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Knight came up to London from Leeds in 1860, when he had just completed his thirtieth year. He then felt capable of editing The Times, but destiny reserved him for a happier fate. He became in due course an editor, but how much more than an editor his friends will not soon forget. Mr. Francis has done well to write the memoir of his old associate and chief that opens this fascinating volume. Those who knew Knight will be grateful to him for placing on permanent record an account of the early years of one with whom most of them were only brought into contact in later life; while those who had not the good fortune to possess his friendship will be glad to learn something of the career of one whose influence was not to be measured by the space that he occupied in the public eye. The present writer had the privilege of knowing Knight for the last twenty years of his life, the date of first acquaintanceship being marked by the gift of his recently published Life of Rossetti,' which was taken down from the bookshelves in the closely packed little study, and placed in the visitor's hands with a few kindly and cordial words. Then the host turned to his two favourite writers and teachers, Shakespeare and Froissart, both of whom harmonized so well with his broad and humorous outlook on life and the chivalrous spirit with which he regarded the deficiencies of human nature, and expatiated with pride on the "points" of the ancient folios in his possession. During those twenty years of which we speak, whether in his own small sanctum, or at those more spacious dinners at the Garrick Club in which his hospitable soul delighted, not an illnatured jest or an unjust criticism ever passed his lips in our hearing. Like all strong characters, he had, of course, his likes and dislikes. We shall not soon forget his jovial remonstrance when we rallied him on his personal likeness to Mortimer Collins, a writer with whom-rather unjustly, as we thought he found himself in very scant sympathy. On the subject of the modern stage he was generally reticent, and in his capacity of a dramatic critic had some aversion from talking shop"; but he was never tired of speaking with almost paternal fondness of the merits of that incomparable actress whose Juliet and Rosalind are among the imperishable memories of middleaged playgoers-Lilian Adelaide Neilson.

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Another feature of this volume is an admirable memoir of Joseph Woodfall Ebsworth, whose occasional contributions on ballad-lore will be fresh in the recollection of readers of ' N. & Q.' Ebsworth also held a post in the editorial phalanx, as for many years he superintended the publications of the Ballad Society. Of this Society he might justly have said, "Pars magna fui," for without his enthusiasm and untiring industry its life would probably have been short. Ebsworth was one of those typical Englishmen with whom the wind is usually in the east; but though of an explosive nature, he rendered permanent service to literature, and was not the less loved by his friends because his heart was on his sleeve.

successor of John Nichols and the other giants of the eighteenth century. It is an advantage to possess in moderate compass information which in a few years it would be difficult to obtain without much toilsome research, and which is now presented to the reader in a modest and attractive form.

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The illustrations comprise portraits of Knight as a boy, in middle life, and in mature age. Good as they are, we think the photographs which were published in N. & Q.' at the time of his lamented death were more characteristic of the man. Ebsworth is represented by a portrait and by two of his sketches. One of these, a view of John Knox's house in Edinburgh, belongs to the school of Cattermole, but in chiaroscuro is far superior to anything that artist did; whilst the other might have been produced by the needle of George Cruikshank.

The Index, which has been compiled by Mr. John Randall, is excellent. One name we miss that of John Morley (p. vii). The friends of Knight will remember the zest with which on occasion he recounted anecdotes of his early associations with the present Secretary of State for India, for whom, notwithstanding some divergent views on politics, he ever retained a loyal friendship and admiration.

Authors' and Printers' Dictionary. By F. Howard
Collins. (Frowde.)
THE new edition of this excellent guide is very
welcome. The little book is already in its tenth
thousand, and we hope it will reach many more
readers, for it is remarkably cheap at a shilling.
All who are concerned with the correction of the
press should get it, for it will save many of the slips
into which the most wary of experts fall from time
to time. Indeed, it is the result of a mass of ex-
perience in proof-reading, Mr. Collins having been
assisted by many competent hands. The new title,
introducing the word "Dictionary," is misleading,
for the book, though it has received corrections and
additions, offers only a selection of difficult points,
whereas a 'Dictionary' is generally understood to
be something of an exhaustive character.

abbreviations, and the notes as to popular phrases
We particularly commend the explanations of
which are frequently misunderstood and wrongly

used.

