Nature and Art, July 1, 18(56.] 
REVIEWS. 
57 
Ti-Ping Tien-Kwoh ; The History of the Ti-Ping Revo- 
lution. By “ Lin-Le.” (Day & Son, Limited.) 
It is not our intention to endorse the opinions expressed 
by Mr. “ Lin-Le ” in his introduction to the above work, or 
enter on the subject of British policy in China, but we shall 
confine ourselves simply to the subject-matter it contains, as 
bearing on the “ Celestial Empire,” its inhabitants, and pro- ( 
duetions. We seldom meet with a mass of valuable and in- 
teresting information, coupled with so much stirring ad- 
venture and amusing traits of character, as in the work before 
us. Some of the river and marsh tracks described would 
prove hunting-grounds of irresistible attraction to the orni- 
thologist, who would find an inexhaustible mine of wealth 
amongst the countless thousands of waterfowl and shorq 
birds. Many of the battle-scenes and skirmishes between 
the rebels and Imperialists are most graphically described, 
and admirably portrayed in the accompanying illustrations. 
A fight on the Yang-tze river, as described by the author, 
so happily combines the picturesque with the warlike, 
that we give it in his own words : — 
“ Their plan of battle was well formed, and very pic 
turesque in appearance ; successive squadrons of gunboats 
would sail down and engage the fort, delivering their fire ; 
and then, filling away before a fair wind, returning to their 
position up the river. These vessels were assisted by others 
co-operating from below the Ti-Ping lines ; all being pro- 
fusely decorated with gaudy flags, and propelled by nume- 
rous oars on either side. 
“ The whole scene of battle formed a never-to-be-forgotten 
spectacle. The gallant appearance of the innumerable gun- 
boats tacking down stream, and opening fire, one after the 
other, in regular order ; some crossing in every direction, 
and others running back dead before the wind, with their 
broad and prettily-cut lateen sails stretching out on either 
side, like a pair of snowy wings ; the incessant roar of the 
cannonade, the flash of the guns, the curling smoke, at 
first dense and impenetrable, and then dissolving into thin 
wreaths, gracefully circling round the rigging and the white 
sails ; the steady reply from the flag-covered forts, now 
enveloped in clouds of sulphurous vapour, anon standing 
forth clear and sharply defined against the dark back-ground 
formed by the waving bamboo ; the peaceful current of the 
noble Yang-tze river — here narrowed to a point less than 
1,800 yards across, though stretching far and wide imme- 
diately beyond on either side ; the grim embattled walls 
of Nankin, towering over the plain a few miles distant ; 
mountains of fantastic shape on every side, some near im- 
pending and majestic, others cloud-capped and dimly visible 
in the distance : the cheer and cry of battle mingling with 
the echo of artillery — all combined produced an effect truly 
grand and imposing.” 
Mr. “ Lin-Le ” appears to have enjoyed unusual oppor- 
tunities for drawing, not only war-pictures, but for depicting 
scenes of every-day life in China ; and that these opportu- 
nities have not been neglected, the work before us furnishes 
ample testimony. 
Our Social Bees. Second Series. By Andrew Wynter, 
M.D. (London : Hardwicke.) 
Under this rather curious title, which may be taken to 
suggest that bees are usually unsocial, Dr. Wynter 
has republished a number of very readable papers, which 
he has, from time to time, contributed to magazine litera- 
ture, and which relate to all manner of subjects, from 
“London Omnibuses” to “Lifeboats,” from “Water 
Supply” to “Eire Insurances,” from “ Trichiniasis ” to 
the “ Thames Embankment.” His first volume having 
been successful, he now issues the one before us, with, as 
far as we can judge, excellent prospect of its equally 
obtaining public approval. Although containing reprints 
only, the books will be new to many who take them up. 
