mother-country and towards each other. He presents figures to make his points clear, but never in such a way as to become wearisome. After a general statement of the case, he winds up with these sentences: 'A declaration of independence seems to be only unpopular in the Colonies because by a nominal dependence on us they secure a real national freedom, with security against foreign attack. Will the security against foreign attack long remain obtainable only through union with ourselves, and will the obligation to fight all enemies be reciprocally acknowledged by the Colonies if we are attacked?' This is the real point-not a few who have thought a good deal on the subject honestly thinking, if they are not honestly saying, that till a true reciprocity in this regard is attained, the colonies will more and more become a burden to the home-country as the complications of modern European politics increase. Lord Lorne writes in a most cautious and statesmanlike style on the subject, trying faithfully to look at both sides. The result desired cannot be achieved by a radical legislation, and therefore he writes a chapter headed, Go Slowly; ' but the end can be attained only by rendering the bonds of relations more truly reciprocally helpful, and by the recognition of common bonds of interest. Lord Lorne suggests several changes by which this might in no long course of time be attained-one of which is that Agents-General should have a seat in the House of Commons, with full power of questioning, though without vote. All who are interested in the subject should read this book, the price of which brings it within the reach of the large and increasing class who study such subjects, but cannot command libraries or purchase octavos.

British Dairy Farming. To which is added a Description of the Chief Continental Systems. By JAMES LONG (Merlin of 'The Field'), Author of the 'Illustrated Book of the Pig, 'Farming in a Small Way,' &c. Hall.

Chapman &

At the present moment of serious agricultural depression, when no hope seems to lie in grain, it is a great service to have methods pointed out by which the British farmer may be helped to compete more successfully with those foreign countries which now so largely supply this land with dairy produce The quantity of foreign butter and cheese which is annually consumed in England is almost incredible, and considering that extensive areas of our country are rich in pasture, we believe that it wants only more knowledge and method to enable the farmer to find in the dairy one source of help, which moreover does not labour under the terrible disadvantage of 'great tithe,' like the jam production which Mr. Gladstone at one time seemed to regard with too facile hope. Mr. Long not only presents us with careful descriptions of dairy work in England, and compact figures giving the results; but he has travelled through France, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, and Denmark, and tells in the clearest and most practical manner the best methods adopted

in these countries, together with descriptions, and in most cases wellexecuted drawings of the utensils used for the making of the more famous butters and cheeses. The book is in fact an encylopædia of dairy work well compressed, and written by a practical man who has himself in large measure tested methods and results practically and commercially. Of the various methods of raising cream on the continent, Mr. Long gives full details, and speaks with approval of that of Destinon of Holstein, which is evidently simple and effective. With regard to cheese-making, he gives high praise to Cluett's curd-mill, which is well adapted to the Cheshire and Cheddar systems; though it is evident that the use of machinery in the dairy is carried to greater perfection on the continent than in England, and the milk-factories are more speedy and self-contained. We are glad to see that full space has been given to the famous dairies of France. The book would present no end of room for selection of odd facts. Few persons perhaps know that the coloured veinings in Gorgonzola are due to minute forms of fungus (Penicillum glaucum), and that the blue grain in Roquefort (which is a sheep's milk cheese) is caused by the admixture of the crumbs of mouldy bread at the time the curd is put into the moulds; and that the flavour of Schabzeiger is due to the presence of the herb Kräutersamenklee in certain proportions of weight. We can cordially recommend this book to all who are interested in agriculture, and even to those who are only consumers of dairy produce a great part of it will, we venture to say, be found interesting.

Central Asian Questions. Essays on Afghanistan, China, and Central Asia. By DEMETRIUS C. BOULGER, Author of 'The History of China.' T. Fisher Unwin.

