iterary wealth, from which compilers have freely dug.
Rose's (12 vols. 8vo. 1848) was commenced upon a very
comprehensive plan, but the lives were considerably
contracted before the work was completed. It is, however, a
very useful work. L.B. Phillips's "Dictionary of
Biographical Reference" contains 100,000 names, and gives
the dates of birth and death, which in many instances is all
the information the consulter requires, and should more be
required, he is referred to the authority. This book is
quite indispensable for every library. There are several
national Biographical Dictionaries, and at last a thoroughly
satisfactory Biographia Britannica is in course of
publication by Messrs. Smith & Elder. The "Dictionary of
National Biography, edited by Leslie Stephen," has reached
the fifth volume, and extends to Bottisham.

---- Robert Chambers's Biographical Dictionary of Eminent
Scotsmen (Glasgow, 1835-56. 5 vols. 8vo.) will be found
useful.

_Biography._--Dr. William Allen's "American Biographical
Dictionary" was published at Boston in 1857.

---- Biographie Nouvelle des Contemporains ... Par A.V.
Arnault [etc.]. Paris, 1820-25. 20 vols. 8vo. Mr. Edward
Smith points this book out to me as specially valuable for
information respecting actors in the French Revolution.

---- Handbook of Contemporary Biography. By Frederick
Martin. London, 1870. Sm. 8vo.

---- Men of the Time: a Dictionary of Contemporaries.
Eleventh edition. Revised by Thompson Cooper. London, 1884.
Sm. 8vo. A volume of 1168 pages should contain a fair
representation of the men of the day, and yet it is
ludicrously incomplete. The literary side is as much
overdone as the scientific side is neglected. This is not
the place to make a list of shortcomings, but it will
probably astonish most of our readers to learn that such
eminent Men of the Time as Sir Frederick Abel, Sir Frederick
Bramwell, and the late Dr. W.B. Carpenter are not mentioned.
As this book has as a high reputation, the editor should
thoroughly revise it for a new edition.

---- Men of the Reign. A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent
Characters of both Sexes, who have died during the reign of
Queen Victoria. Edited by T. Humphry Ward. (Uniform with
"Men of the Time.") London, 1885.