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of a wife is her husband; of a child, its parents; and nothing but

grave faults of omission or commission can excuse the interposition of any other person, even of a priest.'

'The advice given should be of an eminently practical nature, and 'should take, as a rule, the common-sense view of a subject.'

The collects, which must amount to some three or four hundred in number, are taken from ' a great variety of service-books of the Eastern and Western Church.' So say the Editors. To any liturgical scholar, the wonderful research into all kinds of offices in all kinds of rituals makes the volume a marvel of industry; while the few prayers for which no pattern could be found, and which had to be composed by the Editors themselves, so exactly resemble primitive or medieval collects, that it would be a curious ecclesiastical riddle to distinguish one from the other.

It will be perhaps sufficient to acknowledge the publication of a work by Mr. Isaac Williams, in his 'Psalms interpreted of Christ' (Rivingtons). There is the same reverential spirit, the same fulness of Scripture knowledge, and the same earnest desire not to neglect the hidden truths of Holy Scripture, which are the well-known and valued characteristics of the writer's other works. If occasionally the allegorical spirit and mystical intention seems to be carried to excess, it must be remembered that these interpretations are not put forward de fide: and in these days it may well be that we can afford a tension of the bow in this direction, when, what is called, common sense and very common-place theology is so much the fashion-for it is no more than a fashion.

Mr. Orby Shipley's 'Lyra Messianica' (Longmans) is not only a beautifully-printed book, but it contains some poems-chiefly translations from mediæval sources-which are not to be found elsewhere. It claims companionship to another interesting volume, 'Lyra Eucharistica,' collected by the pious diligence of the same editor. We trust to have an opportunity of noticing these volumes at greater length.

The Sixth Edition of 'The Baptistery' (J. H. and J. Parker) attests both the popularity and usefulness of this very remarkable poem. It appears in a portable form, with the well-known etchings on a reduced scale.

'The Events of the Month' (Mozley) deserves the praise of invention. It is a magazine and newspaper: in the latter function it purports to be a sort of Annual Register' in monthly form, if we may be allowed the Irishism. The notion is a good one, though we think a more practised political writer would perhaps do it better. A really good current index of facts is a great desideratum. The miscellaneous portion of this periodical is very good indeed; and altogether it will be a useful work for parish reading-rooms and working men's clubs.

Mr. Arthur Malet has occupied his time very profitably to himself by giving us 'A Metrical Version of the Psalms' (Rivingtons). The verses

are often pretty, but they are not the Psalms. The thing attempted to be done cannot be done: Hebrew poetry has its own character, the modern rhyme has its own character: and the two things are essentially incongruous.

The Records of Cork,' by Dr. Maziere Brady (Longmans), is a remarkable work. It does for a single diocese, and that an Irish diocese, what has scarcely been done for any English one. It is a tolerably complete Fasti Corcagienses, and presents very full, and we have no doubt very accurate, information on the diocesan and parochial annals of Cork. It is a sort of Newcourt and Antony Wood, with something of the County History and Church history also. The work reaches to three volumes, and shows that there is both scholarship and love of antiquities in our silent sister.

'Short Readings for Sundays' (J. H. and J. Parker) is a volume prettily illustrated, and written with some skill. It is intended as a specimen of the way in which a Sunday-school lesson may be made interesting.

'The Floral Decoration of Churches, Part II.' (Mozley), will be found useful in directing the uninformed energies of the young people who at Easter and Christmas are too often allowed strange vagaries in the way of floral emblems in our churches. Here is a very practical guide, which we can strongly recommend, with one exception. A decoration to be floated on the water of the font we strongly object to. Except for a christening, the font ought never to have water in it. At the time of the baptism the water is to be poured in; and the water of baptism ought to be carefully drained off.

The Case of the Rev. Alfred Poole' has probably been long since forgotten; but it presents a curious chapter in our recent ecclesiastical annals, and one which is not altogether creditable to high authorities. Mr. Masters has published, and it is a somewhat late publication, all the documents connected with the case. They may some day be important in the way of reference.

Mr. Robert Liddell has published a plain and practical sermon on 'Inspiration' (Masters), with a view to existing disputes.

The Warden of S. Augustine's, Canterbury, has shown, in a little publication called 'The Saintly Character : Addresses to Members of a Devotional Society' (Canterbury: S. Augustine's Press), that it is possible to carry out the original intention of Wesley in a sober and at the same time fervid spirit.

Some very remarkable Sermons-posthumous sermons, we regret to say -by Dr. MacNeece, of.Trinity College, Dublin, have been published by Dr. Butcher (Hodges and Smith). Dr. MacNeece was Archbishop King's Lecturer in Divinity, and in this capacity he wrote an able Lecture on Inspiration. The Trinity College Lectures show an accomplished divine; and Dr. MacNeece's parochial labours and success show that the academic had not spoiled the parish priest.

"The Cottage Commentary on S. Luke' (Masters) appears to be sound and practical. We have, however, our doubts whether the multiplication of all these aids to Sunday-school teaching, vade-mecums for visiting, and hints for extempore lectures, and heads for catechetical instruction, do not rather tend to impair the use of thought and personal reflection. Clerical cram-books may be an evil.

'Avrillon's Guide for passing Lent holily' (J. H. and J. Parker) is one of those devotional manuals which we owe to Dr. Pusey. It has been long out of print, and was valuable as a scarce book. We are glad to welcome a new-the third-edition.

SHORTER NOTICES OF BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS.

R. CLAY, SON, AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS, BREAD STREET HILL