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WILSON'S Art of Rhetorique, 1560, edited by G. H. Mair, is a recent addition to the admirable "Tudor and Stuart Library of the Clarendon Press, which is distinguished by its grace of form. Rhetoric is a subject generally despised in this country, and much better treated in the United States; but Wilson's book deserved revival, for, as Mr. Mair says, it is "a landmark in the history of the English Renaissance, and many passages in it are important, and indeed indispensable to the historian of English literature.' We add, further, that it contains much sound sense, which time has not staled, concerning the English language, and which a great many journalists, especially in the daily press, might read with The remaining portions of the volume, which advantage. The whole is varied, as was the comprise a history of N. & Q.,' papers on Cowper, custom of the day, with anecdotes, some classical, Longfellow, and other writers, together with of the world's common stock, but others interestvaluable notes on The City Press and other ing for their personal turn or the insight they journals, will be familiar to readers of these afford into contemporary manners. The aneccolumns. In compiling these "Literary Anecdote of the Spaniard on p. 138 seems to demand dotes" Mr. Francis has shown himself a worthy a reading of "potuit " instead of "potui.”

BOOKSELLERS' CATALOGUES.-JULY.

MR. RICHARD CAMERON of Edinburgh has in his Catalogue 226, as usual, many Scottish items. These include a nearly complete set of Archeologia Scotica with Smellie's historical account, 17921876, 5 vols., 2l. 158. Under Arctic is the weekly periodical issued during Capt. Parry's expedition, Nov. 1, 1819, to March 20, 1820, presentation copy from Capt. Parry, 58. 6d. Under Burns is Pickering's Aldine edition, 3 vols., 1839, 17. 58. Other works are Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, 12 vols. in 6, 1832-44, 168.; Chalmers's 'Caledonia,' 7 vols., 4to, 31. 158.; Jamieson's Dictionary, 5 vols., 4to, 1879-87, 4l. 58.; and Hugh Miller's Poems, 1839, 88. 6d. A copy of the first edition of Rob Roy,' 3 vols., 1818, is 3l. 108. ; and Smith's Catalogue Raisonné,' 9 vols., 8vo, 51. 58. There is a copy of The Owl, weekly journal, February to July, 1865, for 2s. 6d. ; and a collection of Scottish trials.

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Mr. George Gregory's Bath Catalogue 189-190 contains a good general assortment of books at low prices, also a number of the Parker Society's publications. Among other entries we find works on voyages and travels, to which Mr. Gregory devotes in his establishment a special room. Among general literature we may mention the Edition de Luxe of Matthew Arnold's Works, 61.; Balzac's Comédie Humaine,' edited by Saintsbury, 40 vols., 51. 58.; Journal of the Ex-Libris Society, 11 vols., 4to, 61. 68.; Brown's Britannia's Pastorals,' 2 vols in 1, small folio, crushed dark-green levant by Rivière, first edition, 1613-16, 217.; and Campbell's Vitruvius Britannicus, 5 vols., royal folio, 1715-71, 107, There is a choice copy of Roberts's Holy Land,' each drawing hand-coloured, the six volumes in purple levant, in a specially made Chippendale .case, 421. Under Cruikshank is a complete set of his "Fairy Library," 201. Under Walpole is a rare collection of separate pieces by him and others printed at Strawberry Hill, 1764-79, 20l. There is a handsome copy of Lavater, 5 vols., imp. 4to, whole russia, 1810, 5l. 58. Under Lever is the Copyright Edition, with the original plates, 37 vols., 1897-9, scarce, 141. Those interested in the old city of Bristol will find a .collection of water-colour drawings.

4l. 178. 6d.

