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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
cially the mode and cost of travelling, the rate of wages, &c., in the middle 
of the last century, but for these we must refer the reader to the original 
work. 
The remainder of this volume is occupied by a “ Garden Kalendar,” kept 
by White at Selborne, a description of a fire-escape invented about 1788 by 
a Mr. Dufour, and tried against the front of Benjamin White’s house in 
Fleet Street, and some supplementary matter. The latter includes lists of 
the most noteworthy animals and plants observed in Selborne and the neigh- 
bourhood, compiled, with assistance, by the editor ; a very short note on the 
geology of Selborne by Mr. William Curtis ; and an appendix by Lord Sel- 
borne, on the Roman-British Antiquities of the parish, the last relating 
chiefly to a find of nearly 30,000 coins of various emperors, from Gordian 
the younger to Allectus (a.d. 238-296), found here in 1873. From this 
and other evidence Lord Selborne believes that in the basin of Woolmer 
Forest we have the scene of the final overthrow of the British Army under 
Allectus. 
The illustrations, which are not numerous, consist chiefly of steel plates of 
houses and views about Selborne, rendered interesting by being referred 
to by White. The appendix on the antiquities of Selborne is also illustrated 
with a coloured plate showing some curious mediaeval (thirteenth century) 
tiles found in Selborne Church during its restoration. 
We cannot conclude this notice, already, perhaps, rather too long, without 
congratulating Mr. Bell on the completion of what we know has been to 
him a labour of love, but, nevertheless, a labour, the last stages of which, at 
all events, must have been irksome enough to one who has long since passed 
the Psalmist’s allotted period of human life. That he has done his work 
well, and with a true appreciation of the merits of his author, we have- 
already endeavoured to show, and we can only hope that he may have good 
evidence that the reading public are interested in the result. 
THE POLARIS ARCTIC EXPEDITION.* 
T HE expedition of the U.S. ship Polaris, which left Washington on the 
20th June, 1871, and of which this handsome volume gives the history, 
was as successful in its early career as it proved to be unfortunate in its ter- 
mination. Its Commander, Capt. C. F. Hall, was in every way fitted to 
undertake the charge of the expedition, having had great experience in 
Arctic travelling, and having, moreover, spent nearly eight years amongst 
the Esquimaux. Living with them in their houses, and following their 
mode of life, he had gained a knowledge of their language, and an insight 
into their customs, which could not but have proved of the greatest service 
to him in the arduous task he had set himself of planting on the Northern 
Pole of our hemisphere the stars and stripes of the United States. To his 
representations to the Government, and to enthusiastic lectures in many 
parts of the States, was due the appropriation of 60,000 dollars, granted 
• “Narrative of the North Polar Expedition. U.S. Ship Polaris, Cap- 
tain Charles Francis Hall, Commanding.” Edited by Rear-Admiral 0. H. 
Davis, U.S.N. 4to. Washington. 1876. 