Mr. Boulger's new book, in the light of recent events, is sure to prove serviceable to a large class of readers. He gives us a complete review of Russian history and progress in Central Asia, and shows in the clearest manner the stealthy way in which Russia has acquired strip after strip of soil, and the deception and falsehood which she has not hesitated to practise to extend her empire in the East. Since the close of the Crimean War Russia appears to have advanced in a direct line to India 500 miles, and is now within 250 miles of the nearest striking point. Mr. Boulger carefully reviews our relations with Afghanistan, and is severe in his criticisms of some parts of our conduct there. Lord Lawrence and his policy of what is called 'masterly inactivity' is cleverly dealt with, and, from the author's standpoint, shown to be defective. Mr. Boulger is very emphatic as to the necessity of our retaining Candahar at all risks. He overrides the objections that the hostility of the Candaharese would be a barrier, by showing that the peaceful inhabitants would be glad of our presence there as a guarantee of protection against the turbulent Afghan swordsman and the wild hill tribes. His contention is that by establishing an English garrison in Candahar we should be able to cope with any sudden move of Russia in that quarter (and her moves are generally of the

nature of surprises), that the most of Southern Afghanistan would be friendly to our occupation, the 10,000 Beloochee soldiers would be a valuable counterpoise to Turkoman advance-guards of the Russian army. The programme of what is called the forward school' could not have had a more succinct or well-informed exponent than Mr. Boulger. We will not presume to question his soundness, but what we may venture to doubt is whether Mr. Boulger's conceptions would be likely to be all so fully realized in the event as in the imagining. In the light of what Mr. Boulger himself said some four years ago of the present Ameer, the talk of Conservatives of ‘our friend and ally, the Ameer,' seems a little forced, and raises a suspicion that our own convenience and interest are the paramount considerations. Mr. Boulger does not leave China with the Mongol hordes under Girghis and the great Tartar irruption, with their ineffaceable influence on the history of that country. He traces the course of events by which Russia and China came to touch each other, and shows that Russia's course of diplomacy in regard to China is quite in keeping with her general policy. The question of Kuldja brings matters to a point, and the continual pressure of Russia on the north and northwest frontier of China seems to render a collision between the two great empires sooner or later inevitable. Mr. Boulger 'appears to think that England would have little to fear from the success of China, as our Indian subjects would be fully prepared to stand by us in any encroachment from that quarter. 'France in Anam and Tonquin' and 'Foreigners in China' are concise and informing, and the author's judgment on the expedition of the French to Tonquin may be accepted as the decision of most sensible men. These papers, having been written when the events they refer to were in process of taking place, are necessarily subject to some modifications and explanations, which we have in notes at the foot of the pages; but the soundness of most of the author's judgments seems to remain unshaken, and his book, even to those who cannot agree with it in its entirety, will be an interesting contribution to the great questions of the future in Central Asia.

Military Manners and Customs. By JAMES ANTON FARRer, Author of 'Primitive Manners and Customs,' Crimes and Punishments,' &c. Chatto and Windus.

It is an odd reflection that the science of warfare is uniformly advanced by the violation of the then accepted laws of war. For this reason it is that Mr. Farrer makes his starting-point the proposition that the laws of war are like the snakes of Iceland.' The explosive bullet in all forms was prohibited by the laws of war till 1867 (!), when a slight modification on all previous forms made it available for the destruction of mankind. For a long period even the cross-bow was proscribed as cruel, and anathematized by the Church. In the sixteenth century Chevalier Bayard (sans peur et sans reproche) ordered all musketeers who fell into his hands

