Literary Gossip.

the pens of such reputable writers as Miss Helen Mathers , Miss Rosa Mackenzie Kettle , Cuthbert Bede , the Rev . Henry Solly , Alexander Anderson , and others of equal standing in the world of letters . Surely the stenographers , whose name is now legion , ought to be proud of having a monthly magazine conducted with such spirit all for themselves . Leisurea little London quarterlyto which we have previously had

occa-, , sion to direct favourable attention , shews no deterioration in the current issue . Its poetry is , as usual , remarkably good ; and there are several short stories and entertaining articles of a fairly meritorious description . Mr . Packer ' s tale , entitled " Nemesis , " is well worthy of a word of special praise ; as is also Euford Stanley ' s description of " A Day at Winchester . " Though , principally , the product of amateur authors , the contents of Leisure compare

very favourably with those of many a more pretentious magazine . Leisure is published at the St . Pancras Printing Works , King ' s Cross . " Old Nottinghamshire , " which we announced as " in preparation " some months ago , is now in the hands of the subscribers , and a very acceptable addition to antiquarian literature it is . The volume is nicely printed on toned paper , and attractivel y bound . . The letterpress consists of a large quantity of

valuable notes on local , historical , and kindred themes , from the pens of many of the most competent authorities on Midland archaeology . Mr . John Potter Briscoe , F . R . H . S ., the Nottingham Public Librarian , whose acquaintance with the literature of his adopted county is probably unsurpassed , has ably edited the work , and himself contributes several erudite articles to its pages . What Mr . Briscoe has done . for Nottinghamshire , Mr . William Smith ,

F . S . A ., the historian of Morley , has in " Old Yorkshire " ( which just reaches us from Messrs . Longmans and Co . ) accomplished with equal success for the more northerly county . The latter book comprises 300 pages of valuable information anent the antiquarian associations of the shire of York , interspersed with humurous illustrations and rendered accessible by a cleverly compiled and very comprehensive set of indices . We are glad to note from the preface that it is proposed that other volumes of a like description shall follow this the initial venture . We heartily wish the project every success .

Mr . Alfred Wallace , a well-known provincial pressman , and a recognized authority with regard to Derbyshire lore , recentl y read before the Archseological and Natural History Society of the county a lengthy and learned paper on the earl y history of the Derbyshire press , which has now , we note , been reprinted from the society ' s journal and issued in separate form . Mr . Wallace is widely known for his erudition and enthusiasm in matters bibliographical , and his booklet will find a welcome from all who can appreciate really good work of this character .

Admirers of the sparkling snatches of song which have from time to time proceeded from the pen of Edward Capern , the gifted Devonshire " Postmanpoet , " will be gratified with the announcement that he is about to give to the world a new volume of verse with the euphonious title of " Sungleams and Shadows . "

In the well-conducted columns of the Bradford Times a series of capital papers on " Great Frosts , " from Mr . Andrews ' s prolific pen , has just been concluded . The writer has brought together an immense amount of entertaining information , the result of long continued and industrious research . His treatment of the subject may fairly be considered an exhaustive one , and we should like to see the articles republished in a more permanent and easil y available form . The Bradford Times is a very irited containing

sp newspaper , at the present time quite an array of " specials , " amongst which may be mentioned serial stories from the pens of B . L . Farjeon , Harrison Ainsworth , and the Honourable Lewis Wingfield , besides some well informed and pleasantly written historical sketches entitled " Yorkshire in the Days of Yore , " by our friend Mr . Henry Calvert Appleby .