The Scottish Review

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section, however, of this most striking paper which will doubtless appeal most directly to readers in this country is that which deals with the drink question, and in which some valuable facts and statistics are produced. Until the middle of 1880 public-houses were subject to a system of licensing similar in its general features to that existing in England. From that date, however, France has enjoyed the dubious blessing of a free public-house in a free State.' consequences are worth noticing. Towards the end of 1880 there were in Paris between 11,000 and 12,000 cabarets;' there are at present some 16,000 houses where, in some shape or another, strong drinks are sold. In 1872 the consumption of wine amounted to 85,900,000 gallons, that of spirits to about 1,400,000 gallons. Since then, whilst the quantity of wine consumed has steadily increased, it has done so only in proportion to the increase of population. As compared to this, however, the quantity of alcoholic drinks brought into Paris in 1884 may be put down at 3,700,000 gallons; in other words, the consumption has nearly trebled within fifteen years. Dealing with the remedial measures by which increasing drunkenness may be checked, the author recognises the full value of persuasion and example, but he does not consider these sufficient. He advocates repressive measures, and holds that these should aim quite as much at the publican as at the drunkard.-As interesting, if not of high importance, may also be indicated A Page of Mexican History' and 'The Legend of Caspar Hauser.-In the mid-monthly number the most important paper is that which M. A. Moireau entitles 'L'Angleterre et L'Irlande en 1886.' Much of it is, naturally, merely a recapitulation of events with which we are familiar; besides this, however, there are expressions of opinion which are not without interest.

REVUE DES DEUX MONDES (February 1 and 15).-The first of these two numbers contains two articles devoted to English subjects, both of which may be recommended as excellent. The first, taking for its title 'Le Roman au Temps de Shakspeare,' deals with the works of those writers who may be considered as the ancestors of our modern novelists. These are Sir Thomas Malory, Sir Thomas More, Lyly, Lodge, Sidney, and Nash. In each case a concise but admirably balanced biographical sketch accompanies a masterly examination of the works and an exposition of the style of the writer. The section devoted to Lyly is particularly striking, and it would be difficult to convey in so short a space a more complete notion of 'euphuism' than M. Jusserand has done.-The second of the English articles deals with English Deism in the 18th Century.' It is confessedly founded on Rémusat's History of English Philosophy, Leslie Stephen's History of English Thought, and Harrop's Bolingbroke. The writers whose works are considered are Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Toland, Tindal, after these Collins, Woolston, and Hume, and, last of all, St. John Bolingbroke. As regards Pope's friend, M. L. Carrau is of opinion that posterity has judged rightly and fairly in relegating him to the semi-obscurity of a second-rate reputation, and that vanity is not a sufficient claim to glory. --Amongst the remaining articles, that in which M. Jules Rochard considers the sanitation of large towns, though more particularly applicable to France, contains remarks and suggestions which may well command attention in any country. -An excellent sketch of the present condition of Greece, and a political paper on the late dissolution of the Reichstag, are the only articles possessing any topical' interest.-Besides the first instalment of an essay which will be best treated when complete, the second number contains one contribution of special value; it is that in which M. E. Grimaud corrects a good many current errors with regard to the death of Lavoisier, the famous savant, whose execution is one of the blackest crimes of the French Revolution.-The political paper considers 'The Anxieties of the Day,' and declares that there is as yet no imminent danger of war.

REVUE DES DEUX MONDES (March 1 and 15).-Nothing that the Revue has published for many months is to be compared with the brilliant essay, begun last month and concluded in the present number, which M. Taine has devoted to Napoleon Bonaparte. At the very outset the writer indicates the impartiality with which he has approached his subject, and the reasons which will enable him to treat it in a spirit which none of his countrymen has been able to

assume.

He looks upon Napoleon not as a Frenchman, not as a man of the 18th century, but as an Italian, and as the direct descendant of the Condottieri of the Middle Ages, the Sforzas, the Malatestas, the Borgias. In analysing his character he does full justice to his immense grasp, and to his wonderful power of work; but after this the whole essay is one long impeachment. His almost superhuman selfishness is brought out with ruthless force, his ambition laid bare in all its repulsiveness. As for those who still cherish illusions as to Napoleon's political work, the result of egotism served by genius,' they will be told by M. Taine that all that the credulous and enthusiastic French gained by twice entrusting their Commonwealth to Napoleon was a double invasion, that his only legacy to them, as a reward for their devotedness and for having lavished their blood for him, was a France shorn of fifteen departments which the Republic had acquired. Neither is it possible to raise any protest against the writer's severe sentence, for every fact which he adduces is supported by a serried array of quotations from unimpeachable documents, often from Napoleon's own despatches and conversations.-Next to this, the contribution best deserving mention is a scientific paper from the pen of the Marquis de Saporta. Its title will suffice to indicate its importance and its novelty; it has for its subject 'The Prehistoric Ages of Spain and Portugal.'-Interesting, too, and not less important in its own way, is the second part of M. Burnouf's sketch of modern Greece. The second of the March numbers falls flat by comparison with the first. 'L'Euvre des Libértées,' by M. du Camp, is certainly interesting, but it is essentially Parisian. -The philosophy of Pascal is also undoubtedly an excellent subject, and is ably treated by M. Ravaisson, but is rather solid food for the general reader.--Les Descendans des Mages à Bombay' is, again, an attractive title, but disappoints the reader, who, on turning to it, finds it to be nothing but what he has read already in the 'History of the Parsis.'

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Art. 1.-The Scottish Peerage.