320
NOTES AND QUERIES. 19* s. VIL A, 20, 1901.
look for literary grace in abstracts, but entries like
this are needlessly slovenly : " [1858] Oppert detects
- Accadian,' a Scythic idiom, among the cuneiform
alphabets." We should scarcely expect to find Max Miiller's "translation of the Sacred Books of the East, beginning with the Upanishads," entered under ' Church History.' " [1856] Philology, Gold- stiicker's Sanskrit Dictionary," might lead the student to think that such a work was written and completed ; it never got down to the end of the first letter of the alphabet. When every inch of space is of value, why should Drummond's 4 Natural Law in the Spiritual World ' be entered twice over, under 1885 and 1890 ? Again, it would much conduce to clearness if the titles of books were either italicized or put within quotation marks : e.g., "Blunt's Ideas about India" (s.a. 1886) is ambiguous till a verb turning up in the singular shows that his book is meant. However, a volume like this, with its multitudinous parts, inevitably lends itself to carping criticism ; but the com- mendation prefixed from an expert such as Lord Acton may well overrule any doubts as to its substantial value as a whole.
Some Aspects of Bibliography. By John Ferguson.
(Edinburgh, G. P. Johnston.)
THIS interesting and very readable volume, written by an ardent and enlightened bibliophile, consists of an address by Mr. Ferguson on vacating the pre- sidency of the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society. Its object is avowedly to encourage members of the society to further labours in the field of biblio- graphy. To the lecture has been added an appendix giving a list of two hundred and fifty works on bibliography produced during the last half century. The work, in which the soul of the book-lover will delight, shows what a bibliography ought to be, and defends very happily those who, besides prizing a book for its contents, love it for its own sake, realize the value of luxury, and do not despise rarity.
Poems by James Thornton. Edited by William
Bayne. (Scott.)
To the rapidly augmenting series of "Canterbury Poets "Mr. Walter Scott has added an edition of the poems of James Thomson. The form of this well-known edition is eminently attractive and portable, and the present volume is likely to com- mend to further study the work of the poet of ' The Seasons.' What specially commends the book is Mr. Bayne's introduction, a masterpiece of sound, appreciative, and scholarly criticism. To the lovers of poetry who are unfamiliar with Thomson, supposing such to exist, a pleasanter and more accomplished guide than Mr. Bayne is not likely to present himself.
The, Frescoes in the Sixtine Chapel. By Evelyn
March Phillipps. (Murray.)
THIS volume forms a useful and attractive com- panion to the traveller to Rome. A series of well- executed reproductions of the frescoes in the Sixtine Chapel gives the work artistic value, and the letter- press contains information which the traveller will not glean for himself without much trouble and the consultation of many authorities. No similar work is, so far as we know, in existence. An exhaustive examination of the Sixtine Chapel is not possible within the limits of a book of this class. Miss Phillipps has, however, been at much pains to
explain the scenes depicted, and to indicate the
lace in history of the great work with which she eals, and that of its executors. Our one complaint is that she invariably substitutes the word " Sybil" for Sibyl. Where, we wonder, did she ever read of the " Cumsean Sybil " or the " Delphic Sybil " ? No such things exist. She even talks of the "Sybil- line" books and of the " Sortes Sybilline" (sic), which, she says, "is [sic] often alluded to by classic authors." We defy her to find a single such refer- ence. Why did she not employ some one with elementary knowledge to read her proofs, or, in default of such, consult a Latin dictionary?
MR. J. C. HODGSON, of Alnwick, has overprinted from the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-on-Tyne some eminently interesting notices of the family of Dartiquenave, of Palmer Hall, Herts, and of Ilderton, in Northumberland. Such portion of the valuable information supplied as he has not personally furnished he owes largely to a well-known contributor of ' N. & Q.,' in answer to a query which appeared in 9 th S. vi. 269. A mass of detail, far too large for insertion in our columns, is given. Those anxious to obtain it should apply to the secretary of the society.
MR. A. G. REID, F.S. A.Scot., a well-known con- tributor to our columns, has reprinted from the thirty - fourth volume of the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland a notice of an original Letter of Instructions for Sir William Fleming by King Charles II., dated at Breda, 22 May, 1650. It presents Charles as pursuing a temporizing policy, and has much interest to students of history, both English and Scottish.
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