richerius de Aquila, William de Braose, Robert, Earl of Leicester, Radulfus "sine averio," and other early notabilities. With a view to ascertain whether these originals throw any new light on the Gundreda controversy, Sir George Duckett purposes to have the entire collection carefully examined. The documents prior to A.D. 1200 in this single group of manuscripts should provide almost sufficient material for one of the future volumes of "Charters and Deeds " to be issued by the Pipe Roll Society. SIR ROPER LETHBRIDGE, who recently received the honour of knighthood for distinguished services in India, entered upon his official career at the Public Record Office, in which department he held an appointment from 1863 to 1868. PROF. CHURCH has selected the period of the Great Rebellion for his new historical tale; it will be entitled 'With the King at Oxford.' It will be illustrated in a similar style to 'The Chantry Priest of Barnet,' and will probably appear early in October. ON Monday week a novelty will be published in connexion with the old-established magazine All the Year Round. It is Mr. Dickens's intention to issue an almanac of an interesting character in keeping with the literary tone of the journal. It will be called All the Year Round: an Unconventional Almanac.' PROF. MONIER WILLIAMS has been staying for some time at Dresden, but is now on his way back to Oxford. The printing of the second edition of his Sanskrit-English Dictionary has been delayed by the illness and retirement of his late assistant, Dr. Schönberg. Only 250 pages out of about 1,400 have been printed off. The Professor is also engaged on the second part of 'Religious Thought and Life in India,' which will contain an account of Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and Indian Mohammedanism. MR. ROBERT MICHELL, who was one of the first English travellers in Turkistan after the Russian advance up the Jaxartes in 1864, and who has been Russian translator at the India Office for some years, is to be placed forthwith on the retired list. It is proposed to abolish the post of Russian translator at the India Office. We regret to hear that Aunt Judy's Magazine is to be discontinued at Christmas. The 6007. required to complete the endowment of a cot, to the joint memories of Mrs. Ewing and her mother, Mrs. Alfred Gatty, ONE or two copies of the Madagascar Times PROF. N. HEINEMANN has finished a life to their people by the introduction Western studies. The Turks are setting middle schools. WE are glad to observe that the Po tuguese authorities in Goa have been follo ing the example set by their neighbours. British India in aiding female educatio A college for females is about to be esta lished at Goa, and the archbishop h interested himself in the project. T college will be under the management two trained teachers to be imported fr Europe. communicated to the various newspapers India the text of a copyright Bill whi they intend to introduce into the Legislat THE Government of India have recen Council. Since so far back as 1864 t Government have been urged to take so steps towards amending the existing la which was enacted in 1847. The new is based mainly on the provisions of English Bill which was introduced into House of Commons by Lord John Mann in 1879, and which was intended to g small volume of collections of extracts right Commission of 1878. An import effect to the recommendations of the Co "from modern German works" for trans- section of the Indian Bill is that which lation at sight. The book is meant for clares translation of a book an infringem advanced students and candidates studying of copyright, with a proviso barring for examinations. Its characteristic features operation of the section if the author works published since 1870, in order to are that the passages are taken only from not published a translation within th acquaint the student with the language of Another important innovation is the I years from the publication of the origi the Germany of to-day, and that the selec-posal to give, with certain limitations, co tions are drawn from books belonging to right in lectures. But the most novel various branches of science, literature, and vision of the Bill is that which proposes history, so as to enable the reader to become confer on newspaper proprietors copyri familiar with words and expressions of for twenty-four hours in telegrams provi practical utility. at their own cost. Many of the newspap naturally complain of this restriction, w the more important object that the dura of the copyright to be granted is too s to be of any practical use. but HAVING Completed and published in 1882 a 'Pocket English-Persian Dictionary,' Mr. A. N. Wollaston has been at work on a larger volume. The Secretary of State for India has granted a subsidy towards the cost of the dictionary, the materials for which are approaching completion; Messrs. Allen, the publishers, appeal to Oriental societies and patrons of learning to lend their assistance in meeting the cost of a volume which, it is hoped, will be so elaborate in all its details as to remain a standard