It is not to be supposed that one can read every number 
of the numerous periodicals which the teeming British pen 
sends forth regularly every week ; consequently, it must 
happen that many excellent articles would escape the 
notice of the public due to their merit, if they were not 
gathered together in such form as this, and republished. 
Many of Dr. Wynter’s papers, in this volume, are highly 
interesting. They are put forth, not as exhaustive scien- 
tific treatises, but as chatty,j general observations. They 
enter sufficiently into particulars to induce a desire for 
further inquiry, and this, at all events, must be esteemed 
as a healthy and worthy result. If we were disposed to 
carp at so genial a book, we might find fault with some of 
the names of the articles as being mystifying and far- 
fetched ; but it has become a fashion — originated, we believe, 
by Mr. Dickens — to give these curious titles, which lead 
the unitiated astray, and to set up, as it were, any bush 
rather than the one which would notify the character of 
the entertainment provided. “ ’Tis affectations,” as Sir 
Hugh Rose says. Who would guess that “ Hedging against 
Fate ” was intended to prepare the reader for an article on 
Insurance Companies; that “Buried History” headed a 
paper on “ Uriconium,” &c. ; that “Human Wasters” 
meant idiots; and that “Distinguished Settlers from 
Abroad ” referred to the collection in the Zoological 
Gardens ? — who, but some clever student of Dickensian 
enigmas ? We suppose, however, that conundrum -like 
titles, which may mean anything, do provoke curiosity ; and 
thus, perchance, lead idle and careless persons into the 
way of acquiring information. Dr. Wynter is an agreeable 
writer of the light and airy school of essayists. He pre- 
tends not to profundity, but discourses in easy conversa- 
tional style, requiring no labour of thought on the part of 
the reader. He tells us of a great deal which everybody 
knows well enough ; and he, perhaps, thinks it advisable 
to disguise plain and accepted facts in new dresses, so as 
to give them an air of novelty. Who can quarrel with 
such an endeavour ? Who would despise the chef de 
cuisine's assistance by means of which the monotonous 
mutton-chop is occasionally dished up d la maitra d,’ hotel? 
Certainly not this variety-loving generation, which will, no 
doubt, amply reward, by its patronage, such labours as 
those which Dr. Wynter so satisfactorily performs for them. 
Hardwicke’s Crown Peerage, for 1866, by E. 
Walfoi'd, M.A., is a handsomely bound little volume, con- 
taining information, not only respecting the House of 
Lords, and the Scotch and Irish Peers, but the Baronetage 
and Knightage also. The title, “ crown,” given, we sup- 
pose to distinguish it from other publications of the same 
kind, represents its price. It is the cheapest and most com- 
pact book of the sort we have seen, and is, perhaps, as free 
from error as any work, containing such numerous par- 
ticulars of hundreds of persons, can well be. 
Fishing Gossip ; or, Stray Leaves from the Note- 
Books oe several Anglers. Edited by H. Cholmon- 
deley Pennell. (Edinburgh : Charles & Adam Black.) 
This entertaining volume contains not only a great deal 
of very amusing “ Fishing- Gossip,” but much that is 
highly interesting to the general observer of nature. The 
gentlemen from whose note-books these varied and graphic 
pen-and-pencil sketches have been gleaned are nearly all 
well-known “angler-naturalists.” They have not contented 
themselves with a mere glance at the wonderful and deeply- 
interesting objects gathered and brought to light from the 
sea’s depths, the river’s bed, or amongst the green water- 
plants and tufted reeds ; but have carefully investigated 
them, noted well their form and structure, and garnered up 
curious and agreeable fish-lore, for the benefit of all who 
love the gentle art. We, therefore, cordially recommend 
the book before us as being a highly-amusing and desirable 
drawing-room or seaside companion. 
The Legend op the Mount ; or , the Days of Chivalry. 
By Alfred Ehves. (Effingham Wilson.) 
The author — or, as he modestly terms himself, the 
adapter of “ Jaufry the Knight,” a prose talc of the times 
