We miss, too, par-
of Antiquaries of Scotland.
of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Athenaeum - London - 1912a
Houghton's manipulation edition to the whole correspondence, both to and from
genial of bishops, and his daughter Margery sent-day youth against the restraining influ.
“For the first time we have the beginning of a complete
plays the heroine with an agreeable lightness of this theme pictures three children of a
of touch.
well - meaning
Nonconformist protesting best texts, and annotated with extreme elaboration
A STAGE fairy-tale, constructed out of the against their father's narrow notions, and
Swift's letters have
been often, but never well, edited
before this. . . . We congratulate Mr. Ball on an arduous
fortunes, legendary or historical, of the insisting on shaping their lives to suit their task faithfully executed, with a sure mastery of its
Rothschild family, sounds odd at first. own wishes. The humours of the piece are
bewildering complexity. "--Times.
Such is the fare in Carl Rössler's comedy of sometimes almost farcical in their extrava-
- The Five Frankforters' which Mr. Basil gance, but the author has the knack of JUST PUBLISHED. Medium 8vo, 108. Bd. net.
Hood has adapted for the Lyric Theatre. individualizing every one of his characters,
Artifice is of the play's essence.
and in addition he has high spirits and
PITT
costumes--of 1822_would seem to have had manages to keep his theme constantly in
their quaintness exaggerated. The dis evidence. The interpretation was satis.
tinctions drawn between the four famous fying, Mr. Stanley Drewitt's performance AND
banker-sons who attend in procession to pay in the part of the harassed father perhaps
homage to their unpretending mother on standing out from the acting of the rest.
Essays and Letters.
her birthday are patently accentuated in Mr. Houghton, it should be remarked, relies
By Dr. J. HOLLAND ROSE.
the direction of caricature. Fantastic is the on the new convention of the “ fourth wall. ”
Reader in Modern History, University of Cambridge.
atmosphere of the principality which bold
Baron Samuel proposes to annex by marry: Rede Lecture next June at Cambridge, and
PROF. GILBERT MURRAY is to give the "This book in reality forms the third volume of Dr.
Holland Rose's Life of Pitt. ' In it new and important
ing his daughter to its reigning, duke, and has chosen as his subject “The Chorus in
light is thrown on many points which arise both in
farcical is the behaviour of his Jowish
• William Pitt and National Revival' and ' William Pitt
Greek Tragedy. '
brothers at Court. Even the courtship of drama, the chorus, is in modern productions
The oldest part of Greek and the Great War. ' Taken together these three
volumes may be regarded as the standard bio-
pretty Rachel and that cousin David whose
the chief stumbling-block. Uncertain how
graphy of tho patriotic statesman whose untiring
attractiveness the family overlooks has the
exertions brought about the Union between
old-fashioned formality of a minuet, though not represent the views of the
to treat it, we are at least sure that it does England and Ireland. . . . One of the most important
' ideal
historical works which has appeared since the commence-
it serves to balk the ambitions of finance. spectator," as was formerly declared. Rather,
ment of the present century. " -Outlook.
Yet the sentiment, picturesqueness, and it seems to suggest Mrs. Grundy, and, like
humour of the piece make a thoroughly an up-to-date Censor, doubts concerning BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
successful appeal, especially as a cast includ.
ing Miss Henrietta Watson, Mr. C. M.
propriety in the wrong place.
THE
Lowne, Mr. Louis Calvert, Miss Gladys
Guy, and Mr. Henry Ainley furnishes acting Received.
TO CORRESPONDENTS. -F. G. S. -S. M. -M. C. -S. B. -
LIFE OF WILLIAM PITT
which is just in the right vein, and throws
H. H. -Many thanks.
Vol. 1. -WILLIAM PITT AND NATIONAL
into relief the idyllic qualities of the story.
No notice can be taken of anonymous communications.
REVIVAL
Miss HORNIMAN's company from Man- We cannot undertake to reply to inquiries concerning the Vol. II. -WILLIAM PITT AND THE GREAT
. chester is now on a visit to London to re-
appearance of reviews of books,
WAR
We do not undertake to give the value of books, china,
mind us that the repertory theatre still
pictures, &c.
Medium 8vo, with Photogravure Plates, 168. net each.
thrives in the provinces, and that there is
plenty of good acting in other than West-
“We may, specially recommend to our readers the
interesting chapters in which Dr. Holland Rose re-tells, in
End theatres. Her season at the Coronet
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS.
the light of much new evidence, the story of how this Union
began with revivals of Mr. Galsworthy's
(of Great Britain and Ireland) was brought about and the
motives that underlay it. "-Times.
Silver Box' and Mr. Bernard Shaw's
- Widowers' Houses,' both of them works
AUTHORS' AGENTS
which have contributed to the development
BELL & SONS
HANDBOOKS OF ENGLISH
of the drama of ideas, and both of them
BLACKWOOD & SONS
BOOKBINDING
pieces which, by reason of the balance each
LITERATURE.
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
of the playwrights preserves between his
CATALOGUES
Crown 8vo, 38. Bd. net each.
various characters, enable the company to EDUCATIONAL
show its all-round merit. It was not till
NEW VOLUME JUST PUBLISHED.
ENO'S FRUIT SALT
Wednesday night that Miss Horniman
EVERETT & Co. . .
THE AGE OF ALFRED
offered any novelties. Then came
two
at once—' Miles Dixon,' a two-act play by FARMER
(A. D. 664-1154).
Mr. Gilbert Cannan, and succeeding this, HUTCHINSON & Co.
By F. J. SNELL, M. A.
Mr. Stanley Houghton's comedy in three INSURANCE COMPANIES
acts, “The Younger Generation. '
522 POEMS BY ROBERT BROWNING.
The scene of Mr. Cannan's miniature
LECTURES . .
Illustrated and Decorated by BYAM SHAW. With
drama is a lonely farm in the Lake district,
520, 522
an Introduction by RICHARD GARNETT, LL. D. C. B.
and the hero who gives it its title is a wild
MAGAZINES, &c. . .
4th Edition. 38. 6d. net.
vagabond with the imagination of a poet,
MISCELLANEOUS. .
NOTES AND QUERIES .
whom a farmer's handsome wife drives from
A BROWNING TREASURE BOOK.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
Extracts from Browning, Selected and Arranged by
her side after she has temporarily surrendered
A. M. WARBURTON. Wide fcap. 8vo, 28. 6d. net; or
PAUL & Co.
to the magic of his lawless tongue. Years
in stamped sheepskin, 88. Bd. net.
PROVIDENT INSTITUTIONS
later, when she is a widow, and her boy, who
SALES BY AUCTION
is obviously Miles's son, wishes to go, as
618 HANDBOOK TO ROBERT
SANDS & Co.
did Miles himself, into the wide world, the
BROWNING'S WORKS.
