of natural history, which Mr. Knight does not pretend to possess, would be quite as romantic in its own way as any tale of pirates, loot, and buried riches. The island appears to be entirely of volcanic and coral origin, mostly so rotten that the weather works mighty changes in a very short time, resulting in a picturesqueness of outline and constant change of surface that make the scenery and the habitation of the land alike uncanny. Immense landslips are common, and it is under one of these that the buried treasure, if it still lies in the cave where it was originally deposited, is supposed to be. The description of Trinidad is careful and lucid, making a really valuable addition to geographical knowledge, the accounts in the sailing directories and gazetteers being meagre and out of date. The The search, however, was But Trinidad was not the only place visited by the treasure-seekers. Salvages were called at on the outward voyage, and an attempt made to discover a hoard said to have been hidden on one of these islets. neither continuous nor exhaustive, and came to nothing. if rapidly, described; and all that was seen and experienced by the adventurers shows that few islands stand in greater need of a revised and thorough survey than the Salvages and Trinidad. The charts now in use are not only unreliable, but actually dangerous if slavishly followed, and ought on no account to be trusted to when close in-shore. The volume forms a lively and readable account of a romantic adventure, and ought to be popular. The illustrations are fairly good. The Story of our Lighthouses and Lightships: Descriptive and Historical. By W. H. DAVENPORT ADAMS. London, Edinburgh, and New York: Thomas Nelson and Sons. 1891. Pp. 380. This, like most works from the pen of Mr. Davenport Adams, is an excellent specimen of the art of book-making, showing a very considerable power of research on the part of the author, with considerable skill in the way of grouping facts and rendering them effective, as well as great accuracy in detail, and some picturesqueness in description. No important fact connected with our principal lighthouses need be looked for in vain in the volume, and there is much, if condensed, information regarding beacons along the shores of our colonies and of the United States. The illustrations are both excellent and clear, and the printing distinct and pleasant to read. The chart mentioned on p. 73 does not appear in this edition, and the want is distinctly felt. In future issues this omission ought, certainly, to be corrected. Warwick, the King-Maker. By CHARLES W. OMAN. London: Macmillan and Co., 1891. Pp. 243. Price 2s. 6d. A volume of the "English Men of Action" series, treating of olden times, when Calais was an English seaport, and Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, was its governor. An ardent Yorkist, he invaded England with an army, and captured London in July 1460. Eventually the Yorkist, Edward IV., was proclaimed king at Westminster, and he and Warwick turned to pacify the north. Warwick was placed in command of the Northern Border, and, invading Scotland in 1463, made peace with the Scottish regents on their despatching Queen Margaret and her French soldiers to Flanders. Warwick, however, quarrelled with his master, King Edward; and Mr. Oman points out how seldom fallen ministers have been able to sit down in resignation and accept their fall with equanimity." He had made Edward Plantagenet king, and felt the latter's ingratitude keenly. Robin of Redesdale's rising and the battle of Edgecott led to Warwick seizing the King, with 66 whom he made terms of peace, which did not, however, last long. Warwick once more invaded England from France, and was master of all England within eleven days after landing at Dartmouth. King Edward had fled to Holland, but returned to England and seized London. At Barnet the armies of Edward and Warwick met face to face. Warwick's troops were routed, and he himself was slain. Mr. Oman says (6 Warwick's ambition took the shape of a devouring love of work of all kinds," and remarks that, although a traitor to his King, Warwick had been "wantonly insulted by his thankless master." Mr. Oman's volume is a valuable contribution to the history of a period which has seldom been impartially discussed. Rulers of India: Dupleix. By COLONEL MALLESON, C.S.I., In the series of monographs on "Rulers of India," the life of Dupleix has been written by the one man who is capable of doing it well. Colonel Malleson is the recognised authority on the subject of the history of French enterprise in India, which he has thoroughly studied and mastered in all its details, and, being possessed of great literary gifts and of a clear vigorous style, he has been able to produce a work of surpassing excellence and engrossing interest. He brings out clearly the great importance of the position occupied by Dupleix in the history of the relations of European Powers to India. It was Dupleix who first saw the opening for the acquisition by European Powers of dominating political influence, and conceived the methods by which such an object could be attained. The ambitious plans he formed ultimately failed of