ed analyses, but in easy and
flowing sketches, sometimes in the form of narrative, always full of
illustrative details, and winning without much discussion or argument
a ready assent to the author's conclusions. Many statements in the
book will, of course, not be new to generally well-informed readers,
but it is not often that they come with the same force and freshness
from direct observation, and still more rarely is their relation to
each other or their bearing on the subject to which they relate
so clearly and correctly indicated. Among the points on which Mr.
Hamerton has thus thrown a stronger light are the characteristics and
position of French ladies, divided, "in this part of the world," he
writes, "into two distinct classes: the home women and the visiting
women--_les femmes d'interieur_, and _les femmes du monde_; the exact
theory of the _mariage de convenance_, which is popularly but
wrongly considered as based on mere mercenary motives; and the mental
condition of the peasant, with his natural quickness of intellect and
his stupendous ignorance, his adherence to tradition and ingrained
superstitiousness, and his suspicion of the nobles and tendency to
emancipate himself from clerical influence. It is France in a state
of transition that Mr. Hamerton paints, and his anticipations have
already to some extent been justified by events. "My hope for France
is," he says, "that a system of regularly-working representative
government may be the final result of the long and eventful
revolution, and that this form of government may give the country
certain measures which it very greatly needs. A thorough system
of national education is one of them, a real religious equality is
another. These would never be conceded by a French monarchy of any
type with which past experience has made the country familiar.... The
only chance of real representation lies in the Republic."

_BOOKS RECEIVED_.

Improved Diary, or Marginal Index-Book of Daily Record: a Diary
provided with Marginal Indices so arranged that any day of the year
may be referred to at once, and the various subject-matters recorded
in it may be arranged for ready reference, together with Calendars,
Interest Table, etc. Devised and arranged by M.N. Lovell. Published
exclusively by the Erie Publishing Co., Erie, Pa.

The Review of Gen. Sherman's Memoirs. Examined Chiefly in the light of
its own Evidence. By C.W. Moulton. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co.