LITERARY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 17 April 1901, Page 67

LITERARY NOTES.

—Dr Hugh Macmillan has prepared foy the press an important work on the Highland part of the course of thp Taj-. It°js illustrated with over 50 pictures of the district by Mr Scott Rankin, a well kii<nvr> local artist. It will bo published by Messrs Virtue and Co. — The Athenojum makes this interesting announcement: — There i<? now no reasor» why the long expected "Life and Letters" of Lord Beaconsfield should be delayed. The work was practically brought to a conclusion by us author, Lord Bowton, some time sinew, and the materials, so far as they can be utilised, are complete. The publishers are the firm who issued Beaconsfiela's own writings. — Under the tide "First on the Antarctic Continent," Mr Borchgievink, the eommandev of the recent Antarctic expedition, has now completed the account of his \oyage in thp Southern Cross, and of the adventures and incidents in the land near the South lole. The volume will be published very shortly by George Newnes (Limited). Besides portraits and maps, it will comprise about 180 illustrations from photographs taken during the expedition. The expedition claims to have approximately located the South Magnetic Pole, and also to have reached faither south than man had been before. —Mr Mortimer Menpes's "War Impressions" wi'l b& ready shortly. It will be remarkable for its scries of illustrations in colour— 97 in number— depicting not only celebrities such as Earl Roberts, Sir -Ufred Milnei. Cofil J. Rhodes, and others whom tuo campaign m South Africa has brought - into piominenee, but also the aspect of the veldt and of Boer life and habitation. a 3 well as pictures of the details of cimp life which Mr Menpes witnessed during the progiess of the war. Besides the ordinary edition, there will be an edition do luxe on hand-made paper limited to 550 copies Messrs A. and C. Black are the publishers. — A *t.irt has been made with the Contury Edition of "Cassell's Illustrated History of England." This edition, which will be brought down to date, is being printed on superior paper, and will contain neariv two thoueand original illustrations. A special feature of the work will be a series of coloured plates, consisting of reproductions, executed in the best style of mod-rn colour printing, o f -paintings by leading artists, repiescntmg great events in the history of our country. The frontispiece is from ilr Emr 3t Ncrmand's design for ihe new cartoon in the Royal Exchange, and shows King John gi.mting Magna Charta. — The first editor of The Time*, appointed by John Walter the Second in 1810, was Dr (afterwards Sir John) Stoddait. Pie qu-u-rolled with Walter in 1817, and was succeeded by Thorn** Barnes. w"h o <,>, hi tho chair until his death in 1841. when r!m mo b famous of all Times editor^ reigned m his p f ead. John Thaddcrs Delane was then not; quite 24— the «ai.ie ago as Will am P-tt when he ro»(> to the Piemiership. Ho was followed in October 1877, by Thomao Chenerv. who, dying in Fehruaiy, 1884, wa» -.ucccpdeci hv the rresent editor. Mr George Er.rle Buckle. Thus only =ix persons ha\e had the direction of The Tnne=s during moie than 112 years. — Wc-inunster Gazette. — Thirty two distinct works aio credited to tli© name of tlie Bishop of London in the catalogs of the British Mu-eum. They lange in date from 1P75 to 1900, and thu*3 aveiage a little ipoio than one a year. But. of course, «uch a numerical te&t'n no r-al tct of the extent of his wor>. The "Hi-t ,vy of the Papacy" rlore might well rcprcom, the =.tiuly of p lifetime, while the work ll.e late _ Bishop did when he \va= editor of the English Historical Llewcw id not in hu'tcl in tins list H,^ earliest work wa-. Lk> that of Dr Johnson, a translation. Hp lvi.-'. tod on "Rinke'v Hivtoiy of Englancl" :n 1C75. His blest catalogued publication i^ his charge deiiveicd on February 21, 1900 His work'? include four topogiajjhical work- one bi.icranliy. one \olume of geography, eijrhfc relume-? of uninity. and the lrmaincW ma woiks on sp cu l ar anc ] ecclesiastical history.

— A writer in the Field instances a case — No other sovereign in the world has so 6P longevity in a dove which is now nearly many physicians as the Czar. They number 20 years old, though it does not show at the 27, and are all selected from among the present time any signs whatever of its great medical celebrities of Russia. There is first age. It is a cock bird, and from its birth a physician in chief; "then come 10 honoihas been fed with rough rice and a little vary physicians, three surgeons, and four hemp seed, no green food having been given honorary surgeons ; two oculists, a chiropoto it. Its sight appears to be perfect. The dist and honorary chiropodist; two court bird was bred in England, the parents hav- ' physicians, and three specialises for the ing been brought from India. Caaswgi