realisation, but only because he was not better seconded by his subordinates, and did not receive adequate support from the authorities in France. It was by adopting his plans and his methods that the English gradually built up the British-Indian Empire. The history of his schemes, of the success which for a while crowned them, of the reverses he sustained, and of his courageous struggle against adverse circumstances, is one of thrilling interest, and is told with great power. The introductory and concluding chapters, which tell the story of the undertakings of the French down to the time when Dupleix came to the front, and of the last efforts of the French to wrest political supremacy from their rivals, are models of condensation and clearness. The writer is thereby able to give the whole history of French enterprise in India. The narrative is animated throughout. Enough of detail is given to make the situation always intelligible, but never so much as to be wearisome or to mar the general effect of the picture, or divert attention from the really important movements and events, and obscure the great part played in them by Dupleix. Sir Francis Drake. By JULIAN CORBETT. London: Macmillan and Co., 1890. Pp. 209. Price 2s. 6d. This is one of the excellent series devoted to "Englishmen of Action." Mr. Corbett declares that "of all the heroes whose exploits have set our history aglow with romance there is not one who so soon passed into legend as Francis Drake.” His first important expedition ended disastrously, owing to Spanish treachery. This terminated the long commercial intimacy between England and Spain, and led to Drake's second expedition in 1572, which spread dismay throughout the Spanish Indies. Crossing the Isthmus of Panama, Drake and his comrades were "the first Englishmen " to gaze on the Pacific. (Magellan, however, in his great expedition-1520-had some English sailors on his vessel, which first breasted the waves of the Pacific.) In 1575 Drake destroyed the Scottish galleys off the isle of Rathlin. Three years later he circumnavigated the globe, sailing through the Straits of Magellan, capturing Spanish treasure-ships along the west coast of South America, and, with his own ship "literally ballasted with silver," continued, via Java and the Cape of Good Hope, round the world until he landed at Plymouth. Queen Elizabeth banqueted on board his ship, and knighted him. Drake was appointed lieutenant to Howard, the Lord Admiral, to meet the Spanish Armada, and Mr. Corbett is of opinion that to Drake is due its defeat and destruction. Drake's life, as told by Mr. Corbett, reads like a romance. It is an exceedingly graphic account of the career of one of the greatest of modern Vikings. The Dictionary of Statistics. By MICHAEL G. MULHALL. Part 1. London: This is the first part of what promises to be a work of reference of the highest value to geographers and to all who, by choice or by necessity, desire to obtain a knowledge of the world's trade, general state, and progress. The principal article in this part is that on Agriculture, covering nearly fifty-two pages, and affording statistical tables such as are likely to meet the requirements of most students. Other articles are on Aerolites, Age, Alcohol, Amphitheatres, Anatomy, Animals, Anthropometry. These are all more or less full and instructive; and should future numbers attain to the same standard as this, the first part, no library will be complete without the work. It is clearly printed, and is accompanied by one plate. The price is very moderate. Itinéraire Général de France par Paul Joanne. Lyonnais, Beaujolais et Bresse. 3 Cartes et 2 Plans. Pp. xxiii + 237. Alpes Dauphinoises en deux parties. Première Partie, contenant 4 Cartes, 5 Plans et un Panorama. Pp. xlii + 395. Paris Librairie Hachette et Cie, 1890. These guides are very similar in style to those of Meyer, but the maps are better executed, and the covers stronger and more tasteful. The accounts of the towns and routes are very full, and a brief historical notice is given of places where important events have occurred. The method, common also to Meyer's guides, of giving a list of walks and excursions in the neighbourhood of health-resorts, is an excellent one. On the other hand, we are doubtful as to the expediency of incorporating information respecting hotels, carriages, etc., with the index. Though, of course, less imposing than the mountains of Switzerland, the Alps of Le Dauphiné contain plenty of fine scenery, of which little is known to the majority of English tourists except the few picturesque glimpses obtained in crossing into Italy by the Mont Cenis route. Those also who desire to explore districts unfrequented by the general mass of tourists often find a difficulty in procuring a handbook containing sufficient details. This want is supplied, so far as the districts mentioned in the titles are concerned, by these volumes, which are of a portable size, and would be still less bulky were they not considerably increased, as is too commonly the practice in France, by an inordinate number of advertisements. Die freie Hansestadt Bremen und ihre Umgebungen. Bremen, 1890. Pp. 432. We are indebted for this