Argentina as to the immediate treatment of a frontier dispute, the permanent settlement of which had already been referred to the arbitration of Great Britain.

At 2 A.M. on Christmas Day a Yeomanry camp of four companies, on a high kopje, at Tweefontein, was successfully "rushed" by De Wet with an overwhelming force. Six officers (including Major Williams, in temporary command) and fifty men were killed, and about the same number wounded. "No panic and all did best." Boer losses also About 250 British prisoners taken, but soon released.

severe.

26. Official returns show that at the end of the second week in December there were 107,539 persons receiving poor relief in London, of whom 68,130 were indoor and 39,409 outdoor paupers, the total being the highest registered at any Christmas period since 1872.

The complete statistics of the last census show that the total population of Germany on December 1, 1900, was 56,267,178—an increase of 4,000,000 in five years.

27. Signor Marconi, having left Newfoundland in consequence of difficulties raised by the Anglo-American Telegraph Company, examined sites for his proposed wireless telegraphy station at Cape Breton, delighted with the sympathy shown by the Canadian Government.

28. Talk of the initiation of an anti-gambling movement reported from Austria, a Polish nobleman having lost in one evening at the Vienna Jockey Club 2,200,000 crowns at baccarat.

29. An attempt was made by Botha to send reinforcements to De Wet, but the Boers were unable to pass the blockhouses near Standerton.

30. A Royal Commission announced as having been appointed to inquire into the extent and available resources of the coalfields of the United Kingdom, the probable rate of exhaustion, the effect of exports, and other kindred questions.

31. A "Round Table Conference," representing different schools of opinion in the Church of England, met at Fulham Palace, on the invitation of the Bishop of London, to consider the subjects of Confession and Absolution. Dr. Wace was elected Chairman.

The approximate income for the year 1900-1 of the charitable institutions having their headquarters in London is stated in Mr. W. F. Howe's "Classified Directory to the Metropolitan Charities" as 6,431,0621. This includes Bible, Tract and Missionary Societies, and some 14,000l. under the heading of Church and Chapel Building Funds.

RETROSPECT

OF

LITERATURE, SCIENCE AND ART IN 1901.

LITERATURE.

THE first year of the century has been distinguished by few, if any, works of special importance either in history, philosophy or poetry. The steady advance of scientific inquiry into fields hitherto unexplored has been maintained, and the limits of accessible knowledge seem more remote than ever. Fiction more than ever finds favour with aspirants to public recognition, but the year has not seen the rise of any new novelist who threatens the popularity of Lucas Malet, Mr. Anthony Hope and Mr. Maurice Hewlett, whilst with others Mr. Hall Caine, Mr. Marion Crawford, Mr. Seton Merriman, Mr. Rider Haggard and Mr. Crockett are still held in esteem, although their latest works compare unfavourably with some of their earlier productions. Mr. George Meredith has once more returned as a poet, and his volume is the most important contribution to this section. Archæology and antiquarian research have been taken up with vigour, and by the publication of family papers many sidelights have been opened on the times to which they refer. The campaigns in China and South Africa have produced a large amount of literature from combatants and critics and incidentally have called forth many volumes on Russian designs in Asia and on Army administration at home.

ART.

The latest additions to the series of monographs upon Italian artists edited under Mr. G. C. Williamson's supervision are Mr. W. G. Waters' Piero della Francesca, Miss Evelyn Phillipps' Pinturicchio and Mr. Edward Strutt's Fra Filippo Lippi (Bell), in which the chief incidents of the painters' lives are given in a succinct form, and a careful record of their principal works. In this connection the more imposing tribute paid to Andrea Mantegna (Longmans) by Herr Paul Kristeller, and rendered accessible to English readers by Mr. Arthur Strong's translation, also deserves especial notice, as it must necessarily take its place as a résumé of everything that is likely to be known respecting that most distinguished artist. Mrs. Ady's Painters of Florence (Murray) summarises in a handy volume the development of the Florentine

school from the days of the Primitives to those of Michael Angelo, and gives sufficient scientific criticism to make her record valuable. With these should be mentioned Sgr. Villari's Giovanni Segantini (Fisher Unwin) and Mr. A. L. Baldry's Hubert von Herkomer, R.A. (Bell), both appreciative studies of the careers, in one case closed, of two contemporary artists who alike have risen to eminence from somewhat similar beginnings. Both volumes are profusely illustrated, and the reader is thus able to draw his own inferences as to the correctness of the criticisms passed upon the several methods of each artist.