SHIPPING
once gay and reckless ne'er-do-well calls at
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL & Co. . .
By Mrs. SUTHERLAND ORR. 11th Edition, with a
the farm, grey-haired and reduced to the
Bibliography. Fcap. 8vo, 68.
SITUATIONS VACANT
trade of a travelling huckster ; still eloquent, SITUATIONS WANTED
but no longer confident, he dissuades the SOCIETIES . .
G. BELL & SONS, LTD. ,
lad from his proposed adventure, and then TYPE-WRITERS, &c.
Portugal Street, London, W. C.
6
.
PAGE
518
544
548
520
519
518
517
547
547
517
520
545
547
EXHIBITIONS
JACK
517
MACMILLAN & Co.
520
518
546
522
521
517
.
. .
. .
547
547
521
517
518
517
518
## p. 555 (#415) ############################################
No. 4412, May 18, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
555
555
556
ANGLO - AXERICAN MEMORIES
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
557558
668
559565
566
567
BRITISH NEW
& Textbook on
568-571
AND
671---574
WEEK. .
674-675
575-576
576
an
1780-1908,' catalogued the series of club flicting statements; and not less modest
SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1912. publications which are the best certificate are the disclaimer of original critical con-
extant of the historical spirit in Scotland. tribution, and the warm homage to Sir
CONTENTS.
The old history-makers were thus not Archibald Dunbar, Mr. Anderson, and the
PAGE neglected-far from it. Nevertheless, there work of Sir Archibald Lawrie, whose
THE EARLY CHRONICLES RELATING TO SCOTLAND
was room for some such co-ordinating name by some slip must have fallen out of
558 study as Sir Herbert Maxwell has under the mention of his book in the Preface.
THEORY AND PRACTICE (The Kingdom of God; Lon.
don's Underworld). .
taken.
In consequence of dependence on these
Love's PILGRIMAGE
His book, dedicated to the veteran far deeper workers, especially Mr. Ander-
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS
THE REVIVAL OP PRINTING-BOOK SALE
506 antiquary Dr. Joseph Anderson, is the son, Sir Herbert has discarded all biblio-
FORTHCOMING BOOKS. .
material of a Rhind Lecture course in graphical apparatus. This has its dis-
LATERARY GOSSIP
SCIENCE THE MAPULU MOUNTAIN PEOPLE OF archæology following that of Dr. Maitland advantages, and we are troubled to find
GUINEA ; METEOROLOGY (The
Structure of the Atmosphere in Clear Weather ;
Thomson, who gave the first connected him ignoring Canon Fowler's edition of
Meteorology,
the Weather); account of the Public Records of Scot- | Adamnan, Mr. W. M. Mackenzie's
NOTICES OP New Books ; SOCIETIES ; MEETINGS
NEXT WEEK ; GOSSIP
land, developed somewhat after the mode edition of Barbour's ‘Bruce,' and Mr.
PINE ARTS - SOUTH AMERICAN ÄRCHÆOLOGY; THE suggested by Mr. Pike and Mr. Hubert Amours's five-volume text of Wyntoun.
ROYAL ACADEMY; MINIATURES AT BRUSSELS ;
RAEBURN, REYNOLDS,
GAINSBOROUGH,
Hall for English archives. The chron- While the chronicles selected are repre-
HOPPNER; JAPANESE COLOUR. PRINTS ; GOSSIP
icles are much more stirring and pictur- sentative, some omissions are as notable
MUSIC-J. W. DAVISON'S MEMOIRS ; HERR S. WAGNER esque stuff than the rolls and registers. as the inclusions, whether English or
IN LONDON; GOSSIP; PERFORMANCES NEXT
Official registers rarely stoop to gossip, Scots. Of English writers Pierre Lang-
DRAMA-NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS; GOSSIP ::
while dramatic life is unfailing in the toft might have been included as specially
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
narrative of interested annalist. interpreting his time in its indignation
Sir Herbert Maxwell has moved about against Wallace and Bruce; and certainly
among the chroniclers now for so many the ‘Passio Scotorum,' in a class of satire
LITERATURE
years that he has by his adventures as all its own, and the Political Songs
translator and otherwise got inside their should not have been ignored. Among
guard, and ought to know their secret, Scottish writings we miss the early
The Early Chronicles relating to Scotland : their foibles, their charm and variety. Chronicon Elegiacum,' which made a
being the Rhind Lectures in Archæology Although the monkish sort preponderates special contribution to the structure of
for 1912 in connection with the Society among chronicles, there are fine examples the later chronicles.
We miss, too, par-
of Antiquaries of Scotland. By Sir of the knightly type, perhaps the best of ticularly the leonine battle pieces.
Herbert Eustace Maxwell. (Glasgow, them all (unnoticed by Sir Herbert) being
MacLehose & Sons. )
Barbour is generously noticed, though
the Vrayes Chroniques ? of Jehan le Bel. improperly called the earliest vernacular
Books about the old histories multiply, But it had a close rival in Gray’s ‘Scala- poet. He is, moreover, censured at a
if they only occasionally replenish the cronica,' a fourteenth-century North-point where his defence is irresistible. Sir
earth with novelties of research or fresh umbrian marchman's narrative whose Herbert condemns the fifteen days he gives
principles of biographical or economic Old French Sir Herbert first englished. Bruce to reach Dumfries from London in
exegesis. British authors have fared well Scarcely less military in tone, despite its 1306. Now the passage is admittedly
at the hands of the successors of Bale and monkish or Minorite authorship, was the
one which Wyntoun copies, and Wyntoun
Bishop Nicolson. In Scotland the work | (Latin) · Chronicle of Lanercost' which he proves that Barbour wrote, not the
of finding for the authorities their places has also translated. Both were choice speci-fyften,” but the “ fyft ” day. The
was started finely with the Critical mens of what Border annalists could do.
serious misestimate of Bower's Scoti-
Essay' of Thomas Innes, not yet super- From these it was a natural transition chronicon’ argues on Sir Herbert's part
seded. There is still no modern, compre- to a discursive survey of the whole series a contempt for what, in spite of all
hensive, scientific survey of the Scottish of medieval chronicles. In its aim a faults, is a main treasure-house of Scottish
historians. For the earlier periods a compromise between the objectives of chronicle. Some errant perversity has
good deal has recently been accomplished erudition and entertainment, the survey induced a remark which looks gratuitous
by instalments. Of the English chro- follows the system of description of and cruel, that McPherson, editor of
nicles, all inevitably reflecting or glancing contents, and illustration by extracts, Wyntoun, was the son of a tailor in
at Scots affairs, excellent accounts have with a thread of connecting account and Edinburgh an offence which might
been given not only in Rolls Series prefaces, a dash of criticism. Thus in rapid course have been forgiven ! Goodall, the
but also compendiously in the handbook are traced the distinctive qualities of the editor of Bower, and the object of a
satellites of that system. Scottish record Roman historians, the hagiographers of worse scandal than base descent, has
publications have practically eschewed Ninian, Columba, and Kentigern, the more happily escaped.