admirable account of the city and environs of Bremen to the meeting there of the "Gesellschaft deutscher Naturforscher und Ärtzte," in honour of which the Medical, Natural History, and Geographical Societies of Bremen prepared this volume. The numerous plans, maps, and illustrations which it contains, besides the letterpress, which is contributed by the most competent local authorities, combine to form a work of no ordinary value. From an interesting article we observe that the Geographical Society of Bremen was founded in 1876, and owed its origin to the interest taken by the Bremen citizens in the German expeditions to the North Pole. The Northern Counties Red Book. Inverness: The Northern Chronicle Office, 1891. Pp. 88. Price 3d. This year's issue of the Red Book contains all the features which in the past have made it an indispensable companion to every one having business connections or interests in the Northern Highlands. One or two new lists are included in this edition; but why are not the County Councillors for Caithness given as well as those for the other northern divisions? This omission ought to be rectified in the next issue, and a map, showing the new county divisions, would be an addition of some value. REID'S Leith Tide-Tables. Leith Mackenzie and Storrie, 1891. Pp. 172. : A very attractive little book, with a distinct chart showing Leith harbour, the docks and their surroundings. As all the information usually contained in directories of this kind is included, it ought to prove a most useful guide and help to those having marine connections with the port of Edinburgh, or with those of Granton, Burntisland, and Dundee. Barker's Facts and Figures for the Year 1891. Edited by THOMAS P. WHITTAKER. London and New York: Frederick Warne and Co. 328 pages. Price 1s. This new annual differs from those already in existence in devoting special attention to statistical information on moral, social, physical, economic, and political subjects. Much of the information given is interesting rather than practically useful. There is evidently room for improvement in future issues. The list of British dependencies, for example, is neither complete nor well-arranged. Tales of Old Travel. Re-narrated by HENRY KINGSLEY, F.R.G.S. With Illustrations. London: Macmillan and Co., 1890. Pp. 368. The subjects chosen for narration have been selected with judgment, and the tales are told in a sufficiently interesting manner, although a somewhat involved style and eccentricities in punctuation frequently mar the enjoyment of the careful reader. The book ought to form a welcome present to young people. The type is large and distinct, and some of the illustrations are spirited. The Admiralty Falsification of the "Challenger" Record. Exposed by WILLIAM LEIGHTON JORDAN, F.R.G.S., Assoc. Inst. C.E. London, 1890. Printed by Spottiswoode and Co. Pp. 35. Mr. Jordan brings a serious charge against the Admiralty and the Challenger Commission, and fails to establish his case. The book almost wholly consists of official letters, and is a remarkable testimony of the long-suffering and earnest desire to convince the author displayed by the heads of department with whom he corresponded. The pamphlet is a curiosity in its way, and may be read for amusement, for of instruction it contains little. THE SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL MAGAZINE. BRITANNIC CONFEDERATION. [The following is the first of a special series of papers on the subject of "Britannic Confederation." The provisional list of subsequent papers, with the names of the authors, includes (2) Britannic Confederation, from a Colonial Standpoint (Principal M. H. Hervey), (3) The Physical and Political Bases of National Unity (Professor Edward A. Freeman), (4) The Commerce of the British Empire (George G. Chisholm, Esq.), (5) Tariffs, in their effect on International Commerce, etc. (Professor Shield Nicholson), and (6) The Growth and Consolidation of the British Empire.] I.-A SURVEY OF EXISTING CONDITIONS. BY SIR JOHN COLOMB, K.C.M.G., M.P. POLITICAL terminology is generally difficult, but the title that has been selected for the series of papers to which the present one is introductory is more than usually free from objection. The substantive is well chosen, because the federal union to be attained in the scattered Empire of the Queen must necessarily assume the looser form of a confederacy, and not that of a federation, strictly so called. The adjective is equally apt, since "British" is so constantly used in the narrower, insular sense, whilst "Britannic "-the territorial title of the sovereign of these realms, who is to all the world "Her Britannic Majesty "—has a wider range of association, and fitly expresses the larger sweep of the idea it is desired to emphasise. If it be not too late to change, the Imperial Federation. League might with advantage adopt the title at the head of these papers. To answer the question, "What is the empire of Her Britannic Majesty?" we must turn first to geography and then to history. Geographically, the first thing noticeable is the scattered character of the Empire that is usually coloured red on the maps. It literally encircles VOL. VII. R |