Mr. G. A. Poynder's Reading Catalogue 50 contains works under Africa, Alpine, America, Architecture and Art. Under Botany will be found a selection of Alpine plants from the original issue of Sowerby's Botany,' totally uncut, Works on Cornwall include a fine copy of Hitchins's History,' 2 vols., 4to, large Cruikshank items paper, tree calf, 21. 12s. 6d. include The Harmonist's Preceptor,' John Fairburn, no date, 17. 178. 6d. There is a curious old book, Reynolds's "Triumphs of God's Revenge,' 1635, 21. 28. Under Froissart is a fine copy, 1844, 4. Under Goldsmith is the third edition of "The Vicar of Wakefield,' 2 vols., Newbery, 1766, 31. 178. 6d. Other works include a sound clean copy of Lysons's 'Magna Britannia,' 6 vols., 4to, half-russia, uncut, 1806-22, 5.; the original Knebworth edition of Lytton, 36 vols., 3. 58.; Hill's Organs of the Middle Ages,' 17. 158.; "The Works of the Earls of Rochester, Roscommon, and Dorset,' with the cancelled poems, 1739, 5l. 58. (by error of the binder the portrait of Buckhurst has been

duplicated in place of Rochester and Buckhurst); and The Faerie Queene,' edited by Wise, illustrations by Crane, 6 vols., 4to, 47. 4s.

Messrs. James Rimell & Son's Catalogue 216 is devoted to Books on Art. There are altogether thirteen hundred items. Catalogues of Collections and Exhibitions include a complete set of the Royal Academy Catalogues from the excessively rare first number in 1769 to 1900, bound in 13 vols., half-morocco, 10. Among works on Costume are Hull's British Army' and Gauci's British Navy,' 1 vol., folio, half-bound, 1829, 1007.; and Planche's Encyclopædia,' very scarce, 2 vols., 4to, halfmorocco, 6. Other works are Lacombe's Florence Gallery,' 4 vols. in 2, and supplemental volume, Paris, 1789-1807, 137. 13s.; Goupil Gallery,' 12 folio volumes, half blue morocco, 81. 8s.; Musée Français,' 7 vols., atlas folio, 14/. 148. ; and 'The Wallace Collection,' by A. G. Temple, 10 parts, folio, 187. 18s. Under Turner we find the largest-paper copy of Picturesque Views in England and Wales,' proofs before letters, and a duplicate set of the original etchings, except that of The Straits of Dover,' of which only three are said to have been printed, imperial folio, full morocco, very scarce, 1832, 287. Under Boydell is the collection of 100 plates to illustrate Shakespeare, 2 vols. in 1, imperial folio. full crimson morocco, Boydell, 1803, 217.; and under Rowlandson are a copy of Cries of London,' from the collection of Joseph Grego, 5l. 15s. 6d.; Microcosm of London,' 3 vols., 4to, morocco, 1808, 207. ; and Tours of Dr. Syntax,' 3 vols., new morocco, 1812-21, 157.

Messrs. Simmons & Waters of Leamington Spa send two catalogues. No. 234 contains Topographical and Antiquarian Books relating to the British Isles. The arrangement of the items under counties makes reference easy. Catalogue 235 is devoted to Numismatic Books. Among these are Atkins's Middlesex Tokens of the Eighteenth Century,' interleaved with additions in MS. and notes and cuttings from contemporary newspapers, together 3 vols., half-morocco by Riviere, 1892, 167. 16s.; Virtuoso's Companion and Coin Collector's Guide,' 1795-7, 8 vols. in 1, 2. 178. 6d. ; and British Numismatic Journal and Proceedings of the Numismatic Society,' 4 vols., 4to, 31. 38. [Notices of several other Catalogues are held over.

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B. U. HARE ("Two Kings of Brentford.")-See Cobham Brewer's 'Reader's Handbook' under Brentford.

EMERITUS and W. G. RICHARDS.-Forwarded. CORRIGENDUM.-10 S. xi. 518, col. 1, 1. 4, for 'Holy hard' read Hold hard.

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are at all times prepared to buy for cash large or small collections of Books, Prints, and Autograph MSS., or to value the same for Probate, or for Fire Insurance if, as is often the case, the Library has not yet been insured.

It often happens that in old country houses there are Books or Prints which have lain for years unused and unappreciated, but which might yet be-from a commercial point of view of value and importance.

MESSRS. SOTHERAN are ready to send experienced buyers to all parts of the country to view such Books, and to give the best advice respecting them; and any purchases they might make would be removed without any trouble or expense to the sellers.

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