Sotes on Books.

Shakespeare's Workmanship. By Sir Arthur
Quiller-Couch. (Fisher Unwin, 158. net.)
SIR ARTHUR has read a good deal of Shake-
spearian criticism, but he is no slave to tradi-
tional opinions. He will give generous praise
to this or that piece of interpretation, and will
dismiss another with a shrug of the shoulders;
he has loved Shakespeare from a boy, and seen
him with fresh eyes, and now with deft hands
and a light touch he tells us his impressions.
He gives new meaning to this or that line which
we had passed unnoticed; he points out the
wonderful quality of Shakespeare's work, while
not shrinking from condemning it as slovenly
in this or that detail; he throws in personal
récollections and jokes to beguile our ears, and
Every
sends us away exhilarated and charmed.
student of Shakespeare, even the oldest, will
feel he has gained by reading this book.

It is not that it is in any way epochmaking,
nor in the main very new-not so new, certainly,
as Sir Arthur seems to think. His dislike of
commentators and academic scholars sometimes
leads to outbursts which are foolish or unfair.
He dismisses Mr. E. K. Chambers's explanation
of the term "interlude "
without a word of
refutation, and substitutes another for which
he does not advance a particle of evidence-
"that Interlude' meant, or came to mean, a
play of a sort commonly presented indoors, in
banqueting halls, in the interval between theatri-
cal seasons; or, in other words, the sort of play
to amuse a Christmas or Twelfth Night audience
(p. 142). He is ready to infer the conditions
of the public theatre from those of the banquet-
ing hall: "Upon the masques, as we know, very
large sums of money were spent ; and I make no
doubt that before the close of Shakespeare's
theatrical career, painted scenes and tapestries
(p. 22). But no evidence is
were the fashion
adduced. He dismisses without examination
the reasons that have been alleged for con-
'Macbeth' un-
sidering the Hecate scenes in
Shakespearian. All we have is: "It does not
appear likely to me that a whole set of foolish
men (though Middleton in itself seems a well-
enough-invented name) were kept permanently
employed to come in and write something when-
(p. 76).
ever Shakespeare wanted it foolish
If this is Sir Arthur's way of arguing with serious
students, our sympathies go over to them and
leave the genial dilettante. There
when Sir Arthur's recollection even of the play
On the question why
he is treating fails him.
Hamlet himself did not inherit his father's
throne, he says: "Shakespeare overlooking this
trifle, Hamlet does not seem to mind or indeed
to think about it first or last" (p. 175). But
Hamlet thinks about it very seriously (V. ii.
64-8):-

are times

He that hath kill'd my king, and stain'd my
mother,
Popp'd in between the election and my hopes....
is't not perfect conscience

To quit him with this arm?

Sir Arthur is so self-confident, and so contemptuous of the unhappy commentators "who have never created a play or a novel or a scene or a

character in their lives," that it is necessary to
point out that his dicta are not all equally sound.
But this is not the note on which we would
close. He has written in a charming and illu-
minating manner on many of the plays-Mac-
beth,'
As You
Midsummer Night's Dream,'
'Cymbeline,' and 'The Tempest
Like It,'
par excellence; he has made some very telling
The Merchant of Venice' and
criticisms of
'The Winter's Tale.' He expresses the feeling
"The dreariest
of many of us when he writes:
passages in Shakespeare are those in which his
wit.' He has
ladies and courtiers exchange
brought common sense and poetical feeling to
bear with damaging effect on a dull remark of
Sir Sidney Colvin's (p. 261). He has given us a
book full of a light and happy spirit, common
sense, and insight-now turned on the immediate
subject, now on something a little extraneous,
as in his charming account of his canoe voyage
down the Avon (pp. 121-3), or the equally
charming passage in which he speaks of the
lifelong devotion inspired in so many by the
unfortunate Elizabeth of Bohemia (p. 309).
At times he strikes a grave note well worth
listening to :-

"I have known an Archbishop from a Uni-
versity pulpit excuse a war with a weaker nation
cause was just (which, though
not because our
quite arguable, he made no attempt to argue),
but because we were a greater, more enlightened,
more progressive race than they, with a great
literature, too-for in his fervour the preacher
even dragged in literature, and therefore (argued
he) God, who encourages and presides over the
evolution of mankind, must be on our side."

It is good for our humility to be reminded that the cant which makes Kultur an excuse for aggression has not always been the peculiar possession of one nation.

A Bibliography of Works by Officers, Non-Com-
missioned Officers, and Men, who have ever
served in the Royal, Bengal, Madras, or Bombay
Artillery. Compiled and verified by Lieut.-
Col. John H. Leslie, R.A. (retired list), and
Lieut.-Col. D. Smith, R.A.-Parts VI. and VII.
Gascoigne Jacob. (Sheffield, Sir W. C. Leng
Co., 2s. each.)