work of reference for future years. INTELLIGENCE comes from Norway of the death of the Rev. Frederick Metcalfe, Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, and the author of The Oxonian in Norway,' The Oxonian in Thelemarken,' and 'The Oxonian in Iceland.' He was also the translator of Becker's 'Charicles' and 'Gallus.' M. EGGER, the well-known Hellenist and THE various religious communities in SCIENCE I A History of British Birds. By the IT is now more than forty years since as grown up within the University of ambridge, united with the requirements the law of copyright, caused the two lumes which remained unrevised to pass to the hands of one less extensively en-ged. Some three years ago, therefore, Mr. oward Saunders, omnium consensu, underok to complete within the required period e work on which his predecessors had ished so much care; the time and trouble ich Mr. Saunders has devoted to his work be fully acknowledged to have been well ent. It is hardly necessary to congratulate . Van Voorst on the wisdom of his selecns, but we must express to that veteran end of British zoologists our sincerest titude for the manner in which he has ught to fulfilment so esteemed a handk. No branch of zoology has fascinated so by workers as the study of birds, and ecially the study of birds as presented Mr. Yarrell; of such we may say hout offence that they are collectors of cimens and observers of facts rather n morphologists or students of science. ese two statements give at once a point the difficulties which lay in the way of rrell's more modern editors. The audience ressed was one to whom anatomical des would have been wearisome, uninterest, and unintelligible; as Prof. Newton himself lately remarked (in his article rnithology "in the 'Encyclopædia Britan a') : — In practical acquaintance with the internal icture of birds, and in the perception of its crtance in classification, he was certainly behind his rival [Macgillivray, whose 'His 7 of British Birds' was begun in the same r as that of Yarrell]; but he well knew that British public did not want a series of anaical treatises, but would even resent their cduction. He had the art to conceal his art, his work was therefore a success, while the er was unhappily a failure." This is both admirably and truly said, and s as concisely as may be the cause of that glect of the anatomy of birds which is so happily a leading characteristic of many tish ornithologists. Of course we are not a moment blaming the editors for not ling something to a work which is complete itself, but we must say that the American uralist who has Dr. E. Coues's book on aerican birds is infinitely better equipped commencing his ornithological studies. ere is one point, indeed, to which we must ect attention: Yarrell, writing before the erence between homology and analogy d been explained by Prof. Owen, spoke of ving compared the sternum and trachea Bewick's swan with "analogous parts of hooper "; the editor has failed to correct epithet to homologous. This is an imtant and not merely a verbal difference. The other difficulty met with by the tors has been this: a line of study entially unscientific in its beginnings has to the production of a vast number of tered and uncritical notices of birds, h which it must have been a very diffitand tiresome task to deal. As a large ber of the added localities for birds are oted from the Zoologist, we may enforce at we have just said by a quotation from preface to the last volume of that perio dical. Its editor, Mr. Harting, says very forcibly: "If the editor could persuade some of his younger contributors to read more of the literature of the subjects on which they write, and extend their observations some way beyond the mere identification of a species, he is satisfied that their communications to this journal would not only bring infinitely more credit on themselves, but would be of greater utility to others." With the judgment of this Daniel we may be content to leave this aspect of the subject. We cannot pass from the matter altogether without referring to the heated discussions which have taken place during the publication of the work, and which have had for their object the technical names which Prof. Newton had applied to some species; but we only refer to them to say that, whether or no we agree in Prof. Newton's judgments, we do most heartily endorse the appellation of "futile questions" which he has given to discussions of this kind, and that we are glad to find all synonymical lists omitted from the new edition. Though we have spoken throughout of Yarrell's book, it must not be thought that the work as it now stands is not one for which the editors are in every sense responsible; we find everywhere evidence of passages rewritten or remodelled, facts brought up to date, arrangements altered where rendered imperative by the advance of science, while the more recent terminology and aspect of the science are completely accepted. This is well seen in the account of the great auk, which, rare when the first edition was published, has since become quite extinct; or in