the more happily escaped. A misprint on
and are now eschewing chronicle, the need Anglo-Saxon annalists, and an array of
Libellus de Primo Adventu
and value of printing official treasury later writers from Ailred of Rievaux Saxorum,' has its amusing side. Reve-
compota and Council registers being more and Walter of Coventry to the Scottish dene (p. 172) is not Raughton in Cumber-
urgent. But the clubs are active, and Fordun, Barbour, and Wyntoun. All the land, but is in Sprouston, Roxburghshire,
private enterprise is brisk. Neither authors dealt with are in print: manu- where “ Reddenburn” saw many a March-
textual nor critical effort is wanting, and script is not an effective word in Sir Warden's gathering.
perhaps it is a good sign that the editorial Herbert's vocabulary. Telling passages Probably a wise reticence hindered this
impulse so nearly countervails the easier are chosen to illustrate such themes as pleasantly toned conspectus of early
tendency towards criticism. Collation Brunanburh, the battle of the Standard, chronicle from claiming to be a critical
of texts is the best fount of criticism, the blood-covenant of the Galloway Picts, specialist's contribution upon the Quellen
and of this there are eminent examples. and the endless controversy of the homage of the authors, their relative historic
Foremost among its exponents has been of the Kings of Scots.
achievement, and their capacities of
a young Carnegie scholar, Mr. Alan 0. Incidentally it cannot escape observa- literary expression. Many are the inter-
Anderson, who in his Scottish Annals
Scottish Annals tion to what a degree the field of the esting questions suggested. How far, for
from English Chronicles,' A. D. 500 to 1286, book has been covered by Mr. A. 0. instance, did these chronicles reflect
has edited in translation, with synoptical Anderson. No doubt the debt to him is national standards, opinions, and anti-
cross-references, a wonderfully full corpus gracefully enough owned, but it would pathies, which were to crystallize so
of Scots history from English sources. have saved reviewers and others trouble differently on the opposite sides of the
Sir Archibald Lawrie, in his ‘Annals of had references to his work accompanied Border? How far did the Scottish chro-
Malcolm and William,' has given the Latin some three-fifths of the foot-notes. The nicles in particular at first interpret, and
historical texts from 1153 to 1214. Prof. Preface expresses modest intention afterwards inspire, national feeling and
Sanford Terry's 'Scottish Historical Clubs, to indicate lines of truth among con- l national literature ?
p. 115,
## p. 556 (#416) ############################################
556
THE ATHENÆUM
No. 4412, May 18, 1912
CG
an
our war,' I mean it of the whole Cabinet. Speaker Reed, the late J. S. Morgan and
Anglo-American Memories : Second Series. We were all agreed at the beginning. We his son Mr. Pierpont Morgan, of Mr.
By George W. Smalley. (Duckworth are all agreed now. ” The Duke's moral Carnegie and his sale of the Homestead
& Co. )
courage is illustrated by a story of how works to the Steel Trust for a fabulous
he settled a social scandal, not named here, price, and of Mr. W. W. Astor are all full
MR. G. W. SMALLEY'S recollections and but not forgotten, by securing and burning of interesting gossip.
appreciations of various eminent men,
the compromising letters, with the dry As a relief from politics and society,
living or dead, on both sides of the Atlantic remark, “ I do not think it will be neces- Mr. Smalley devotes a few chapters to the
are distinctly entertaining. As London sary to carry this matter further. ” The arts, exemplified by Whistler, W. S.
correspondent of The New York Tribune, late Duchess of Devonshire has a chapter Gilbert, Irving, Madame Sarah Bernhardt,
and as Washington correspondent for to herself, with some piquant anecdotes. and Aimé Desclée, whose love-letters the
some years of The Times, he has had an ambassador once interceded vainly younger Dumas published. The apprecia-
exceptional opportunities of meeting poli; with her on behalf of a lady who had not tion of Irving is very good, but better still
ticians and others of note, and he has used had a card for her famous fancy-dress is the description of a meeting between
his opportunities with an eagerness cha- ball at the Jubilee of 1897 ; at the end him and the great Sarah, after she had
racteristic of his countrymen. He can the Duchess relented so far as to say, “ If been taken to see Irving in 'The Bells. '
tell a story neatly, and he can sum up she likes to come without a card, she may “Mais il m'énerve; dans le bon sens,
his impressions of a man with practised come. ” To the Duchess Mr. Smalley bien entendu,” said the actress, with her
ease in a few pages. He thinks that he attributes an ambition to see the Duke
He does
is an impartial observer -“ politics I Prime Minister ; the fact remains that things, some things, which no French actor
eyes fixed on the Mathias.
eschew,” he says in one place; but this he thrice-not twice-refused the offer
is a harmless delusion. His book would of the place, showing a wisdom that never misses à point. ”
can do. He makes no mistakes. He
She went on
not be half so amusing if it did not betray did him infinite credit. Mr. Smalley has to praise his stage-management as
on every page his strong prejudices
no very definite impression to give of intellectual triumph. ” Sarah's remarks
against Gladstone, for example, or against Sir William Harcourt, but his friendly on Irving, as recalled by Mr. Smalley, are
unorthodox Republicanism in America. sketch of the late Earl Spencer is just and precious indeed.
Mr. Smalley gives half his book to pleasing. He recalls the “Red Earl's"
English people of note, dividing his space good service in Ireland during the dark
between those who are still with us and days of the Phønix Park murders ; and
those who are gone. Mr. Chamberlain, he recalls, too, Lord Spencer's sale of Egyptian Literature. —Vol. I. Legends of
his chief hero, has the first place and a the Althorp Library, an heirloom of which
the Gods, the Egyptian Texts, edited,
sympathetic eulogy. The author is wrong he was proud, but in which he confessed
with Translations, by E. A. Wallis
in suggesting by a vague phrase on p. 9 himself unable to take any real interest.
Budge; and Vol. II. Annals of Nubian
that Mr. Chamberlain ever encountered Goschen's dogmatic style is amusingly
Kings, with a Sketch of the History of
Disraeli in debate, for he made his maiden described. There is an attractive sketch,
the Nubian Kingdom of Napata, by E. A.
speech in the House (August 4th, 1876) too, of Goldwin Smith, although Mr.