THE first part of this elaborate work was issued
in 1909, but the War interrupted its progress.
Nothing daunted, however, the compilers have
resumed their industrious labours, the fruits of
which appear in the two parts named above.
The toll of noble lives taken by the War is illus-
trated by the inclusion of Donald Hankey, the
author of A Student in Arms,' who was killed
The majority of the
in action on Oct. 12, 1916.
entries are naturally of a somewhat technical
character, but the remainder cover an extremely
wide range of subjects. Thus
Col. H. W. L. Hime's discussions on the Greek
materials of Shelley's Adonais' and Lucian the
Syrian satirist; Col. E. A. P. Hobday's Blue-
beard,' arranged as a burlesque opera for produc-
tion at Simla; and F. W. Howe's Classified
Directory to the Metropolitan Charities,' a useful
handbook issued annually for 40 years; while
the last work recorded is a volume on Jeypore
enamels.

we encounter

That the compilers are animated by the true bibliographical spirit is evident from the fact that

TWO IMPORTANT BOOKS ON THE EAST:

Colloquies on the Simples and Drugs of India

Translated from the Portuguese by Sir CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, K.C.B.,
Editor of Twenty-Two Volumes of the Hakluyt Society, &c.

Dedicated to the late SIR GEORGE BIRDWOOD, K.C.I.E.

With 25 Illustrations reproduced from the quaint Engravings in Historia Natural y Morale de
las Indias,' por Jos. de Acosta,' 1590.

Beautifully Printed, in large clear type, by Messrs. R. & R. Clark of Edinburgh, and bound in buckram.
Price £2 2s. net.

One Volume, Crown 4to.

Limited to 250 Copies, of which only 200 are for Sale, a large number of which are already sold.

The celebrated Coloquious dos Simples e Drogas da India' of Garcia da Orta were first published at Goa in 1563. The author went out to India in 1534 as physician to his feudal Lord Dom Martin da Sousa, afterwards Governor of Goa, and stayed there until his death in 1570. Travelling extensively along the western seaboard of India and in Ceylon, Garcia gathered botanical and pharmaceutical knowledge at first hand wherever he went. He formed a large 'physic garden, in Goa, and another in Bombay, on the site now occupied by the Victoria Gardens. The Colloquies was in all probability the first European book printed in India; it contains the first descriptions of many Indian plants now in widespread medical use, and of their application to such diseases as cholera and dysentery. Clusius in his * Aromatum Historia' made a short, unsatisfactory précis, and the Italian and the French translations are very inferior to the original. Sir Clements Markham was engaged on his translation from the standard Portuguese edition, at Lisbon and Madrid, for the greater part of three years. On the proposal of Sir George Birdwood the publication was under the patronage of the Secretary of State for India. The work has more than a scientific interest, for it is enlivened by entertaining anecdotes of the manners and customs of the people among whom Garcia da Orta carried on his researches.

This is the first English translation of this famous book, and it will be found to appeal not only to the Botanist and Pharmacist, but also to the many students of Indian subjects, as well as the lover of Belles Lettres, who will be agreeably pleased by its quaint and curious style, so reminiscent of the Dialogues in Walton's 'Angler.'

"In spite of occasional bombast or intolerance a remarkable book; and all who are concerned with the history of simples are under a great obligation to Sir Clements Markham for his painstaking translation from a language which few are able to read.”—Times.

SIR JAMES BROOKE AND THE ROMANCE OF SARAWAK.

A History of Sarawak under its Two White Rajahs,

1839-1908.

By SABINE BARING-GOULD, M.A., Rector of Lew Trenchard,
and the late C. A. BAMPFYLDE, F.R.G.S., Resident of Sarawak.
With a Preface by the late Rajah, SIR CHARLES BROOKE, K.C.M.G.
With Maps and Eighty-Seven Portraits and Illustrations.
8vo, cloth, 15s. net.

It is to be hoped that there is as yet no need to point out the romance that belongs to the career of Rajah Brooke -one of the greatest of Canon Kingsley's Heroes-and the brave little State which he founded in the most head-hunting wilds of Borneo. As a book written from within, with the help of the life-like pen of Mr. Baring-Gould, it gives new life to a story which has now stretched over a period of seventy years.

HENRY SOTHERAN & CO.,

Publishers,

43 PIOCADILLY, W.1, and 140 STRAND, W.0.2; and] all Booksellers,

AUTHORS' MSS. considered and placed with Editors M.P. for Aylesbury, Lord Mayor of London, 1774. and Publishers.

LONDON, FEBRUARY, 1919.

CONTENTS. No. 89.
NOTES:-Double Falsehood': Shakespeare, Fletcher,
and Theobald, 30 The New English Dictionary':
Changes in Accentuation. 32-Richard Edwards's Corre-
spondence, 33- First American Soldiers to fall in the
Great War-Tanks in the Great War-Tennyson and
Opium, 36-Our Mutual Friend': a Topographical Slip
-Herrick's Debt to Andrew Willet-Sheridan on Puffs
George Stepney at Vienna-Badulla, Ceylon: Tombstone
Inscription, 37.