the articles on birds, such as the flamingo, which have only recently been shown to come into the category of British birds. As we close the volumes before us we find ourselves brought back again to a reflection that has before found expression in this journal. Yarrell wrote in a time which, when compared with ours, was leisurely and unoccupied; there are now many naturalists who would like to improve their knowledge of British birds, but for whom these volumes are too lengthy; on the other hand, no one can go to the British Museum of Natural History or mix in some sections of society without getting ample proof that the mode of exhibition of British birds lately introduced in that institution is exciting a remarkable interest in bird life among all classes. Can we not have a condensed Yarrell? GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. SIGNOR M. BUONFANTI, in a letter addressed to the secretary of the Italian Geographical Society, defends himself against Herr Krause, who had accused him in the Mitteilungen of never having performed the remarkable journey across Africa of which he rendered an account to the Brussels Geographical Society. He states that his instructions (he travelled for the New York Sun) no less than prudential reasons bound him to depart from Tripoli in secrecy, and that he reached the coast at Porto Novo, and not at Porto Novo he set sail for the United States. Lagos, as supposed by Herr Krause. From The documents in support of his veracity are now at Brussels, in the charge of Prof. Du Fief, and they include letters from the captains of the ships in which he sailed, and from other persons capable of authenticating his movements. We are glad to hear this, but regret to be compelled to announce at the same time that Signor Buonfanti has died since on the Upper Congo, whither he had gone in the service of the King of the Belgians. L'Esploratore of Milan publishes an account of his recent travels. At Lokoja it was rumoured about the middle of June that Mr. Thomson's expedition had met with a hostile reception in Adamawa, and had been compelled to show fight. Herr Flegel reached Lokoja in the beginning of July, but, finding the Binue not yet practicable, returned This to Akassa for a fresh supply of stores. return to the coast appears to have given rise to the report of a disastrous ending of his expedition. Dr. Schweinfurth has received news from Zanzibar, according to which Dr. Emin Bey and another European have left Lado for Uganda, but had not yet been able to force their way through Unyoro. The Journal of the Manchester Geographical Society publishes, in addition to literary reviews and miscellaneous articles, three papers read at its meetings by the Rev. Chauncy Maples, 'On Eastern Africa'; by Prof. W. Boyd Dawkins, 'On Canada and the Great North-West'; and by General Sir F. J. Goldsmid, 'On Northern India and Afghanistan.' and enlarging his volume on "The Dutch in the Mr. S. R. van Campen is engaged in revising Arctic Seas, and wishes to give a general survey of the North Polar question. It will appear next year, together with the long-delayed second and more strictly historical volume, recounting the story of the early Dutch Northern voyages, and giving a history of Holland's recent essays in the field of Arctic research. A new edition of Thornton's 'Gazetteer of India' is to be issued by Messrs. Allen & Co., edited by Sir Roper Lethbridge and Mr. Arthur N. Wollaston. The areas and populations have been revised by the data given in the Census Report of 1881. ASTRONOMICAL NOTES. A TOTAL eclipse of the sun will take place on the 8th inst., but the central line only crosses land in the part of New Zealand which lies near Cook Strait, passing near Cape Farewell, the northernmost point of the Middle Island, and traversing the southern portion of the province of Wellington in the North Island, which it leaves at a spot a little to the north of Castle Point, the most favourable position for its observation. The duration of totality there (as nearly two minutes, commencing at 7" 50m in calculated by Dr. Hind) will amount to very the morning, when the sun's altitude will be about 18°. Another new planet was discovered on the 16th of August by Prof. C. H. F. Peters at the Litchfield Observatory of Hamilton College, Clinton, N.Y. This is the forty-third small planet discovered by that astronomer, and raises the total number now known to 249, five of which have been found during the present year. The recent discovery was duly announced by Bigourdan at Paris on the 18th of August, two telegram, and the planet was observed by M. days after it was first seen at Clinton. So far as intelligence has reached us, Tuttle's periodical comet has not been observed at the present appearance anywhere but at Nice, as mentioned in our "Notes" for the 15th and 29th of last month. The perihelion passage will take place on the 11th inst., so that the comet will probably reckon on this return as Comet III. 1885, the two preceding being Encke's periodical comet and the new one which was discovered by Mr. Barnard on the 7th of July. |