Wallis Budge. (Kegan Paul & Co. )
just a week before Disraeli left it on his Smalley is, we think, wrong in saying
way to the serener air of the House of that the historian shook the dust of THESE two volumes open a fresh group
Lords. The well-known episode of 1880, Oxford off his feet_mainly because he of works in the series of “Books on Egypt
when the late Sir Charles Dilke and was not elected a Fellow of Oriel. To and Chaldæa,” which was called into
Mr. Chamberlain forced Gladstone to the late Lord Pauncefote Mr. Smalley existence by Dr. Budge a number of years
admit one of them to the Cabinet, is said pays a glowing tribute, which is, perhaps, ago. The imposing list of thirty-one-
to be narrated as Sir Charles gave the most important chapter in the book, volumes so far published deals with the
it to Mr. Smalley at the time, but we as it shows how a genial personality in subjects of religion, magic, history, and
have good reason to believe there is un- our Embassy at Washington, backed by language, two of the instalments bearing
intentional misrepresentation. Mr. Balfour a strong Foreign Secretary in the late Lord the respective titles of ‘Babylonian
the statesman and party leader is severely Salisbury, contrived to change for the Religion and ' Assyrian Language,' and
handled, with a word of rebuke for his better our relations with America. all the others being concerned with the
former secretary, whose name is misspelt; In Mr. Smalley's little gallery of Egyptian side of the topics named. But,
but Mr. Balfour the metaphysician, “ the American portraits, that of Mr. Roosevelt as Dr. Budge rightly says, the time seems
child of Pascal ” and the popular squire, is the most elaborate. He seems to to have arrived“ when the publication of
is a favourite of the author's, along admire and distrust the ex-President a series of groups illustrating Egyptian
with Lord Rosebery and Lord Wolseley by turns. He recalls with a smile how Literature in general might well
be begun. "
Mr. Smalley forgets in his denunciation Mr. Roosevelt, in his early days, paid a
Hence the fresh and laudable direction
of Gladstone for delaying the Gordon call on the famous “boss," Mr. Platt, that is now given to the series ; and, in
Relief Expedition that it was sent in and carried discretion so far as to talk order to make the exact style of the
1884 — not 1885. His recollections of solely about early Macedonian history : undertaking clear at the outset, Dr.
Mr. W ton Churchill in boyhood are “Mr. Platt's face meanwhile was a mask. ” Budge states in the Preface to the first
amusing. Ho notes his passion for He seems to wish that Mr. Roosevelt volume that
work," and somewhat curiously remarks could be as discreet nowadays. Mr. “ these volumes are intended to serve a
that he is "by nature and temperament Smalley refers in some detail to Mr. double purpose, i. e. , to supply the beginner
a Dissenter," which is hardly, we think, Roosevelt's mediation between Russia in Egyptian with new material and a series
the right word. He comments harshly and Japan while the Peace Conference of reading books, and to provide the general
on Sir Edward Grey and Lord Haldane was sitting at Portsmouth, and discusses reader with translations of Egyptian works
as politicians, and has a slight paper on
the same subject more fully in a chapter in a handy form. "
the present Speaker and his three imme-
on Count Witte, to whose diplomatic skill With this well-defined purpose in his
diate predecessors.
he attributes the honourable terms gained mind, Dr. Budge has naturally not con-
The late Duke of Devonshire seems to by Russia. Possibly American public sidered it necessary to aim at producing
have made a profound impression upon opinion influenced the negotiators; but anything novel in these volumes, but has
Mr. Smalley, who notes his capacity for Mr. Smalley omits to consider that the confined himself to the republication of
work and play, his independent nature, Japanese Government may have been texts that are well known to specialists,
and his keen sense of justice. The Duke bluffing ” as well as the Russian Govern- and had already been translated into one
told Mr. Smalley—we have the remark ment, since Japan, as we now know, had or more European languages. His notes
twice over in the first few pages—that the imperative reasons for desiring to end the and introductions to the different parts .
South African War was no more Cham- war after Mukden. Mr. Smalley's remi- bear, much to the advantage of those for
berlain's war than it is mine. When I say ' niscences of Mr. Whitelaw Reid, the late whom the volumes are mainly intended,,
>
C6
66
## p. 557 (#417) ############################################
No. 4412, May 18, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
557
the same non-specialist character; and tion on certain points will still have to the Preface to Vol. II. we have, however,
the numerous plates which adorn the turn to Dr. Budge's work on 'The Egyp- noted the following part of a sentence :
volumes are evidently also calculated tian Sudan' or-in so far as the period The defeat of Cambyses_by Nastasen,
to serve a wide rather than a strictly has been dealt with elsewhere-to publica and his campaigns in the Eastern Sudan
scholastic purpose.
tions of a similar nature.
about B. C. 520. ” We know from the
The texts appear to us happily chosen.
In fixing one's attention successively history of the period that the campaigns
The plan adopted in the first volume, of on each part of this volume, one cannot
referred to were those of Nastasen, but
making each page of translation face the help
realizing that, apart from the value the wording itself would, to say the least
corresponding one of hieroglyphics, is the of the compositions as ancient literature, of it, leave one in doubt as to whether
best that could be devised; though the their contents are fascinating from the they might not have been those of Cam-
method followed in Vol. II. , of printing historical point of view. Piankhi, the byses. But a little slip of this kind is
the translation below the text, is service- famous conqueror of Egypt, who ascended merely the
result of the quickness of work
able enough. Besides the translations, the throne of Napata
about the
middle which belongs to a voluminous writer:
Dr. Budge gives in his introductory of the eighth century B. C. or a little
chapters, in an easy and genial manner, later, was evidently a ruler of great
summaries of the legends and histories. strength and resource, with a very con-
The reader will thus pleasantly pass siderable mixture of ruthlessness in his THEORY AND PRACTICE.
from part to part. From the Legend of character. As Dr. Budge puts it," he
Creation, with which Vol. I. opens, he struck swiftly, and he struck hard,” but It is not our wish to maintain that in
will proceed to the story of the destruction he at the same time honoured the gods the books under review the two parts of
of mankind (or, as we should rather say, of Egypt and respected its civilization. our heading are wholly divorced, yet, had
the destruction of some part of mankind). Also highly interesting, though in a dif- we it in our power to bestow a mutual
The chapter which tells the interesting ferent way, is the chapter on the history blessing on Mr. Temple and Mr. Holmes,
story of the snake bite of Ra and the of Tanuath-Amen, who was a nephew of it would take the form of wishing them
artfulness of Isis reminds one a little in Taharqa, the contemporary of Hezekiah, for a time to change places and experi-
a rather far-off way, it is true) of the story Sennacherib, Esarhaddon, and Ashur- ences without detriment to the services
of Merlin and Vivien, as told in Tenny. bani-pal. In reflecting upon this king's each is rendering to his fellows.
son’s ‘Idylls of the King,' with this great successful campaigns against the Egyptians
difference, however, that Vivien was both and his subsequent overthrow by the columns our appreciation of Mr. Temple’s
We have already expressed in our
artful and meretricious, whilst Isis was Assyrians, Dr. Budge says
artful only.
summary of the evolution of the idea of
Three chapters are assigned to different " The Nubians fought the Egyptians with God; it is now our duty to point out
parts of the story of Horus.
genial of bishops, and his daughter Margery sent-day youth against the restraining influ.
