420
NOTES AND QUERIES. [io<> s. v. MAY 26, woe.
-its turn, throws a harsh and glaring light on the
selfishness of the men and women who formed what
we call society. The picture given of it is not over-
drawnnay, 'its darkest shadows are kept from
'Criticisms of Life in Ireland' contains ideas which are worth study, for on a subject so complex the wise man desires such light as he can get from every quarter ; but there is much that is fantastic, and in some cases derived from untrustworthy
'Venetian Diplomacy and the Sublime Porte during the Sixteenth Century' will repay study by any one who desires to know what were the dangers of travel in the East in former times. The writer gives, in a translated form, a long and
'harrowing account of a journey to Constantinople, performed by Vicenzo Gradenigo, who was dis- patched on a diplomatic mission to the Sultan in 1599. He went by way of Lepanto and Salonica. The sufferings endured by himself and his followers must have been exceptionally severe. Many of those who accompanied him died on the way, and Gradenigo himself died soon after he reached
'Constantinople.
' The Jardin des Plantes before and during the Revolution' is excellent. Science has progressed so rapidly during the last three or four generations that we are apt to overlook the many and great services which Buffon rendered. His writings are now in a great measure superseded, but the im- portant work he did for science ought not on that account to be forgotten.
It would not be fair to say that the paper on Tre-Raphaelitism is depreciatory, but it does not do full justice to a movement which had great influence, not only on what is popularly called art, 'but also on many lines of thought only remotely connected with each other.
To "The New Universal Library" of Messrs. Routledge, the cheapest and most attractive collec- tion in its class, have been made some notable addi- tions. First among these we are disposed to rank 'The Bible in Spain and The Romany Rye of Borrow, two of the most readable and precious volumes of the collection, the re-reading of which in this cheap and convenient form becomes almost an obligation. The third volume of The Spectator appears, like the previous volumes, with the serviceable notes of Mr George A. Aitken. and completes half the edition Crotchet, Castle, The Misfortunes of Elphin. and 'Oryll Orange constitute the second volume of the appetizing edition of Peacock's novels. Discourses on Art, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, contains the lectures delivered to the students at the Academy. ^Specimen Days in America is the first volume of the works of Walt Whitman. Alone among the works The Age of Fable, by Thomas Bulfinch, is new to us. It is, however, a clever and interesting com Dilation, and deserves the honourable place assigned it in the collection. Dreamthorp, a book of essay* written on the country, is a but half-recogni/ec work of Alexander Smith, the Glasgow poet Aristotle's Ethics is a translation of the 'Nicoma chean Ethics' by D. P. Chase, newly edited by J. M. Mitchell. 'The Sacred Poets of the NineteentJ "Century : James Montgomery Anna Lwtitia War in* is a delightful selection of hymns and sacre< poems by Montgomery, Keble, Heber, Bernarc Barton, Milman, Trench. Newman, and others -edited by Mr. Alfred H. Miles.
THE first article of importance in Folk-lore is
he President's Address, which is for the most
)art devoted to a comment on the discrepant views
ut forward by theorists to explain the origin of
Australian totemism. Following the address comes
he Celtic section of Mr. Cook's monograph on the
ky-god of Europe ; and in the collectanea there is
n interesting description of various developments
f the string-game known as "cat's-cradle."
U Intermediaire is, as ever, an instructive collec-
ion of archaeological and literary notes. To the
jenealogist it must be of peculiar service, for it is
usually generous in its supply of information con-
erning the old armorial families of France. The
olk-lorist also gleans with advantage from its
arvest. For instance, in Poitou it is said that
>ees love justice to be done. A farmer who has
"bees, and owes to his landlord a share of the honey
and wax, would not run the risk of keeping back
more than his due part, for fear that the insects,
'qui aiment la justice," should disappear. It is
- he custom, also, to put crape on the hives when a
near relation of the tenant, or of his landlord, dies.
Varying forms of this custom are, of course, widely
cnown both in the British Islands and on the
mainland of Europe. Evidently, in the good old
days, an intimate solidarity was held to exist
Between man and the rest of creation. Every one
,hing was part of the great whole, and had to be
created with observances befitting its position in
- he order of the universe.
MR. JAMES PEACOCK. We regret to hear of the
death at Sunderland on the 4th inst., at the age of
seventy-six, of Mr. James Peacock, who contributed
several articles to the Ninth Series. He was a
lever linguist, speaking French, German, and
Dutch fluently, and had a reading acquaintance
with nearly all European languages. He was for
over thirty years Vice-Consul for Portugal.
We must call special attention to the following
notices :
ON all communications must be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for pub- lication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
WE cannot undertake to advise correspondents as to the value of old books and other objects or as to the means of disposing of them.
W. T. WINTEMBERG (" Was never in Scotland heard nor seen Sic dancing nor deray "). From
- Christis Kirk of the Grene.' As to the authorship
of this and of 'Peblis to the Play' see 10 th S. iv. 368,476.
HELEN. More suitable for a ladies' periodical.
ERRATA. An te, p. 384, col. 2. 1. 24 from foot, for "A.A.S." read A.S.8. P. 397. col. 1, 1. 11 from foot, for " those," read that.
NOTICE.
Editorial communications should be addressed to "The Editor of 'Notes and Queries'" Adver- tisements and Business Letters to "The Pub- lisher "at the Office, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.G.
We beg leave to state that we decline to return communications which, for any reason, we do not print ; and to this rule we can make no exception.