Lady Dilke diligently pursues her studies of French art of the eighteenth century, and the third volume on French Furniture and Decoration (Bell) is, like its predecessors, a monument of careful research and delicate appreciation. Between the Wallace Collection and that at South Kensington, London now possesses as fine a display of French cabinet work as Paris, and Lady Dilke's volume will make the value of our treasures better appreciated. It is to be hoped that her teaching will also be taken into account, for unless the relation of the furniture to the rooms for which it was designed is fully understood the most attractive specimens of eighteenth century work will lose half their artistic value.

BIOGRAPHY.

Fénelon is one of those names in history with which it is assumed every one is familiar-and it is inferred from the familiarity with which his name is cited that his life and character are equally well known. The conflicting portraits of the Archbishop of Cambrai given respectively in François de Fénelon, by Viscount St. Cyres (Methuen), and Fénelon: His Friends and His Enemies, by E. K. Sanders (Longmans), suffice to show how little agreement there is concerning the common object of their study. Miss Sanders is content to adopt the more generally accepted view and to give the Archbishop credit for greater virtues, more moderate opinions and wider charity than Lord St. Cyres is prepared to admit. The latter brings to his aid an array of forgotten facts as well as a keenness of criticism which Miss Sanders cannot rival. At the same time, in order to realise fully both the good and the harm wrought by Fénelon and his shifty opportunism, it is necessary to read these volumes consecutively. The actual truth may be somewhere between the two estimates of a prelate who, without being really a great man, left the reputation of being one. Miss Edith Sichel, who so pleasantly yet discreetly introduced us to the salons of the French revolutionary period, now turns her attention to the Women and Men of the French Renaissance (Constable), choosing Margaret of Navarre as the central figure of a group in which French arts and literature found their warmest and most enlightened patrons. Mr. W. S. Lilly's Renaissance Types (Fisher Unwin) is a work of wider range in every respect, and deals in the spirit of true critical appreciation with five typical men of that period-Michael Angelo, Erasmus, Reuchlin, Luther, and Sir Thomas More. Each meets with generous, if not always sympathetic treatment, and to each is assigned his fair

share in bringing about the revival of learning. The studies of each character show a thorough mastery of the history of that upheaval. Mr. Fitzgerald Molloy's pleasant gossiping book, The Queen's Comrade (Hutchinson & Co.), may suffice to beguile a pleasant hour, but will scarcely satisfy those who wish for real information concerning the life and times of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. There is no lack of materials for such a work, and the wonder is that it has not been undertaken by some competent writer, who would furnish the necessary supplement to Lord Wolseley's unfinished life of Sarah's great husband. There is something more satisfying and original to be found in the volume compiled from family records by Lady NewdigateNewdegate, entitled Cavalier and Puritan (Smith, Elder & Co.). The diary of Sir Richard Newdigate is full of glimpses of the life of an active, eager and somewhat mettlesome gentleman at a time when political and religious strife was at its keenest. King Monmouth (Lane), by Mr. Allan Fea, is another and more generally interesting volume, compiled from original sources, which throws much light upon the career of a man who, with all his vanity and weakness, exercised great fascination over friends and followers. As to Monmouth's paternity considerable doubt exists, which Mr. Fea does not clear up. position at Court and his quarrels with the Duke of York supported the idea that he was the King's son, and he was willingly adopted by the Protestant party as its candidate for the throne. How little he was qualified for the place, notwithstanding his brilliant qualities, Mr. Fea clearly shows. Coming to more recent times, Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice has produced a singularly interesting monograph on Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, 1735-1806 (Longmans), whose memory is nearly forgotten. His career as a soldier was blurred by his hesitancy as a politician. He was offered the supreme command of the French revolutionary forces, and six months later was holding that appointment for the Allies when they took up the cause of Louis XVI.

