General.

Burton, Captain Sir Richard F. (K.C.M.G.)—Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah. 2 vols. 8vo, Pp. xxviii-436, xii-479. (Price 12,s.)

A Mission to Gelele, King of Dahome. 2 vols. 8vo. Pp. xxi 256, viii-805. (Price 12s.)

Vikram and the Vampire; or, Tales of Hindu Devilry. 8vo Pp. xxi-243. (Price 6s.) London: Tylston & Edwards. 1893.

This memorial edition of the works of the late Sir Richard F. Burton has been produced mainly owing to the public-spirited action of the publishers, Messrs. Tylston and Edwards, whose intention it is, with the co-operation of Lady Burton, to produce the whole edition at their own expense. The work will appear periodically, and include the chief writings of the eminent scholar and traveller. Three of these have already been issued, viz. "Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah;" "a Mission to Gelela, King of Dahome," and "Vikram and the Vampire, or Tales of Hindu Devilry." The first is a narrative of absorbing interest, and is considered by many to be one of the best works of Burton. The second is of interest at the present time in view of the recent expedition of the French to Dahomey, and of events which may follow in the near future, whilst it contains an account of the Author's expedition, which was one of the most page 109 hazardous he ever engaged in. The third and most recent issue is an old and thoroughly Hindu legend composed in Sanskrit and translated by Sir Richard Burton, who possessed an intimate knowledge of the language. The edition, which will be uniform, will prove one of the most complete as well as correct of Sir Richard Burton's works. The cost of each volume has been placed at as low a price as possible, in order that it may come within reach of all, whilst the printing, binding, and illustrations are all that could be desired. A word of praise is due to Mr. Smithers, who has devoted considerable time and trouble to the work of collating and revising the proof sheets for the press.

Payne, Edward John (M.A.)—Voyages of the Elizabethan Seamen to America: Select Narratives from the 'Principal Navigations' of Hakluyt. 12mo. Pp. lvi-272. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1898. (Price 5s.)

The matter comprised in this volume is gathered from the important work of Hakluyt, which, to use Mr. Payne's own words, is "mainly the monument of the great English navigators and maritime adventurers of his own time who overthrew the Spanish colossus that bestrode the ocean, established that naval supremacy on which after-ages reared the fabric of the British Empire and prepared the way for the founders of the great Anglo-American nation." For patriotism and force of character, and in the wealth of dramatic incident embodied in their careers, few more interesting groups can be found in history than the three famous navigators whose voyages are commemorated in this volume. Hawkins, Frobisher, and Drake are remembered among us, not only as the three lieutenants of the admiral who repulsed the Spanish Armada, but as those who, by their assaults on the Spanish possessions in America, had done more to provoke the Spanish invasion of England. The exploits of these men cannot fail to claim attention at the present time, and to prove of interest to a large number of those interested in the building up of the British Empire. Not only has Mr. Payne given us a full account of the voyages of Hawkins, Frobisher, and Drake, but he has introduced his subject with a sketch of the life and works of Hakluyt, which is a masterly review of the great work entitled "The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation," which was published nearly three hundred years ago.

Gibbins, H. de B. (M.A.)—British Commerce and Colonies from Elizabeth to Victoria. 12mo. Pp. viii-136. London: Methuen & Co. 1893.