“For the first time we have the beginning of a complete
plays the heroine with an agreeable lightness of this theme pictures three children of a
of touch.
well - meaning
Nonconformist protesting best texts, and annotated with extreme elaboration
A STAGE fairy-tale, constructed out of the against their father's narrow notions, and
Swift's letters have
been often, but never well, edited
before this. . . . We congratulate Mr. Ball on an arduous
fortunes, legendary or historical, of the insisting on shaping their lives to suit their task faithfully executed, with a sure mastery of its
Rothschild family, sounds odd at first. own wishes. The humours of the piece are
bewildering complexity. "--Times.
Such is the fare in Carl Rössler's comedy of sometimes almost farcical in their extrava-
- The Five Frankforters' which Mr. Basil gance, but the author has the knack of JUST PUBLISHED. Medium 8vo, 108. Bd. net.
Hood has adapted for the Lyric Theatre. individualizing every one of his characters,
Artifice is of the play's essence.
and in addition he has high spirits and
PITT
costumes--of 1822_would seem to have had manages to keep his theme constantly in
their quaintness exaggerated. The dis evidence. The interpretation was satis.
tinctions drawn between the four famous fying, Mr. Stanley Drewitt's performance AND
banker-sons who attend in procession to pay in the part of the harassed father perhaps
homage to their unpretending mother on standing out from the acting of the rest.
Essays and Letters.
her birthday are patently accentuated in Mr. Houghton, it should be remarked, relies
By Dr. J. HOLLAND ROSE.
the direction of caricature. Fantastic is the on the new convention of the “ fourth wall. ”
Reader in Modern History, University of Cambridge.
atmosphere of the principality which bold
Baron Samuel proposes to annex by marry: Rede Lecture next June at Cambridge, and
PROF. GILBERT MURRAY is to give the "This book in reality forms the third volume of Dr.
Holland Rose's Life of Pitt. ' In it new and important
ing his daughter to its reigning, duke, and has chosen as his subject “The Chorus in
light is thrown on many points which arise both in
farcical is the behaviour of his Jowish
• William Pitt and National Revival' and ' William Pitt
Greek Tragedy. '
brothers at Court. Even the courtship of drama, the chorus, is in modern productions
The oldest part of Greek and the Great War. ' Taken together these three
volumes may be regarded as the standard bio-
pretty Rachel and that cousin David whose
the chief stumbling-block. Uncertain how
graphy of tho patriotic statesman whose untiring
attractiveness the family overlooks has the
exertions brought about the Union between
old-fashioned formality of a minuet, though not represent the views of the
to treat it, we are at least sure that it does England and Ireland. . . . One of the most important
' ideal
historical works which has appeared since the commence-
it serves to balk the ambitions of finance. spectator," as was formerly declared. Rather,
ment of the present century. " -Outlook.
Yet the sentiment, picturesqueness, and it seems to suggest Mrs. Grundy, and, like
humour of the piece make a thoroughly an up-to-date Censor, doubts concerning BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
successful appeal, especially as a cast includ.
ing Miss Henrietta Watson, Mr. C. M.
propriety in the wrong place.
THE
Lowne, Mr. Louis Calvert, Miss Gladys
Guy, and Mr. Henry Ainley furnishes acting Received.
TO CORRESPONDENTS. -F. G. S. -S. M. -M. C. -S. B. -
LIFE OF WILLIAM PITT
which is just in the right vein, and throws
H. H. -Many thanks.
Vol. 1. -WILLIAM PITT AND NATIONAL
into relief the idyllic qualities of the story.
No notice can be taken of anonymous communications.
REVIVAL
Miss HORNIMAN's company from Man- We cannot undertake to reply to inquiries concerning the Vol. II. -WILLIAM PITT AND THE GREAT
. chester is now on a visit to London to re-
appearance of reviews of books,
WAR
We do not undertake to give the value of books, china,
mind us that the repertory theatre still
pictures, &c.
Medium 8vo, with Photogravure Plates, 168. net each.
thrives in the provinces, and that there is
plenty of good acting in other than West-
“We may, specially recommend to our readers the
interesting chapters in which Dr. Holland Rose re-tells, in
End theatres. Her season at the Coronet
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS.
the light of much new evidence, the story of how this Union
began with revivals of Mr. Galsworthy's
(of Great Britain and Ireland) was brought about and the
motives that underlay it. "-Times.
Silver Box' and Mr. Bernard Shaw's
- Widowers' Houses,' both of them works
AUTHORS' AGENTS
which have contributed to the development
BELL & SONS
HANDBOOKS OF ENGLISH
of the drama of ideas, and both of them
BLACKWOOD & SONS
BOOKBINDING
pieces which, by reason of the balance each
LITERATURE.
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
of the playwrights preserves between his
CATALOGUES
Crown 8vo, 38. Bd. net each.
various characters, enable the company to EDUCATIONAL
show its all-round merit. It was not till
NEW VOLUME JUST PUBLISHED.
ENO'S FRUIT SALT
Wednesday night that Miss Horniman
EVERETT & Co. . .
THE AGE OF ALFRED
offered any novelties. Then came
two
at once—' Miles Dixon,' a two-act play by FARMER
(A. D. 664-1154).
Mr. Gilbert Cannan, and succeeding this, HUTCHINSON & Co.
By F. J. SNELL, M. A.
Mr. Stanley Houghton's comedy in three INSURANCE COMPANIES
acts, “The Younger Generation. '
522 POEMS BY ROBERT BROWNING.
The scene of Mr. Cannan's miniature
LECTURES . .
Illustrated and Decorated by BYAM SHAW. With
drama is a lonely farm in the Lake district,
520, 522
an Introduction by RICHARD GARNETT, LL. D. C. B.
and the hero who gives it its title is a wild
MAGAZINES, &c. . .
4th Edition. 38. 6d. net.
vagabond with the imagination of a poet,
MISCELLANEOUS. .
NOTES AND QUERIES .
whom a farmer's handsome wife drives from
A BROWNING TREASURE BOOK.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
Extracts from Browning, Selected and Arranged by
her side after she has temporarily surrendered
A. M. WARBURTON. Wide fcap. 8vo, 28. 6d. net; or
PAUL & Co.
to the magic of his lawless tongue. Years
in stamped sheepskin, 88. Bd. net.
PROVIDENT INSTITUTIONS
later, when she is a widow, and her boy, who
SALES BY AUCTION
is obviously Miles's son, wishes to go, as
618 HANDBOOK TO ROBERT
SANDS & Co.
did Miles himself, into the wide world, the
BROWNING'S WORKS.
SHIPPING
once gay and reckless ne'er-do-well calls at
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL & Co. . .
