Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 8.djvu/28

NOTES AND QUERIES. 112 S.VIII.JAX. 1,1921. Scotland is wanted. The History we should like to possess would resemble Green's ' Short History of the English People.' Green's point of view and his accuracy have both alike been challenged, but the fine proportion, the arresting style, the live- liness of the portraiture and the movement and charm of the work as a whole have not, we think, been rivalled, far less surpassed, in any other history of a like compass. Undoubtedly the history of Scotland is more difficult than that of England. Dr. Sanford Terry draws attention to its intimate connection with genealogy. This is equivalent to saying that not only the character of the people and not only the character of individuals require to be grasped and delineated ; between these two come the great families and their relations both with one another and the kingdom at large. Periods of French History show this peculiarity : but the stage of France is ampler and the total effect, therefore, less confused and puzzling. In Scottish history influ- ences from difference of race, from family rivalry, from external pressure and from the predominance of individuals produce at several points so intricate a tangle that a certain breadth of treatment becomes necessary in order to make plain to the reader's eye that development on which Dr. Sanford Terry justly insists. We do not think he has altogether succeeded in this, though we find much in his book to praise. By dint of the most minute workmanship he con- trives to present a huge amount of facts within a narrow compass ; and by rather alluding to than relating some of the incidents that are known to " every schoolboy " he finds room for more recon- dite matters. But the writing is so serried, and sometimes also so involved and abbreviated as if space had been saved by pruning sentence by sen- tence that the reader will find some difficulty in getting into the swing of the narrative, and in passing from detail to a survey of the whole. Persons stand out in too shallow relief, and carry little or no atmosphere, while on the other hand, the perception of national progress has to be arrived at mostly by way of laborious inference. Since the book is calculated for the general reader and the student, who already know the picturesque stories in which Scotland is so rich, we have perhaps no right to cavil at the omission of even the slightest description of Banriockburn, though we may wonder why, on the accepted plan, Rizzio's murder, for example, should have been described. But that which was intended to be treated should have been clearly set out, and arranged in some manner more easy for reference. In a subsequent edition some breaking up of paragraphs might be of service. None the less if rather too difficult for a work on the scale decided on and with the purpose it is designed to serve, this history of Scotland should be found very useful, and, if somewhat too thick and solid to be called stimulating, will certainly reward the careful reader by possessing him of a fund of well- authenticated and various knowledge. This has been carefully related to the contemporary histories of England and the countries of the Continent by the light of the most recent research. We are glad to mention the thirty-two genealogical tables of the great Scottish fa milies a novel and very good feature. Leicestershire. By G. D. Pingriff. (Cambridge University Press, 4*. 6d. net.) WE are glad to see another of these excellent county guides. The information given is sufficient to form a sound foundation for future studies ; or, by itself, to make a good body of knowledge con- cerning the physical characteristics, industries, antiquities, and general history of the county. Leicestershire cannot boast the varied and supreme interest of say, Warwickshire : but it holds plenty to reward the curious inquirer ; and, as to history, the Battle of Bosworth and the names of Wycliffe, Lady Jane Grey, Latimer, and Macaulay, form no poor illustration. We should have thought that Grosseteste at least equalled these in importance, and that, if he was to be mentioned at all, (his connection with Leicester not being a conspicuous part of his history) something more to the point than his being "like De Montfort, an opponent of Henry III." might have been brought forward. Some of our correspondents may be interested in the photograph of a bronze ticket used on the Leicester and Swannington Railway, supplied by the Midland Railway Company. Great pains have clearly been taken to collect an unhackneyed series of photographs, and, so far as this immediate object is concerned, with success. So far as providing a good idea of their several subjects goes, many of them are in truth excellent, but a good number especially those of the divers landscapes must be pronounced neither here or there. EDITORIAL communications should be addressed to " The Editor of ' Notes and Queries ' "Adver- tisements and Business Letters to " The Pub- lishers" at the Office, Printing House Square, London, E.C.4. ; corrected proofs to the Athenaeum Press, 11 and 13 Bream's Buildings, E.C.4. WHEN answering a query, or referring to an article which has already appeared, correspondents are requested to give within parentheses immediately after the exact heading the numbers of the series, volume, and page at which the con- tribution in question is to be found. WHEN sending a letter to be forwarded lo another contributor correspondents are requested to put in the top left-hand corner of the envelope the number of the page of ' N. & Q.' to which the letter refers. IT is requested that each note, query, or reply be written on a separate slip of paper, with the signature of the writer and such address as he wishes to appear. ALL communications intended for insertion in our columns should bear the name and address of the sender not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. CORRESPONDENTS repeating queries are requested to head the second communication " Duplicate." FOR the convenience of the printers, correspon- dents are requested to write only on one side ot sheet of paper. MANY thanks to those kind correspondents who have sent us the wishes of the season, which we I heartily reciprocate.