the turmoil of modern life. With us Ariel comes too rarely and Caliban criticizes our books. You have written, sir, upon Homer. Alas! in our life there is nothing that is Homeric except the uncouth Thersites. Sir, we look upon you as one who has realized the ideal and as one who has devoted himself to literature. When I was at Oxford I was always consoled for the extraordinary and, as it seemed to me at the time, the deliberate dullness of my tutor, by the fact that one could loiter in the grey cloisters at morning listening to the voices singing, and lie in the garden on the grass and see the sunlight reflected on the towers and gilded panes, or wander up the staircase of Christ Church beneath its vaulted ceilings, and stroll across the College of St. John's and see the house that Laud built for his pleasure. You, sir, have surroundings no less lovely and beautiful; and those are the surroundings that a man of letters should have. Nor is it a question of surroundings merely. The great eras in English literature have been those when the Universities have been in immediate touch with the literature of the times; one imperishable thing we have in our literature-the work of Milton, which shows what I mean.

I remember, sir, having the pleasure some years ago of reading a book of yours upon the Attic orators, a book, I need hardly say, distinguished by the highest scholarship; and in those days it seemed that the literary man was also able to make a speech. I am inclined to think that now that is the one thing we should never do. But as I have touched upon the definite work that you have done, not merely for your own University, but for all of us, allow me to remind the company present of other things you have done also. That great scholar, Richard Bentley, seems to me to have left the mantle of his critical insight to that scholar who now holds the position of Regius Professor of Greek in the University of Cambridge, and who has written a monograph on his great predecessor that is a little masterpiece of style and method. It is said sometimes of those scholars who deal critically with minute work that they deal merely with words. Sometimes I think that words are the only reality, and I wish that the English critics whom we have now working amongst us would expend upon the linguistic criticism of the English language one-twentieth part of the care and trouble that a scholar of Oxford or Cambridge gives to the language of the Greek or the Roman. What is the mission of criticism but to preserve language pure and uncorrupted, to test every new intruder, to keep the old words from getting old-fashioned, and to always keep before the eyes of the writer that language is precious material. Our ordinary books have passed

into uncouth realism or into what is not literature at all, and when one remembers what the Universities do for us in keeping alive the Greek and Latin languages and Greek and Latin modes of thought, and then takes up some ordinary and possibly evening newspaper, one is tempted to think that the only dead language is the English language. (Laughter.) And finally, sir, you will allow me to remind the audience of authors who are present here to-night that your work is not merely confined to perfect scholarship, to the delicate traditions of the most perfect literature of the world, but that by your quick insight into modern culture you have been the link between the life of our own time and the life of the Greek; and that you yourself have also contributed to modern literature a work that no one would ever dream of parting with-that beautiful translation of Sophocles that enables us to hear the imaginative voice of music that once stirred the people of Athens. There is an Italian proverb "tradittori traduttori." I think the translation of the work of the creator of Edipus Tyrannos shows, so far as we are concerned, that our withers are unwrung. There have been beautiful translations in verse of Greek and Latin things and one, a gentle and most courteous man of letters, Lord Carnarvon, whose death we all deplore, did recently into verse a translation of the "Odyssey," but your translation, sir, is a classic. And so, sir, let me felicitate you in that you have chosen the better part: let me felicitate the University that has had so distinguished a son: let me felicitate the Society of Authors in that we have as our Chairman one who is not only a perfect scholar but also a brilliant man of letters.

Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to drink to the Chairman of the evening. (Loud cheers.)

The Chairman: Let me ask permission to thank you most sincerely for the kind words you have spoken, words which I felt to be most deeply sympathetic, and to thank this distinguished company for the very kind manner in which those words have been received.

Allow me simply to say from my heart that it has been felt by me as the greatest possible honour and pleasure to be here this evening. I thank you.

A New Translation. By W. F. SMITH, M.A., Fellow and Lecturer of Saint John's College, Cambridge. Issued to Subscribers in a limited Edition of 750 copies, all numbered, of which 500 copies are for this country and 250 for America. In two handsome 8vo vols. Price 25s. the set.

RABELAIS.