By Mrs. SUTHERLAND ORR. 11th Edition, with a
the farm, grey-haired and reduced to the
Bibliography. Fcap. 8vo, 68.
SITUATIONS VACANT
trade of a travelling huckster ; still eloquent, SITUATIONS WANTED
but no longer confident, he dissuades the SOCIETIES . .
G. BELL & SONS, LTD. ,
lad from his proposed adventure, and then TYPE-WRITERS, &c.
Portugal Street, London, W. C.
6
.
PAGE
518
544
548
520
519
518
517
547
547
517
520
545
547
EXHIBITIONS
JACK
517
MACMILLAN & Co.
520
518
546
522
521
517
.
. .
. .
547
547
521
517
518
517
518
## p. 555 (#415) ############################################
No. 4412, May 18, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
555
555
556
ANGLO - AXERICAN MEMORIES
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
557558
668
559565
566
567
BRITISH NEW
& Textbook on
568-571
AND
671---574
WEEK. .
674-675
575-576
576
an
1780-1908,' catalogued the series of club flicting statements; and not less modest
SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1912. publications which are the best certificate are the disclaimer of original critical con-
extant of the historical spirit in Scotland. tribution, and the warm homage to Sir
CONTENTS.
The old history-makers were thus not Archibald Dunbar, Mr. Anderson, and the
PAGE neglected-far from it. Nevertheless, there work of Sir Archibald Lawrie, whose
THE EARLY CHRONICLES RELATING TO SCOTLAND
was room for some such co-ordinating name by some slip must have fallen out of
558 study as Sir Herbert Maxwell has under the mention of his book in the Preface.
THEORY AND PRACTICE (The Kingdom of God; Lon.
don's Underworld). .
taken.
In consequence of dependence on these
Love's PILGRIMAGE
His book, dedicated to the veteran far deeper workers, especially Mr. Ander-
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS
THE REVIVAL OP PRINTING-BOOK SALE
506 antiquary Dr. Joseph Anderson, is the son, Sir Herbert has discarded all biblio-
FORTHCOMING BOOKS. .
material of a Rhind Lecture course in graphical apparatus. This has its dis-
LATERARY GOSSIP
SCIENCE THE MAPULU MOUNTAIN PEOPLE OF archæology following that of Dr. Maitland advantages, and we are troubled to find
GUINEA ; METEOROLOGY (The
Structure of the Atmosphere in Clear Weather ;
Thomson, who gave the first connected him ignoring Canon Fowler's edition of
Meteorology,
the Weather); account of the Public Records of Scot- | Adamnan, Mr. W. M. Mackenzie's
NOTICES OP New Books ; SOCIETIES ; MEETINGS
NEXT WEEK ; GOSSIP
land, developed somewhat after the mode edition of Barbour's ‘Bruce,' and Mr.
PINE ARTS - SOUTH AMERICAN ÄRCHÆOLOGY; THE suggested by Mr. Pike and Mr. Hubert Amours's five-volume text of Wyntoun.
ROYAL ACADEMY; MINIATURES AT BRUSSELS ;
RAEBURN, REYNOLDS,
GAINSBOROUGH,
Hall for English archives. The chron- While the chronicles selected are repre-
HOPPNER; JAPANESE COLOUR. PRINTS ; GOSSIP
icles are much more stirring and pictur- sentative, some omissions are as notable
MUSIC-J. W. DAVISON'S MEMOIRS ; HERR S. WAGNER esque stuff than the rolls and registers. as the inclusions, whether English or
IN LONDON; GOSSIP; PERFORMANCES NEXT
Official registers rarely stoop to gossip, Scots. Of English writers Pierre Lang-
DRAMA-NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS; GOSSIP ::
while dramatic life is unfailing in the toft might have been included as specially
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
narrative of interested annalist. interpreting his time in its indignation
Sir Herbert Maxwell has moved about against Wallace and Bruce; and certainly
among the chroniclers now for so many the ‘Passio Scotorum,' in a class of satire
LITERATURE
years that he has by his adventures as all its own, and the Political Songs
translator and otherwise got inside their should not have been ignored. Among
guard, and ought to know their secret, Scottish writings we miss the early
The Early Chronicles relating to Scotland : their foibles, their charm and variety. Chronicon Elegiacum,' which made a
being the Rhind Lectures in Archæology Although the monkish sort preponderates special contribution to the structure of
for 1912 in connection with the Society among chronicles, there are fine examples the later chronicles.
We miss, too, par-
of Antiquaries of Scotland. By Sir of the knightly type, perhaps the best of ticularly the leonine battle pieces.
Herbert Eustace Maxwell. (Glasgow, them all (unnoticed by Sir Herbert) being
MacLehose & Sons. )
Barbour is generously noticed, though
the Vrayes Chroniques ? of Jehan le Bel. improperly called the earliest vernacular
Books about the old histories multiply, But it had a close rival in Gray’s ‘Scala- poet. He is, moreover, censured at a
if they only occasionally replenish the cronica,' a fourteenth-century North-point where his defence is irresistible. Sir
earth with novelties of research or fresh umbrian marchman's narrative whose Herbert condemns the fifteen days he gives
principles of biographical or economic Old French Sir Herbert first englished. Bruce to reach Dumfries from London in
exegesis. British authors have fared well Scarcely less military in tone, despite its 1306. Now the passage is admittedly
at the hands of the successors of Bale and monkish or Minorite authorship, was the
one which Wyntoun copies, and Wyntoun
Bishop Nicolson. In Scotland the work | (Latin) · Chronicle of Lanercost' which he proves that Barbour wrote, not the
of finding for the authorities their places has also translated. Both were choice speci-fyften,” but the “ fyft ” day. The
was started finely with the Critical mens of what Border annalists could do.
serious misestimate of Bower's Scoti-
Essay' of Thomas Innes, not yet super- From these it was a natural transition chronicon’ argues on Sir Herbert's part
seded. There is still no modern, compre- to a discursive survey of the whole series a contempt for what, in spite of all
hensive, scientific survey of the Scottish of medieval chronicles. In its aim a faults, is a main treasure-house of Scottish
historians. For the earlier periods a compromise between the objectives of chronicle. Some errant perversity has
good deal has recently been accomplished erudition and entertainment, the survey induced a remark which looks gratuitous
by instalments. Of the English chro- follows the system of description of and cruel, that McPherson, editor of
nicles, all inevitably reflecting or glancing contents, and illustration by extracts, Wyntoun, was the son of a tailor in
at Scots affairs, excellent accounts have with a thread of connecting account and Edinburgh an offence which might
been given not only in Rolls Series prefaces, a dash of criticism. Thus in rapid course have been forgiven ! Goodall, the
but also compendiously in the handbook are traced the distinctive qualities of the editor of Bower, and the object of a
satellites of that system. Scottish record Roman historians, the hagiographers of worse scandal than base descent, has
publications have practically eschewed Ninian, Columba, and Kentigern, the more happily escaped.
