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WATTS'S LITERARY GRIDE: BEIN G A M O N TH LY RECORD OF L IB ERAL A N D A D V AN CED PUBLICATIONS.

No. 105 ]

AUGUST 15, 1S94.

[Price One Penny.

iVAUUPUBLICATIONS.

T he forthcoming issue of “ The Agnostic Annual,” to be published early in October, will have as its principal attraction a symposium on the subject, “ Why Live a Moral Life ?—The Answer of Rationalism.” Among those who will contribute to the symposium will be Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace, Mr. Moncure D. Conway, Mr. J . A. Picton, M.P., Professor Max Müller, the author of “ Supernatural Religion,” and Mr. Edward Clodd. Mr. Samuel Laing will examine, in a lengthy paper, “ The Gospel of P e t e r G e n e r a l Forlong will furnish an account of “ Banäras : its Faiths and Shrines Dr. Bithcll will explain “ The Relation of Agnosticism to Constructive Freethought;” Miss Constance Plumptre will expound the teachings of “ The Higher Secularism Mr. Charles Watts will set forth “ What Agnostics would Destroy;” Mr. Amos Waters will deal with “ Agnosticism and its Equivalents ;” and there will also be papers by Mr. Thomas Whittaker, B.A., Mr. W. Stewart Ross, and others.

Canon Driver has issued, in separate form, an Appendix ( is ) to the fifth edition of his “ Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament.”

Messrs. Methuen have undertaken the publication of a new edition of Gibbon’s “ Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” The book will be edited by Mr. J . B. Bury, Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, who will provide introductions, notes, and appendices such as may be necessary to bring Gibbon’s work up to the standard of recent research.

A t the age of seventy-six years, and just after a long illness, Mr. George Jacob Holyoake is helping to bring out a new penny monthly, Labour Copartnership, the first number of which was published on August ist. The journal is to be devoted to the principle of “ copartnership,” which claims to end the conflict of capital and labour by giving to the worker a share of profit as dividend or bonus on his wages.

Mr. W. Stewart R oss (Saladin) has in the press a new work, to be called “ The Bottomless Pit.” It may be expected early in October.

DR. Ginsburg, of the British Museum, is about to publish a book of considerable importance. It will introduce some interesting new theories as to the Biblical text, and it may add to our knowledge concerning the history of the Hebrew Scriptures. It will be contended that certain differences in the text of the New Testament arc due to the fact that some lines began with the same word or ended with the same word, and thus led the copyist to skip a line now and then. Dr. Ginsburg has applied the principle to the Old Testament, and with singular results. He took the Septuagint version as his basis. He translated it into English, and then he re-translated it into Hebrew. He says that the results are most remarkable, and that his new book will explain many of the most peculiar discrepancies in the versions.

0 U R L I B R A R Y S H E L V E S .

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“ W it h the fading of old prejudices, and with better kn ow ledge, his name will be regarded with increased liking and respect.” This is what Sir Edward Hamley says o f the once hated

“ VOLTAIRE ”

(Blackwood ; in the series “ Foreign Classics for English Readers,” 18 7 7 ; reprinted 18 8 3 ; 204 pp.; 2s. 6d.). Solid and straightforward is Sir Edward’s manner of writing. Never is there any straining after effect, as in so many English books dealing with French subjects. Always the interest is sustained. Clearness and method rule the biography. The three main divisions are Voltaire’s youth, his middle age, and his old age. When Voltaire (François Arouet) was born in 1694, France was priest-ridden ; and from the priest he helped to save France and the world. He left college at seventeen with a high reputation. To ladies he was naturally affable, though one acid-tongued woman sneered at his thin figure and called him a “ wicked mummy.” All the great incidents of Voltaire’s life are interwoven with quotations from, and criticisms of, his chief works, no special chapters being devoted to general reflections on the philosopher’s genius and influence. So that, apart from the agreeableness of the writing, Sir Edward’s book is valuable as a repertory of facts. Pleasantly impartial is the account of Voltaire’s relations with Frederick of Prussia. After the celebrated rupture, says Sir Edward, “ it is to the credit of both these illustrious men that in a few years they renewed an amicable correspondence, and maintained it, with mutual courtesies and good offices, till Voltaire’s death, when Frederick had a solemn service performed for him in the Catholic Cathedral of Berlin.” It may not be superfluous to note that when Voltaire wrote, “ I want you to crush the Infamous—that is the great point,” he was alluding to the corrupt Papist Church and clergy.

Not quite so well arranged as Sir Edward Hamley’s biography, but still excellent in its way, and brisk and readable, is the

“ LIFE OF VOLTAIRE ”

by Francis Espinasse (Walter Scott ; “ Great Writers ” series; 18 9 2 ; 240 pp.; is. 6d.), and it has the advantages of an index and a lengthy bibliography. An attractive chapter is that which recounts Voltaire’s exertions on behalf of the unfortunate Calas family. Young Marc Antoine Calas hung himself, and the father, a Huguenot, was accused of murder, and broken on the wheel. Voltaire