The aim of the above translation has been to render more accessible, to explain and illustrate a book which has exercised a wide influence on the French language as well as on European literature. A system of marginal reference has been introduced. Great attention has been paid to the historical aspect of the book, and points bearing on the political and religious affairs of the times have been carefully noticed. As the work must be presented as a whole, and as certain passages and parts can no longer be presented in English, these have been left in the original old French, where they can be read by such as desire it. The work will be accompanied by a life of Rabelais, a notice of the translators, Urquhart, and Motteux, a map of the environs of Chinon, the part of France where Rabelais was brought up, notes on the language and style, and on other points. It will be, in fact, an entirely new and complete presentation of the great French master. Prospectus giving full details and all information to be had on application from the Publisher.

A BOOK NECESSARY TO EVERY AUTHOR. SLANG AND ITS ANALOGUES Past and Present. By JOHN S. FARMER, Author of "Americanisms-Old and New," &c. A new and absolutely unique Slang Dictionary. In three volumes, foolscap 4to, printed antique style, on thick paper, large margin, to the number of 500 copies for England and 250 for America, each copy being numbered and signed, to Subscribers only as follows: The Set (3 vols.) £5 5s. net. In half-calf, parchment sides. The price will be raised on completion as in the case of "Americanisms-Old and New." A Dictionary, Historical and Comparative (on the lines of Dr. Murray's New English Dictionary) of the Heterodox Speech of all Classes of Society for more than 300 years, the whole presenting a Curious Picture of Social Life and Manners of the English People.

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first volume extending to over four hundred double columned pages.
His book commends itself warmly to our readers, and its progress cannot be
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Prospectus and all information to be had from the Publisher.

AMERICANISMS: OLD AND NEW. By JOHN S. FARMER. In 1 vol. Foolscap 4to, printed in antique style, and bound in vellum. £2 25.

A book for the library, desk, or general reading; for journalists, Members of Parliament, public speakers, and all professional men. It is a dictionary of words, phrases, and colloquialisms peculiar to the United States, British America, the West Indies, &c., &c., together with their derivation, meaning, and application.

"Certainly the best and completest dictionary of Americanisms at present existing."-Athenæum.

THREE NEW BOOKS ON THE HOLY LAND.

PALESTINE

UNDER THE MOSLEMS. By GUY LE STRANGE. With Map, and numerous Plans and Drawings specially executed for this work. Handsome post 8vo, pp. 604. Cloth extra, 12s. 6d.

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Third Edition, now ready.

THE BIBLE AND MODERN DISCOVERIES. By HENRY A. HARPER. With an Introduction by Walter Besant. Coloured Map and numerous Illustrations, demy 8vo, 165,

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enables

the reader so to revise his impressions of Scripture typography as in many cases to throw quite a flood of new light upon a hitherto obscure narrative. -Manchester Examiner.

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THE SURVEY OF WESTERN PALESTINE.

It will

Only 17 sets of this magnificent work now remain. never be reprinted, with the exception of the two volumes "Flora and Fauna" and "Jerusalem." The price of the set is 25 guineas. It consists of the following in seven uniform and handsomely bound volumes. 4to.

THE MEMOIRS. Being the Notes taken in the Field by Major Conder, D.C.L., R.E., and Colonel Kitchener, C.M.G., A.D.C.R.E., re-written and arranged after their return. With thousands of illustrations of tombs, ruins, &c., drawn expressly for these volumes, aud not to be found anywhere else. 3 vols. THE NAME LISTS. Transliterated from the Arabic with translation by Major Conder, R. E., and edited by Professor E. H. Palmer. I vol.

THE VOLUME OF SPECIAL PAPERS. Consisting mostly of reprints of important papers from the "Quarterly Statement," by Col. Sir Charles Wilson, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., F.R.S., D.C.L., LL.D., R.E.; Col. Sir Charles Warren, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., F.R.S., R.E.: Major Conder, D.C.L., R.E.; M. ClermontGanneau, Mr. Greville Chester, &c. I vol.

THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF PALESTINE. With many Illustrations (hand-painted). By Canon Tristram, LL.D., F.R.S. I vol.

THE JERUSALEM VOLUME. With a Portfolio of 50 Plates. By Col. Sir Charles Warren, G.C.M.G., and Major Conder, D.C.L., R.E. I vol.

THE MAPS.

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