to be slain without mercy, because he held the introduction of fire-arms to be an unfair innovation of the laws of war. It was the same with the bayonet, and with many other modern improvements; so that the paradox may be true to the effect that war, the more speedily destructive it is, is also the more humane. Casuists in this department may yet justify, on grounds of logic and experience, the introduction of those poisons into shot which, exploding, fill the air with destructive gases. At present this is contrary to the laws of war, where, under Article 13A, ‘the use of poison or poisoned weapons' is forbidden. Mr. Farrer, however, has this reflection on the arguments in favour of speedy destruction in battle. Recent wars have undoubtedly been shorter than they often were in ancient times, but their brevity is founded on no reason that can ensure its recur rence; nor, if 100,000 men are to be miserably cast out of existence, is the gain so very great if the task, instead of being 'spread over a number of years, requires only a fortnight for its accomplishment.' To some extent the same thing applies to what is held to be private property: for example, the French and English in olden times spared each other's fishing-boats and their crews; but in the Crimean war the English fleets in the Baltic seized or burned the fishing-boats of the Finns, and destroyed the cargoes of fish on which, having been salted in the summer months, they were dependent for their subsistence during the winter. Mr. Farrer, if he writes more for the general reader than with strict scientific accuracy, has made a most useful and entertaining volume. Let any one turn to his chapter on Reprisals' and read it carefully, and we are assured they will admit it is well packed with the results of extensive research, and that he has arranged his facts effectively and imbued the whole with the most humane spirit. The chapter on 'The Curiosities of Military Discipline' is perhaps the most interesting one in the book; though we do not find any reference to the riderless horses which at some of the engagements in the Franco-German war showed the wonderful effects of discipline, even on the brute sharers in warfare. The volume is packed with facts, it is written in a bright popular style, and cannot fail to extend Mr. Farrer's reputation.

To Canada with Emigrants. By J. EWING RITCHIE. T. Fisher Unwin.

This book should be not in the hands merely of intending emigrants, but of all such as have any influence in deciding the future course of such as may be hoping to better themselves by a removal to other shores, for it points out very clearly what description of persons will be benefited by taking such a step, and who are they who should stay at home. It is also calculated to do away with much misconception regarding Canada, and sets before us both the advantages to be derived from going there, and the hardships which must of necessity be in the first place undergone. While stating that 'Canada is redolent of industrial success,' and that 'its very air is full of hope,' Mr. Ritchie makes it very plain that success is, for the

present at all events. likely to be won only by the able-bodied and hardworking man or woman. Such as these are certain to obtain a comfortable independence, and may often attain to more. But the lazy, the feeble, the fine gentleman, and very especially those addicted to evil habits, need not hope to prosper; while to poor delicate women with young children the fatigue of travelling, with subsequent overwork and privation, not seldom mean death. Again, a certain amount of capital is a necessity for all who do not mean to hire themselves out; but labourers are at a premium almost everywhere. It is of the greatest importance before determining to settle to obtain advice from honest, disinterested persons who know the country; not only are some portions of it quite ineligible, but the climate is in some places unsuited to the English constitution. British Columbia seems to be the most desirable region for the farmer. The rapidity with which townships spring up and become cities in the remotest parts of the Dominion fairly takes away one's breath. In these new cities there would seem to be a demand for mechanics, though their chances do not seem so good as those of labourers. Two hints deserving attention are given by Mr. Ritchie: the one that poultry farming would probably succeed admirably in certain districts: the other that we need not confine ourselves to sending destitute children and street arabs to Canada for adoption, as it would be a great boon to respectable poor people with large families were such an opening provided for one or more of their too numerous offspring, who would thus get a really good start in life. It is only fair to add that the book is thoroughly readable and amusing, and by no means wanting in adventure.

Sympneumata; or, Evolutionary Forces now active in Man. Edited by LAURENCE OLIPHANT. Wm. Blackwood and Sons.

Mr. Laurence Oliphant can hardly look for a great access to his popularity through the publication of this volume, although he is only its editor. It is, in truth, an odd mixture of mysticism and of fantastic speculation. It reminds us now of Swedenborg, and again of that Mr. J. L. Harris whose contributions to spiritualistic literature have been so individual and highly flavoured with personal confession and revelation. The main points in this volume are these: (1) An attempt to associate the idea of sex with the most intimate spriritual phenomena and development; (2) The attempt to demonstrate a spiritual body as necessarily submerged in the natural body, which is merely its outer shell or temporary environment and from this to deduce the unity of sex in each personality; and (3) the possibility of spiritualistic manifestations as bound up in the relationship. Several other minor doctrines are inseparably associated with the main positions, but these we need not particularly examine. As bearing on the received ideas of religious truth, the volume can only be unsettling. The author knows well enough that nothing can here be brought to the test of logical NO. CLXIII.

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