GILBERT WHITE'S " SELBORNE" 
209 
a place more than half a century later in Professor Bell’s edition. 
Issued afresh in 1829 in Constable’s Miscellany, this edition bore 
traces of Sir William Jardine’s handiwork, although it was not 
till 1853 that Jardine lent himself seriously to the annotation of 
the work. In the meantime it had been annotated by Professor 
Rennie and the Rev. W. II. Herbert, by Jenyns, Jesse, by Blyth 
and Mudie, all of whom added largely to the work by their own 
numerous and lengthy remarks, many of which were, as it seems 
to me, quite unnecessary. Captain Thomas Brown added 
voluminous notes, his edition being reissued at least ten times 
by successive publishers. The carefully edited editions of Ben- 
nett, Harting, Ward, and Bell are among the best known of 
recent issues, that by the Re.v. J. G. Wood having an enormous 
sale. Frank Buckland’s edition has been republished over and 
over again, and seems now to be the one most in demand, 
although cheap reissues of Jardine’s are frequently announced. 
Jefferies’ introduction to an edition in Scott’s Camelot Series 
should be noted as being of considerable interest and value. 
Burroughe’s beautiful edition is fresh in the public mind, and 
now we have almost an edition de luxe from the hands of the late 
Grant Allen. Personally, I am glad to welcome an edition from 
his hands. The roll of editors would have been incomplete with- 
out him. Only such footnotes as are absolutely necessary here 
find a place : in fact, so far as can be seen at present, those 
which have appeared might with advantage have been amplified. 
They are essentially “ business-like ” notes, and I look forward 
to the publication of the editor’s critical and biographical intro- 
duction to see in the edition the stamp of his own individuality. 
The work is clearly printed in large readable type, and it is very 
fully illustrated by Edmund H. New'. The illustrations are in a 
quaint style, and consequently somew'hat lacking in the beauty 
of completeness. Many will admire their quaintness, but to me 
it must be confessed that there is a great want of freedom in the 
drawing : the houses and churches are too stiff and hard, and 
fail to suggest the w'eathering of years of rain and storm upon 
their exposed outlines. “The Wakes” is illustrated from all points 
of view, as well as any object or place, in any way connected with 
White’s life or work. The very incorrect folding view of Sel- 
borne which appeared in the original edition, and was reproduced 
by Jardine, appears on pp. 160-161, and for Mr. New’s credit 
should have been mentioned as copied from the old engraving. 
The picture of the Zigzag is too quaint to be correct. As “ The 
Wakes” differs in appearance in the various illustrations, I 
should have wished that the date which each represents had 
been inserted. That on page 43 show it as it originally stood. 
In the illustration entitled, “ A Corner of White’s House,” the 
commencement of the tiled path is seen which formerly led to 
the summer-house in the garden. We look forward with 
pleasure to the completion of Grant Allen’s edition of the work, 
expressing a hope at the same time that the Antiquities will not 
be omitted. Edward A. Martin. 