the more happily escaped. A misprint on
and are now eschewing chronicle, the need Anglo-Saxon annalists, and an array of
Libellus de Primo Adventu
and value of printing official treasury later writers from Ailred of Rievaux Saxorum,' has its amusing side. Reve-
compota and Council registers being more and Walter of Coventry to the Scottish dene (p. 172) is not Raughton in Cumber-
urgent. But the clubs are active, and Fordun, Barbour, and Wyntoun. All the land, but is in Sprouston, Roxburghshire,
private enterprise is brisk. Neither authors dealt with are in print: manu- where “ Reddenburn” saw many a March-
textual nor critical effort is wanting, and script is not an effective word in Sir Warden's gathering.
perhaps it is a good sign that the editorial Herbert's vocabulary. Telling passages Probably a wise reticence hindered this
impulse so nearly countervails the easier are chosen to illustrate such themes as pleasantly toned conspectus of early
tendency towards criticism. Collation Brunanburh, the battle of the Standard, chronicle from claiming to be a critical
of texts is the best fount of criticism, the blood-covenant of the Galloway Picts, specialist's contribution upon the Quellen
and of this there are eminent examples. and the endless controversy of the homage of the authors, their relative historic
Foremost among its exponents has been of the Kings of Scots.
achievement, and their capacities of
a young Carnegie scholar, Mr. Alan 0. Incidentally it cannot escape observa- literary expression. Many are the inter-
Anderson, who in his Scottish Annals
Scottish Annals tion to what a degree the field of the esting questions suggested. How far, for
from English Chronicles,' A. D. 500 to 1286, book has been covered by Mr. A. 0. instance, did these chronicles reflect
has edited in translation, with synoptical Anderson. No doubt the debt to him is national standards, opinions, and anti-
cross-references, a wonderfully full corpus gracefully enough owned, but it would pathies, which were to crystallize so
of Scots history from English sources. have saved reviewers and others trouble differently on the opposite sides of the
Sir Archibald Lawrie, in his ‘Annals of had references to his work accompanied Border? How far did the Scottish chro-
Malcolm and William,' has given the Latin some three-fifths of the foot-notes. The nicles in particular at first interpret, and
historical texts from 1153 to 1214. Prof. Preface expresses modest intention afterwards inspire, national feeling and
Sanford Terry's 'Scottish Historical Clubs, to indicate lines of truth among con- l national literature ?
p. 115,
## p. 556 (#416) ############################################
556
THE ATHENÆUM
No. 4412, May 18, 1912
CG
an
our war,' I mean it of the whole Cabinet. Speaker Reed, the late J. S. Morgan and
Anglo-American Memories : Second Series. We were all agreed at the beginning. We his son Mr. Pierpont Morgan, of Mr.
By George W. Smalley. (Duckworth are all agreed now. ” The Duke's moral Carnegie and his sale of the Homestead
& Co. )
courage is illustrated by a story of how works to the Steel Trust for a fabulous
he settled a social scandal, not named here, price, and of Mr. W. W. Astor are all full
MR. G. W. SMALLEY'S recollections and but not forgotten, by securing and burning of interesting gossip.
appreciations of various eminent men,
the compromising letters, with the dry As a relief from politics and society,
living or dead, on both sides of the Atlantic remark, “ I do not think it will be neces- Mr. Smalley devotes a few chapters to the
are distinctly entertaining. As London sary to carry this matter further. ” The arts, exemplified by Whistler, W. S.
correspondent of The New York Tribune, late Duchess of Devonshire has a chapter Gilbert, Irving, Madame Sarah Bernhardt,
and as Washington correspondent for to herself, with some piquant anecdotes. and Aimé Desclée, whose love-letters the
some years of The Times, he has had an ambassador once interceded vainly younger Dumas published. The apprecia-
exceptional opportunities of meeting poli; with her on behalf of a lady who had not tion of Irving is very good, but better still
ticians and others of note, and he has used had a card for her famous fancy-dress is the description of a meeting between
his opportunities with an eagerness cha- ball at the Jubilee of 1897 ; at the end him and the great Sarah, after she had
racteristic of his countrymen. He can the Duchess relented so far as to say, “ If been taken to see Irving in 'The Bells. '
tell a story neatly, and he can sum up she likes to come without a card, she may “Mais il m'énerve; dans le bon sens,
his impressions of a man with practised come. ” To the Duchess Mr. Smalley bien entendu,” said the actress, with her
ease in a few pages. He thinks that he attributes an ambition to see the Duke
He does
is an impartial observer -“ politics I Prime Minister ; the fact remains that things, some things, which no French actor
eyes fixed on the Mathias.
eschew,” he says in one place; but this he thrice-not twice-refused the offer
is a harmless delusion. His book would of the place, showing a wisdom that never misses à point. ”
can do. He makes no mistakes. He
She went on
not be half so amusing if it did not betray did him infinite credit. Mr. Smalley has to praise his stage-management as
on every page his strong prejudices
no very definite impression to give of intellectual triumph. ” Sarah's remarks
against Gladstone, for example, or against Sir William Harcourt, but his friendly on Irving, as recalled by Mr. Smalley, are
unorthodox Republicanism in America. sketch of the late Earl Spencer is just and precious indeed.
Mr. Smalley gives half his book to pleasing. He recalls the “Red Earl's"
English people of note, dividing his space good service in Ireland during the dark
between those who are still with us and days of the Phønix Park murders ; and
those who are gone. Mr. Chamberlain, he recalls, too, Lord Spencer's sale of Egyptian Literature. —Vol. I. Legends of
his chief hero, has the first place and a the Althorp Library, an heirloom of which
the Gods, the Egyptian Texts, edited,
sympathetic eulogy. The author is wrong he was proud, but in which he confessed
with Translations, by E. A. Wallis
in suggesting by a vague phrase on p. 9 himself unable to take any real interest.
Budge; and Vol. II. Annals of Nubian
that Mr. Chamberlain ever encountered Goschen's dogmatic style is amusingly
Kings, with a Sketch of the History of
Disraeli in debate, for he made his maiden described. There is an attractive sketch,
the Nubian Kingdom of Napata, by E. A.
speech in the House (August 4th, 1876) too, of Goldwin Smith, although Mr.
