10 B. x. DEC. 19, 1908.] NOTES AND QUERIES.
499
political excitement, so that, although the greater
number of the letters are of a homely character,
light is thrown not only on the domestic life, but
also on the politics, of the time.
Attention is wisely drawn by the reviewer to the exaggeration formerly common regarding those killed in battle both on land and sea. Nothing like accuracy seems to have been reached until the time of the English Stuarts. The Paston papers furnish a striking example. In a letter of Margaret Pastpn's of about 1440 we read of eleven hundred Flemings being at Waxham, of whom eight hundred were taken, killed, or drowned. The reviewer sees that this is a wild over-statement, and suggests that a "great many" is all that is meant. The same may be said of thie number of the killed at Towton, which is given on a scrap of paper. They were, we are told, " nomberd by Harralds " at 28,000. This must seem impossible to every one who can estimate the times, or knows the region where the battle was fought. Yet far more modern historians have not realized this. Hume speaks of 36,000, and Lirigard of 38,000, besides those drowned in the Yorkshire streams.
'Early London' is highly condensed, but the author has had before him four of the best books on our great city, and has used them well, and, if we mistake not, has added some facts from his own researches. Did prehistoric man live as a lake- dweller in the London marshes ? Sir Walter Besant thought so, and he may have been right; but the evidence is shadowy, for the comparison between London and Glastonbury is little to the purpose.
Mr. Gomme's argument that Arthur was by no means the mythic hero who figures in mediaeval romance is rightly accepted by the reviewer. We do not think that any reasonable person earlier than the eighteenth century ever doubted that Arthur was a king ruling Britain.
'New-England Nature Studies' deals agreeably with the careers (should we not rather say the dream-worlds ?) of Thoreau, Burroughs, and Whit-
BOOKSELLERS' CATALOGUES. DECEMBER.
MR. THOMAS BAKER'S Catalogue 534 opens with a fine set of Newman, all original crown octavo editions, 38 vols., 51. 5s., followed by a set of Wace and Schaffs " Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers," 12 vols., 4to, U. 4s.; Paz's 'Opera Spiritualia, 3 vols., folio, 1623, 81. 10s.; Pezius's "Bibliotheca Ascetica Antiquo-Nova," the first 10 vols. out of 12, 1723, 91. 10s. ; Reiffenstuel's * Jus Canonicum Universum,' edited by Pelletier, 7 vols, Paris, 1864, 51. 5s. ; and a unique copy of the great
- London Polyglott,' 6 vols., with Castelli's Lexicon,
2 vols., folio, original rough calf as published, 1657-69, 161. 16s. (a subscription copy). There are lists under well-known writers on theology, also some works in general literature. The latter include a perfectly fresh and new copy of Alice Meynell's beautiful book Old Masters of the Italian School ' at the low price of 12s. Gd.
Mr. P. M. Barnard of Tunbridge Wells begins his twenty-sixth Catalogue with works of the Aldine Press, of which we note the first collected edition of Euripides, 1503, 81. 8s. ; and Herodotus, 1502, according to Renouard, one of the best editions published by Aldus of any Greek book, 12/. 10s. This copy from his collection is ruled throughout in red, and he has written on the fly-leaf
Les notes de ce volume sont de la main de
Beatus Rhenanus." There is a long list of Editions
and Translations of Classical Authors ; besides
works of the Baskerville Press and works on
ntiquities. A manuscript book of Latin verse of
- he sixteenth century (one lyric poem, 'Anglia
Sseresi oppressa sociorum adventu recreatur,' perhaps refers to the coming of the Spanish Armada) is priced 4.
Mr. John Grant's Edinburgh Christmas Catalogue contains Scott's ' Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border,' edited by T. F. Henderson, 4 vols., II. Is. Works trom the Catholic Standard Library include Cor- lelius & Lapide's ' Commentary,' 8 vols., II. 11s. Qd. ; and Rock's 'Church of our Fathers,' 4 vols., 18s. 6d. Other works are Alison's 'Europe,' 13 vols., full calf, 1856, 31. 3s.; Cunliffe's 'Boer War,' 2 vols., 7s. tid. ; Foster's ' Miniature Painters,' 2 vols., royal 4to, 3/. 3s. ; * Memoirs of Ulysses Grant,' 2s. ; Guild- ing's ' Reading Records,' 4 vols., royal 8vo, 16s. 6d. ; Maitland's ' Surrender of Napoleon,' 2s. 9d. ; ' The Life of Midhat Pasha,' the founder of the Young Turkish party, 2s. ; Stephens's ' Northern Runic- Monuments,' 3 vols., folio, 11. 12s. Qd. ; and R. B. Marston's magnificent edition of ' The Compleat Angler,' 2 vols., royal 4to, 31. 3s. (published at 101. 10s. net : only a few copies remain for sale).
Messrs. Myers & Co. send two Catalogues, 13T and 138. The latter is devoted to water-colour drawings and sketches by Augustus J. C. Hare. The former includes a selection from his library. There are also 97 priginal drawings in a folio volume, 251. ; and 72 pencil drawings used for his ' Walks in London,' two 4to volumes, 50 guineas. We note the author's proof copies of 'Florence,' 'Venice,' and ' France,' 6 vols., 51. ; Fellowes's ' Monastery of La Trappe in 1817,' and ' Sleidani de Statu Religionis,' 1559, 31. 15s. ; and Casanova's ' Memoires,' Bruxelles,. 1871, 6 vols., 21. 10s. Hare has written inside the- last: " The Earl Percy of Casanova was probably Hugh, 2nd Duke of Northumberland." In the general portion are Browning, 2 vols., full morocco, 1905, &l. 10s. ; Sauvan's ' Seine from Paris to the Sea,' Ackermann, 1821, 7. 15s. ; Fraiikau's 'Life of John Raphael Smith,' 2 vols., 1902, 231. ; 'A Panoramic View of the Thames from London to Richmond,' Leigh, 12^. 12s. ; Swinburne's ' Poems and Ballads,' Hotten, 1866, with letter from the poet to Hare, 12/. 10s. ; and Doran's * Lady of the Last Century,' extra-illustrated, 31. 15s.
Messrs. Simmons and Waters of Leamington Spa send two Catalogues, 227 and 228. The former con- tains one of the largest collections of costume plates ever offered for sale, making a complete pictorial history of female costume from 1798 to 1900, 3,710* plates bound in 4 vols., royal folio, 30. Under London will be found Wheatley's 'London, Past and Present, 1 extra-illustrated, the 6 vols. bound in full calf by Morrell, 131. 13s.; Smith's Anti- quarian Ramble, 1846, 2 vols., also handsomely bound by Morrell, 31. 15s.; Croker's 'Walk to Fulham,' ll. 15s.; and Stanley's 'Westminster Abbey,' blue calf, extra-illustrated, 31. 12s. 6d. There is a hand- some copy of Crabb Robinson's 'Reminiscences,' 190 additional portraits, 3 vols., calf, by Morrell, 81. 11s. Qd. Another and extra-illustrated is Mrs. Toynbee's edition of the Walpole letters, the 16 vols. bound in full calf, 221.
Catalogue 228 is devoted to Autograph Letters. Among the writers we find Baron Grant, who gave