QUERIES:-'N. & Q.': its Offspring in Other Countries-
Samuel Johnson and Ben Jonson-Matthew Arnold and

"Anglo-Saxon contagion "-Matthew Arnold: Proving a
Negative-" Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus"-
Burial at Sea: Four Guns fired for an Officer, 38-Clay
Balls as Christmas Collecting Boxes-Goldsworthy as a
Place-Name-Borough Courts: "Jur de la vile "-Vauve-
nargues: "La clarté est la bonne foi de philosophes"-
S. T. Coleridge on Immortality Scotch University
Graduates, 39-Back-Magazine Dealers-Iona: its Ety
mology-Foundling Entries in Parish Registers-Byronic
Statue in Fleet Street-Edward Ingleby's Descendants-
Chapman Family of Ormsley-Blades Family of Covedale
and Wensleydale, 40-Rain and Mowing-Pewter Paten
-The Ainslie Bond-Sir Sanders Duncombe's Powder-
Newton-Robert Blake, 1744-Parliamentary Blue Books,
White Papers, &c., 41-Sir John Lombe-Pragell Family
-Spurs Feather-necks and Rough-necks
flage"-Euler on the End of the World-Deacon in Love

"Camou

-Authors of Quotations Wanted, 42.
REPLIES:-Col. A. R. Macdonell's Duel with Norman
Macleod, 43-Hampshire Church Bells, 44-Christmas
Verses at Sheffield, 46-Napoleon and Lord John Russell,
47-"Sons of Ichwe"-Devils blowing Horns, 48- Antho
logia Græca': Epictetus-Wyborne Family of Elmstone-
"John Robertson," Pseudonymous Nineteenth-Century
Poet, 49-Crest on Church Plate -Paten or Salver?
Neate St. Henry the Englishman: Bishop Thomas in
Finland "Water-pipes," Psalm xlii. 9. Prayer Book
Version, 50-Dessin's Hotel, Calais-Sir Walter Raleigh,
East Londoner-Lakes Pascholler and Calendari, near
Thusis-President Wilson's Ancestors-Forster of Han-
slope, 51-Kent Family of Winchester and Reading, 52-
Mrs. Legh of Lyme, Cheshire-French Revolution: Eat
Cake"-St. Trunnion: his Identity, 53-Col. Colquhoun
Grant-Rutter Family Name-Joseph Brown, 54.
NOTES ON BOOKS :-Fielding's Tragedy of Tragedies.'
Booksellers' Catalogues.
Notices to Correspondents.

་

with those who feel that 'N. & Q.' is still doing good work in enabling people to turn aside from the hurly-burly for a few hours and find rest and relief in the perusal of its pages.

There is, in our opinion, another matter which at least equals in importance the desirability of our resuming more frequent publication-that is, the issue of a General Index to the last Series, completed in December, 1915. The value of N. & Q.' to searchers after knowledge lies largely in accessibility to the treasures stored in its is greatly pages-an accessibility that lessened by the absence of a General Index to the Eleventh Series. The cost, however, involved in preparing and printing a General Index has so far made it impossible to undertake this.

We are glad to be able to say that the result of the last half-year's working shows the comparatively small loss of 71. 8s. 9d., which has been more than covered by the friends who undertook to pay, if necessary, sixpence more for each issue. We also thank those readers who have already sent their subscriptions without formal application from the office.

The storm that is gathering against the unwarrantably high prices of certain commodities is likely soon to bring about a considerable reduction in the price of paper, though, like other things which were low in price partly because of low wages, paper is likely to command a healthier price than the present generation was accustomed to pay before the War.

The unexpected diminution of loss on the last half-year is again mostly due to the helpfulness of friends who have purchased back numbers of N. & Q.' It is, however,

THE PAST HALF-YEAR, AND THE increasingly difficult for the proprietor to

FUTURE OF 'N. & Q.'

It is hoped to publish the Index for 1918 (price 18. 7d. post free) with the March issue.

give the time required for editorial and managerial purposes; yet the appreciation 'N. & Q.' has already received congratula- of his efforts continually shown makes it tions on having weathered the storm : we difficult for him to relinquish the work until hope such congratulations are not premature. | it can be placed in other hands with the Most of our readers will feel more reassured confidence that the traditions of the paper when we are able to resume our weekly will be preserved. issue. A semi-monthly issue might perhaps be a step in that direction. At present, however, we see no likelihood of even the latter, and we must say that had we the money to enable us to produce this, we should need convincing that labour, paper, and print would not be more wisely used at the present time in striving to allay the growing unrest, and turning the attention of all to the need of plain living and hard working. Nevertheless we can sympathize

The Balance-Sheet for the last six months will be forwarded to all who have contributed to the Continuation Fund during that period, or to any one who sends a P.O. for 2s. 6d.

Promises of help towards our Ceneral Index and more frequent publication will be welcomed.