Wallis Budge. (Kegan Paul & Co. )
just a week before Disraeli left it on his Smalley is, we think, wrong in saying
way to the serener air of the House of that the historian shook the dust of THESE two volumes open a fresh group
Lords. The well-known episode of 1880, Oxford off his feet_mainly because he of works in the series of “Books on Egypt
when the late Sir Charles Dilke and was not elected a Fellow of Oriel. To and Chaldæa,” which was called into
Mr. Chamberlain forced Gladstone to the late Lord Pauncefote Mr. Smalley existence by Dr. Budge a number of years
admit one of them to the Cabinet, is said pays a glowing tribute, which is, perhaps, ago. The imposing list of thirty-one-
to be narrated as Sir Charles gave the most important chapter in the book, volumes so far published deals with the
it to Mr. Smalley at the time, but we as it shows how a genial personality in subjects of religion, magic, history, and
have good reason to believe there is un- our Embassy at Washington, backed by language, two of the instalments bearing
intentional misrepresentation. Mr. Balfour a strong Foreign Secretary in the late Lord the respective titles of ‘Babylonian
the statesman and party leader is severely Salisbury, contrived to change for the Religion and ' Assyrian Language,' and
handled, with a word of rebuke for his better our relations with America. all the others being concerned with the
former secretary, whose name is misspelt; In Mr. Smalley's little gallery of Egyptian side of the topics named. But,
but Mr. Balfour the metaphysician, “ the American portraits, that of Mr. Roosevelt as Dr. Budge rightly says, the time seems
child of Pascal ” and the popular squire, is the most elaborate. He seems to to have arrived“ when the publication of
is a favourite of the author's, along admire and distrust the ex-President a series of groups illustrating Egyptian
with Lord Rosebery and Lord Wolseley by turns. He recalls with a smile how Literature in general might well
be begun. "
Mr. Smalley forgets in his denunciation Mr. Roosevelt, in his early days, paid a
Hence the fresh and laudable direction
of Gladstone for delaying the Gordon call on the famous “boss," Mr. Platt, that is now given to the series ; and, in
Relief Expedition that it was sent in and carried discretion so far as to talk order to make the exact style of the
1884 — not 1885. His recollections of solely about early Macedonian history : undertaking clear at the outset, Dr.
Mr. W ton Churchill in boyhood are “Mr. Platt's face meanwhile was a mask. ” Budge states in the Preface to the first
amusing. Ho notes his passion for He seems to wish that Mr. Roosevelt volume that
work," and somewhat curiously remarks could be as discreet nowadays. Mr. “ these volumes are intended to serve a
that he is "by nature and temperament Smalley refers in some detail to Mr. double purpose, i. e. , to supply the beginner
a Dissenter," which is hardly, we think, Roosevelt's mediation between Russia in Egyptian with new material and a series
the right word. He comments harshly and Japan while the Peace Conference of reading books, and to provide the general
on Sir Edward Grey and Lord Haldane was sitting at Portsmouth, and discusses reader with translations of Egyptian works
as politicians, and has a slight paper on
the same subject more fully in a chapter in a handy form. "
the present Speaker and his three imme-
on Count Witte, to whose diplomatic skill With this well-defined purpose in his
diate predecessors.
he attributes the honourable terms gained mind, Dr. Budge has naturally not con-
The late Duke of Devonshire seems to by Russia. Possibly American public sidered it necessary to aim at producing
have made a profound impression upon opinion influenced the negotiators; but anything novel in these volumes, but has
Mr. Smalley, who notes his capacity for Mr. Smalley omits to consider that the confined himself to the republication of
work and play, his independent nature, Japanese Government may have been texts that are well known to specialists,
and his keen sense of justice. The Duke bluffing ” as well as the Russian Govern- and had already been translated into one
told Mr. Smalley—we have the remark ment, since Japan, as we now know, had or more European languages. His notes
twice over in the first few pages—that the imperative reasons for desiring to end the and introductions to the different parts .
South African War was no more Cham- war after Mukden. Mr. Smalley's remi- bear, much to the advantage of those for
berlain's war than it is mine. When I say ' niscences of Mr. Whitelaw Reid, the late whom the volumes are mainly intended,,
>
C6
66
## p. 557 (#417) ############################################
No. 4412, May 18, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
557
the same non-specialist character; and tion on certain points will still have to the Preface to Vol. II. we have, however,
the numerous plates which adorn the turn to Dr. Budge's work on 'The Egyp- noted the following part of a sentence :
volumes are evidently also calculated tian Sudan' or-in so far as the period The defeat of Cambyses_by Nastasen,
to serve a wide rather than a strictly has been dealt with elsewhere-to publica and his campaigns in the Eastern Sudan
scholastic purpose.
tions of a similar nature.
about B. C. 520. ” We know from the
The texts appear to us happily chosen.
In fixing one's attention successively history of the period that the campaigns
The plan adopted in the first volume, of on each part of this volume, one cannot
referred to were those of Nastasen, but
making each page of translation face the help
realizing that, apart from the value the wording itself would, to say the least
corresponding one of hieroglyphics, is the of the compositions as ancient literature, of it, leave one in doubt as to whether
best that could be devised; though the their contents are fascinating from the they might not have been those of Cam-
method followed in Vol. II. , of printing historical point of view. Piankhi, the byses. But a little slip of this kind is
the translation below the text, is service- famous conqueror of Egypt, who ascended merely the
result of the quickness of work
able enough. Besides the translations, the throne of Napata
about the
middle which belongs to a voluminous writer:
Dr. Budge gives in his introductory of the eighth century B. C. or a little
chapters, in an easy and genial manner, later, was evidently a ruler of great
summaries of the legends and histories. strength and resource, with a very con-
The reader will thus pleasantly pass siderable mixture of ruthlessness in his THEORY AND PRACTICE.
from part to part. From the Legend of character. As Dr. Budge puts it," he
Creation, with which Vol. I. opens, he struck swiftly, and he struck hard,” but It is not our wish to maintain that in
will proceed to the story of the destruction he at the same time honoured the gods the books under review the two parts of
of mankind (or, as we should rather say, of Egypt and respected its civilization. our heading are wholly divorced, yet, had
the destruction of some part of mankind). Also highly interesting, though in a dif- we it in our power to bestow a mutual
The chapter which tells the interesting ferent way, is the chapter on the history blessing on Mr. Temple and Mr. Holmes,
story of the snake bite of Ra and the of Tanuath-Amen, who was a nephew of it would take the form of wishing them
artfulness of Isis reminds one a little in Taharqa, the contemporary of Hezekiah, for a time to change places and experi-
a rather far-off way, it is true) of the story Sennacherib, Esarhaddon, and Ashur- ences without detriment to the services
of Merlin and Vivien, as told in Tenny. bani-pal. In reflecting upon this king's each is rendering to his fellows.
son’s ‘Idylls of the King,' with this great successful campaigns against the Egyptians
difference, however, that Vivien was both and his subsequent overthrow by the columns our appreciation of Mr. Temple’s
We have already expressed in our
artful and meretricious, whilst Isis was Assyrians, Dr. Budge says
artful only.
summary of the evolution of the idea of
Three chapters are assigned to different " The Nubians fought the Egyptians with God; it is now our duty to point out
parts of the story of Horus.
