260
NOTES AND QUERIES, uo s. XL M AR . 27, im
the regime of Nicholas I. is ingenious, but its
spelling should be consistent. Prof. Wiener's
anthology is drawn upon and cited, but the
rimes and rhythm of the renderings of Nekrasov
are sadly defective (chap, xviii.), and we cannot
agree that this bard's " harsh, rough versification
seemed meant for a leading article." On the
other hand, the prose renderings of Sluchevsky
and Pleshcheev read smoothly. From personal
experience of the difficulties of poetic translation
we agree with the editor as to the virtual impossi-
bility of reproducing the melodies of Russian
rime. In the translation of Pushkin's epigram
on Count Vorontsov, " for this once " does not
give the sense of nakonets, at length. The index
is incomplete, some references to Bakunin,
Gagarin and Merezhkovsky being omitted.
The name of Dr. Haas is misspelt in chap. xii.
Gorky's play ' Na Dne ' is properly rendered
' At the Bottom ' on p. 497, but on p. 539 it
becomes ' The Shelter.' " J. Pollen ' is an
inadequate reference to the eminent ex-Indian
official and author of ' Rhymes from the Russian.'
It is true that great pains have been taken with
regard to accents, but Mikhailoysky is wrongly
accented on one page, Strakhov differently on the
same page, Zhitomir and pirdgi wrongly, and
' Ma Religion ' unnecessarily.
The directions for the pronunciation of Russian names are useful, as the need for systematic transliteration a point upon which Prof. Morfill has often insisted has long been pressing The second syllable is not exact in the renderings Merzlakov, Kotlarevsky, and Delanov ; and we prefer to write Dostoievsky while sympathizing with Messrs. Minns and Havelock's aim at economy and simplicity of spelling.
The shortcomings of this work, many of which can be removed or modified in future editions, do not blind us to its real importance as a chro- nicle of Russian literature. Allowance being made for the personal views of the industrious author, his work will prove of great assistance and interest to students.
Edinburgh Review : January. (Longmans & Co.) ' SCOTLAND IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY ' is an instructive paper on lines not commonly chosen. In no other period of Scotland's history have such great changes taken place. At the beginning of the century the fanaticism of the ministers of the established religion and many of the lay folk was so extreme that it is hard, even now, for an Englishman to comprehend it ; but before the end of the century a great change had come about. The rural ministers in most parishes were as mild as those of the Church of England, and, thanks to the Scotch universities, better trained. Agriculture was at a far lower ebb in the reign of Queen Anne than in most parts of England. " Run-rig," as it was called, which the author rightly assures ius was " a survival of prehistoric agriculture," was universal, and in a bad season many of the cultivators must, we cannot but believe, have been on the verge of starvation. Rents were, as a matter of course, extremely low : in the Forty-Five Lochiel could bring eight hundred fighting men into the field to serve Prince Charlie, although he had a rent-roll of only five hundred a year. The writer goes perhaps somewhat out of his way to denounce the atrocities of the Duke of Cumberland after Culloden. He is not a jot
too severe it would be difficult to be so but
it cannot be said to be pertinent to his subject.
' Venice and the Renaissance ' is instructive in a new manner, and is effectively written. The author suggests that the settlers there may have been of Oriental blood, or, if that be going further than the evidence warrants, there was at least an Eastern admixture sufficiently strong to affect art and culture. In many other parts of Italy the Renaissance gave a great impetus to materialistic intellectualism ; in Venice, on the contrary, we find idealistic emotionalism. The arts of the Venetians, and in a less degree their manners and literature, indicate this. Intellectualism, as the author points out, dwelt on form, even in its pictures, but the idealistic Venetians on colour. Here he is certainly correct, but this is not limited to Italy. We have but to compare the arts of the Middle Ages with those of the eighteenth century to be assured of this.
' A School of Irish Poetry ' will teach many persons not a little that is new. We believe that the modern verse of Ireland is far less known than it ought to be. The moods here dwelt upon are Celtic, but the Celticism is of to-day, not that of earlier times. E. A.'s verse, as here quoted, is certainly of a high standard, but we find it not a little hard to grasp what is meant by "the ascetic standpoint " and " Manichean moods." It may be that our own interpretation of these phrases is not identical with that of the reviewer.
The Newspaper Press Directory. (C. Mitchell
& Co.)
THIS valuable record of the newspaper world is always welcome to those who wish to know about the progress and changes of the Press. The publishers' address refers to two important changes during the past year : The Times was formed into a new company with a capital of 750,0002. ; and The Westminster Gazette was sold by Sir George Newnes, and formed into a com- pany with a capital of 150.000Z. There is an interesting article on the new Act relating to the admission of the Press to meetings ; also articles on the import trade to the Colonies, showine in a tabulated form the chief features of the prin- cipal customs tariffs. The obituaries of the year include Lord Glenesk ; Mr. Taylor of The Bristol Times ; Sir James Knowles, editor of The Nineteenth Century ; and Mr. David Syme, of The Melbourne Age.
to
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We beg leave to state that we decline to return communications which, for any reason, we dp not print, and to this rule we can make no exception.
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NOVAPOBTAN (" Peace-eggers "). See 5 S. iv. 511 ; v. 96 ; 9 S. iii. 249, 334.
