BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8855, 18 April 1892, Page 3

BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

[The following appoared in a first edition on Satuf. day.]

Quef.n Elizabeth : By Edward Spencer Beesly. Macmillan and Co., London.Mr. Becsly has given in this volume a very exhaustive biography of the " great Virgin Queen," successively depictingher early life, advent to the throne, foreign relations, the war with Spain, domestic affairs, and closing years. He has dealt with a long life, almost the whole of its great period passed in the exercise of sovereignty—a life which is, in effect, the history of England during 45 years, abounding at the same time in personal interest; and the subject, both in its public and private aspects, of fierce and probably interminable controversies. The judgment of those who have handled thehelmof government as to her capacity is to be found in the words of her contemporary, the great Henry : "She was my other self," and of a greater still in the next generation—" Queen Elizabeth of famous memory ; we need nob be ashamed to call her so !"

Rulers of India : Madhaka Rao Sindhia. By 11. G. Keene, C.1.E., M.A., at> the Clarendon Press, Oxford.—Sjndhia waa mi Indian ruler of exceptional capacity in times of exceptional difficulty. Born before the sack of Delhi by Nadir Shah, ha lived to the very eve of Lord Lake's occupation of the same imperial city. Himself a lover of order, he did what in him lay to take away the worst havoc of war and rapine, and the consequent demoralisation ; and to prepare the shattered fabric of society for restoration and reform. This interesting biography of one of the rulers of India has a map of India by way of appendix. Euclid : Book [1., for Beginners. By the Rev. J. B. Lock, M.A., Cambridge. Mucmillan and Co., London. In this Firsb Book of Euclid's Elements of Geometry, arranged for engineers, the Rev. Mr. Lock has attempted to produce an edition which shall be useful to teachers. He Jias separated the theorems from the problems. The examples have been made as easy as possible, and are intended to be worked. McMillan's History Readers.—This volume is a reading book for Standard IV., containing stories and biographies from English history, 1066-1485. It is judiciously arranged and broken up in paragraphs, which assist tho memory. Appended are spelling lists and summaries) and table of chief events with dates.

Chambers' Journal.—The number foi February is up to the usual high standard of this serial. It contains an article o: " The Ironclad Bushrangers : The Kelly Gang." "Dredging for Gold in Now Zealand" is a description of mining operations on the Molyneux River, Otago. " The Romance of the Telegraph" is a very interesting article, as is also one on " Earthquakes," by a late resident in Tokio, Japan. " A Hundred and Three Days on a Desert) Island" is the story of the adventures of the crew of the barque Compadre, Captain Jones, bound from Calcutta to Chili, who had a prolonged sojourn on the bleak and desolate islands to the south of New Zealand, known as the Auckland Islands. Altogether, with serials, poetry, science notes, etc., the number is a very readable one.

The English Illustrated Magazine. Macmillan and Co., London.The lirstj article is a sketch of Mr. Arthur Balfour (by Henry W. Lucy), a statesman who will yet excel the brilliant success of his Irish Secretaryship. Another is on Mrs. Humphrey Ward, the author of " Robert Elsmere," which in a few weeks put her name in tho mouths of the immeasurable English-read-ing public. There is an interesting article on " How Pianos are Made," by Joseph Habton, which gives a description of the piano manufactory of Messrs. John Brinsmead and Sons, with its three hundred busy workmen. Perhaps the most amusing contribution is, "A Girl of the Period," by Mrs. Oliphant. The other articles are very readable and instructive. Macmillan's Magazine. Macmillan and Company, London.Tho February number is up to the usual high level of this magazine. The contents are varied, interesting, and well written. F. Marion Crawford's serial tale, begun in the previous number, grows in interest, while an article by H. Clarence Bourne on " National Pensions is opportune and instructive.