100
NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s. VIL FEB. 2, 1901.
peror Maximilian. Of more literary interest are
the second chapter, which is on the salons, and the
third, on the tine arts and the theatres. Among
the illustrations to the third chapter are the studio
of Horace Vernet and reproductions of Les
Glaneuses ' and the ' Angelus ' of Millet, the
'Coucher de Soleil' of Rousseau, the Marechal
Ney' and the 'Chant du Depart' of Rude, the
reading of a play at the Comedie Francaise, and
many other things of equal interest, including a
splendid series of portraits. It is, indeed, difficult
to convey an idea of the value, the beauty, or the
interest of a volume which is a credit to the pub-
lisher, and constitutes the finest souvenir yet issued
of the glories of a century too near us still for its
claims to be impartially discussed or its measure
accurately taken.
The Sources and Literature of English History from the Earliest Times to about I486. By Charles Gross, Ph.D. Harvard. (Longmans & Co.) To Dr. Gross of Harvard University, the author of a ' Bibliography of British Municipal History,' we are indebted for the most serious attempt that has yet been made to supply us with a scientific account of the sources and treatment of pur history. Very arduous and difficult of accomplishment is the task undertaken so much so, that it was supposed to await concerted and co-operative effort. Nothing of the kind being forthcoming, and our progress in this important tield of bibliography being in arrear of that of almost every civilized country, Dr. Gross has made an earnest beginning, which, while it puts in no claim to completeness, is at least credit- able accomplishment and will lighten greatly the labours of those who come after the author. It deals but slightly with manuscript sources, which have received special attention from the late Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy, Mr. S. R. Scargill Bird, and others connected with the Record Office. A systematic survey is, however, taken of " the printed materials relating to the political, consti- tutional, legal, social, and economic history of England, Wales, and Ireland," Scotland being, for special reasons, left out, so far as regards her mediaeval government and institutions. Worthless and obsolete treatises have been omitted, a few untrustworthy works being mentioned in order that the reader may be cautioned against them. It is in consequence of valued suggestions from important quarters that Dr. Gross has gone further than Dahlmann- Waitz and Monod, and has given an account of the contents and a brief estimate of the value of the books instanced. This estimate is not invariably his own. In the case of Geoffrey of Monmouth he thus quotes the opinion of Miss Kate Norgate, an excellent authority, that his ' History of Britain' is "an elaborate tissue of Celtic myths, legends, and traditions, scraps of classical and Scriptural learning, and fantastic inventions of the author's own fertile brain, all dexterously thrown into a pseudo-historical shape." From this quota- tion it will be seen that our author is no believer in the legends of King Arthur and Merlin, for which the ' History ' of Geoffrey is largely responsible. For the ' Historia Brittonum ' of Nennius he has, with re- serve, something more to say. Though of little value as an historical source, it is of some importance for the study of early British mythology. In expressing unfavourable opinions Dr. Gross has at least the courage of his convictions. He thus speaks of an historical work by a famous Queen's Counsel as
' an unreliable compilation." At the same time he
characterizes the ' Trial by Combat ' of our contri-
butor Mr. George Neilson as "a scholarly work
which has superseded John Selden's The Duello.'"
How important a task is accomplished may be seen
Tom what we have said. Its enduring value depends
upon the trustworthiness of the opinions expressed.
We know no work in which so much is done for the
student, though Lowndes ('Bibliographer's Manual')
gives a short summary of some few books, and refers
one occasionally to authorities such as the Retro-
spective Review. In the case of a famous Peerage
Dr. Gross says it should be used with caution. The
most comprehensive of works of the class he in-
stances is the 'Complete Peerage' of G. E. C[okayne],
and as the most exhaustive treatise on heraldry he
names that of John Woodward and George Burnett.
There is an immense amount of information, and to
render it available requires a huge index, which
happily is provided. The book, which occupies
between six and seven hundred pages, is an out-
come of the interest recently inspired in biblio-
graphy. That its arrangement is the best we can
conceive we will not say. It is, however, a work
of much importance.
WE hear with much regret of the death, at Hastings, of Mr. Basil Woodd Smith, D.L., chair- man of the Hampstead bench of magistrates, and during many years an occasional contributor to our columns.
to
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