His

The quiet uneventful life of Mary Rich, Countess of Warwick has attracted the attention of two biographers-Miss C. Fell Smith (Longmans) and Miss M. E. Palgrave (Dent)—the former dealing mainly with her domestic life and the latter with its devotional side. Both give a pleasing idea of how in the seventeenth century a woman of warm heart and active temperament could make her life attractive and beneficial to others. The Francis Letters (Hutchinson) contribute only indirect evidence to the controversy as to the authorship of the "Letters of Junius," which recent investigation shows pretty conclusively were not written by Sir Philip Francis. There is certainly nothing in the present collection of dull letters to his family to suggest his authorship of the vigorous and virulent attacks upon public men which were for so long associated with his name. The Benenden Letters (Dent), edited by C. F. Hardy, have an interest as throwing a sidelight-somewhat pale-upon town and country life at the end of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth century, but neither the writers nor the receivers seem to have been mixed up with any important incidents.

The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte (Macmillan), by Professor W. M. Sloane, now issued in four magnificent volumes, must take a prominent place among the biographies of the great Corsican. The author has had access to innumerable documents, hitherto unpublished, whilst his acquaintance with existing Napoleonic literature is almost unique. He is by no means a blind worshipper of his hero and he lays special stress upon his histrionic talents, which from his first start in life he employed with persistent success. His duel with Metternich, who finally outwitted and brought down his rival, is treated with less attention than it would seem to deserve; but its episodes would not furnish many materials for illustration— and it is to its almost inexhaustible store of illustrations that these splendid volumes will owe their chief popularity. In one way this is to be regretted, for Mr. Sloane has written a work for students of history as well as for the admirers of the marvellous career of the most extraordinary man of the time which he himself created.

Mr. Barry O'Brien's Life of Lord Russell of Killowen (Smith, Elder & Co.) gives a vivid idea of the great lawyer and eminent judge who lived so short a time to enjoy his honours. The life of Charles Russell abounded with picturesque details, and he has been more lucky in his biographer than falls to the lot of most men. He was almost as well known on the turf, in the club card-room and in society as he was at the bar, on the bench and in the House of Commons. His strong personality made itself felt in every field of activity, and Mr. Barry O'Brien has succeeded in bringing before us the man as he lived and fought his way from a solicitor's office to be Lord Chief Justice of England.

Quite the most interesting and attractive contribution to the domestic history of the past are the two volumes written and compiled by Lady Ilchester-The Life and Letters of Lady Sarah Lennox (Murray). When only sixteen years old she received a proposal of marriage from George III., and this was seriously renewed two years later, but it was prevented by the King's mother and the then powerful Lord Bute. Lady Sarah Lennox seems to have taken the loss of her Royal lover and of the throne of England with great equanimity, and in 1762 married Sir Charles Bunbury, a marriage which turned out unfortunately. Thirteen years later she married Colonel Napier, and became the mother of three men, all of whom achieved distinction. The story of the life of this fascinating lady is told with admirable fulness, which never becomes tedious, and the details are recounted in a series of vivacious letters to her lifelong friend, Lady Susan FoxStrangways-a cousin of Charles James Fox.

It is strange that up to the present time no attempt should have been made to write an authentic history of the popular naturalist of Selborne, whose own work has passed through so many editions and after a century is perhaps even more popular than at the time of its publication. There was therefore ample reason that Mr. Rashleigh Holt-White should take in hand The Life and Letters of Gilbert White (Murray), and vindicate his great-uncle from some of the undeserved charges of absenteeism and pluralism. Even had he been