NOTES.

Mr Ernest Speight and Mr Reginald Horace Walpole, of Teignmouth, Devon, England, are about to commence the publication of a new library of finely produced books for collectors, to be entitled "The Saracen's Head Library." These books will be chiefly reprints of books already famous, or which, though forgotten, are worthy of reproduction on account of their literary charm and human intereet. They will be produced in sumptuous form and in strictly limited editions. The volumes will not necessarily be uniform in size, but, as seems fitting to a library, will vary in form according to the nature and length of the contents. After printing, the type will be distributed, and no further editions of the various books issued. Besides an ordinary limited edition of each volume there will be also a very small edition on Japanese vellum at a higher price.- The volumes forming the first series of this library will be named " The Mary Kingsley Travel Books," in memory of Miss Kingsley, whose noble life work was inspired so largely by the records of these old voyagers. The first volume will be ready shortly, and is a reprint in handsome style of- "The Golden Trade, or The Discovery of the River Gam 1 bra-," by Richard Jobson, an exceedingly scarce book, published in 1623. The second volume will be a folio reprint of that entertaining book, Thomas Coryat's "Crudities," 1612. Further volumes will be Captain Woodes Rogers's " Voyage Round the World," 1712 ; William Bourne's " A Regiment for the Sea," 1574; "Paesi Novamente Retrovati," 1507, the first collection, of voyages ever published and one of the scarcest books in the world ; and Engelbert Kampfer's " History of Japan," 1727. The January number of "Life," Dr Fitchett's new Australasian monthly, comes well up to promise, and that i s saying a good deal. It contains a big budget of live matter — in justification of its title — and is calculated to interest all sections of the community. It is a sixpenny magazine, but there are few shilling publications giving such a full and varied fare. The month's doings are reviewed, in politics, in literature and in humour. Then- there is an article, which ought fo prove useful and which certainly promises to be interesting, on something that .'* the man in the street " is always enquiring about. This month tlie editor explains what Japan and Russia are quarrelling about; how an Australian eleven is chosen ; how the newspapers get their cable (messages; New Zealand's State Bank; and the first matter to be settled by the Federal High Court of Justice. Dr Fitchett contributes a chapter of sea; adventure, and there is an instalment'of " More Letters of a Self-made Merchant." Mr G. H. Reid opens a series of articles on " How it is Done," by relating how he prepares his speeches ; a day in the life of the GovernorGeneral is described; and -Roll Boldrewood tells how he came to write "Robbery Under Arms." There are brief notes on men and women of the hour, there is a big division devoted to current literature, and nearly forty pages are taken up with notes on science, business, health, travel and sport, and general topics.