The object of this history of British Commerce since the days of Queen Elizabeth is stated to be to supply the want of a short text-book, which should present the main outlines of and facts about our commercial progress in a simple and concise form, without going into those interesting but elaborate details which more fitly belong to larger works. The work page 110 is issued for the use of schools and colleges which now devote some attention to commercial as well as to political history, as well as for business men who take an interest in the development of our national commerce, but who have not time for a lengthened study of the subject. The author divides his subject into seventeen headings, commencing with the Merchant Companies and Commercial Progress, that formed so prominent a feature in the history of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and embracing such subjects as Colonisation, Commerce, the American Colonies and their separation, Modern Colonial Development, &c. The chapter upon Colonisation has been based chiefly upon the Rev. A. Caldecott's excellent work, "English Colonisation and Empire," whilst Mr. E. J. Payne's "European Colonies" has been largely drawn upon. Under the heading Modern Colonial Development, Mr. Gibbins again makes use of the arguments set forth by Mr. Caldecott, but, in one instance, goes considerably further by stating that our West Indian Colonies are now in a somewhat critical position owing to the decline of the sugar industry. This is far from correct, as in almost all these Colonies, by the aid of new industries, and a slight revival in the sugar industry, there is a decided improvement in trade prospects, as the latest official statistics will prove. Forming an Appendix is a list of our possessions and Colonies, with the date and manner of acquisition, and their commercial products. Although the reference to each is too brief, it nevertheless shows at a glance the various settlements of the British Empire in each quarter of the globe. Here, however, several errors and omissions occur, such as the non-inclusion of gold amongst the exports of British Guiana; Sisal hemp, which has done so much to increase the prosperity of the Bahamas, is not mentioned; St. Kilts appears as one of the Leeward Islands instead of St. Kitt's; the Grenadive Islands appear instead of the Gretadines; whilst Barbados (which is spelt Barbadoes) is stated to form one of the Windward Islands federation, whereas it was separated from that group, and became a distinct government, in 1885. Amongst the African Colonies, the Gambia is stated to be now under the governor of Sierra Leone, and Lagos subordinate to the governor of the Gold Coast, whereas the former was created a separate government in 1888, and the latter was in 1886 separated from the Gold Coast and erected into a separate colony. It is useless to further enlarge upon similar errors, which skull be corrected, and the work generally revised before it can be recommended for school use.

The Imperial and Asiatic Quarterly Review and Oriental and Colonial Record. October 1893. Vol. VI. No. 12. Woking: Oriental University Institute. (Price 5s.)

Amongst the nineteen articles which form the present issue of this Magazine, several are of more than usual interest. Lord Chelmsford continues his article on the "Defence of India," and replies to various criticisms upon the subject, more especially referring to the remarks of page 111 Mr. George Curzon, which have appeared in the press. Mr. A. Michie draws attention to a probable alliance between China and India in view of events now occurring in the East, whilst other articles are contributed by Sir Roper Lethbridge, Mr. J. B. Pennington, Mr. G. H. Le Maistre and Dr. G. W. Leitner, upon various questions affecting the Indian Empire. Under the African section the Marquis of Lorne contributes a note on the Imperial British East Africa Company and its last proposals, and maintains that East Africa must remain part and parcel of the British Empire. The Hon. J. L. Parsons, who for several years occupied the position of Government Resident of the Northern Territory of South Australia, replies to an article which appeared in the April issue of the Magazine on "Australia for Anglo-Indians," and refutes the sentiments made by the author who styled himself "an Anglo-Indian Colonial." A scheme for the production of British unity is submitted by Mr. A. Silva White, the remaining articles being all more or less of general interest.

Greswell, Rev. William Parr.—The British Colonies and their I Industries. 12mo. Pp. xiii-132. London: George Philip & Son. 1893.

Mr. Greswell has followed up his useful series of Colonial Histories and Geographies by producing a compact little work on the British Colonics and their industries, which for convenience of reference is divided into two portions: the first containing a number of facts relating to the history, area, physical features; population, and products of each Colony and settlement, and the second, containing a short and descriptive account of more than thirty typical industries which constitute the chief wealth of these Colonies. The work is intended for school purposes and furnishes interesting reading for the pupil. The various industries referred to by the Author include the fisheries of Newfoundland, lumbering in Canada, sponge and sisal industries of the Bahamas, indiarubber and palm-oil industries of West Africa, farming in South Africa and Australia, diamond-mining, tea-planting, &c. The information embodied has been gleaned from various reliable sources and is tolerably correct although in some instances it is somewhat out of date. Under the heading Sheep-shearing in Australia no mention is made of shearing by machinery, which is now in vogue in many parts of Australia, whilst amongst the descriptions of the various Colonies no mention whatever is made of Hong Kong. In the preface, Mr. Greswell embodies a suggestion, which has to some extent already been carried out by the Association for the Promotion of Geographical Teaching in Public Schools, of which Mr. B. B. Dickenson, of Rughy, is Honorary Secretary, regarding a series of lantern slides illustrating the progress and development of Colonial industries, ocean Currents, forest and desert tracts, &c., which is worthy the consideration of lecturers to schools and colleges, who would thus be enabled to present typical views and features in detail, revealing the physical, industrial, and other characteristics of a country; and so impressing upon the minds of the pupils certain cardinal distinctions well worth knowing.