Mr. Spencer was just 40 when he began work on his "System," and he calculated that he would be able to complete the undertaking by the time he was 60. But on account of his impaired health this length of time was not sufficient for the great work he had planned; indeed, he never wholly completed it. During the first year his uncle William died, leaving him considerable money, which was a great help to him. Mr. Spencer's account of the serious brain trouble from which he suffered and his attempts to devote three hours daily to his work, is really pathetic and shows his strong will and his determination to continue in spite of great pain. After two years he had completed "First Principles." He next took up “Principles of Biology." For a time during the years 1866-67 he was obliged. to give up much of his writing on account of home duties. His father died quite suddenly and the confirmed invalidism of his mother, together with the settlement of his father's affairs, made it necessary for him to spend much time at Derby. In the summer of 1867 his mother also died, and as he now had no near relatives Mr. Spencer gave up the house at Derby, and from that time London was his headquarters.

Another serious attack of nervous and mental trouble made it necessary in 1868 for him to rest and he started on a tour in Italy, which greatly benefited him. On his return he worked busily on "The Psychology," which he did not complete till October, 1872. At about this time he wrote a book not connected with his "System of Philosophy," entitled "The Study of Sociology." It was first published serially in the Contemporary Review in England, and the Popular Science Monthly in America, and was quite successful pecuniarily, the total sum received

for it being not far from £1,500. The next division of his great work was a treatise on Sociology, the first volume of which appeared in June, 1874. While he continued his work on the "Descriptive Sociology," he also wrote on the "Data of Ethics," which he finished in 1879. In the fall of this year Mr. Spencer decided rather suddenly to visit Egypt and the Nile. Writing from Cairo, he says: "The sunny weather is charming, but thus far I find my sleep much worse instead of betI hope it may be otherwise after a

ter.

while. The population here shocks me greatly. Very picturesque, but poor, ragged, dirty, diseased. I am eager to get away on to the Nile, hoping to see a less concentrated form of the misery of a long-decaying civilization.”

"The Descriptive Sociology" was not completed till 1881 and was a great financial loss, the deficit amounting to more. than £3,000. "Political Institutions" was begun in 1880 and published serially in England and America. This was completed in April, 1882. During 1881-82 Mr. Spencer very imprudently took an active part in a public anti-war movement and his exertions at this time "produced a mischief which in a gradually increasing degree undermined life and arrested work." Travel and rest relieved him, but brought no permanent benefit, and his health steadily failed till, after a few years, he became a confirmed invalid.

In August, 1882, he and his triend, Mr. Lott, sailed for America. Only a brief stop was made in New York, then they started for the Catskills, going by steamer up the Hudson, "which," he says, "scarcely reached my expectation, save about West Point, where it is picturesque." As he had frequently traveled on. the continent, and was in the habit of vis

iting Scotland annually, probably our noble Hudson seemed rather tame to him. A five days' quiet rest was very helpful, then they went on to Albany, Saratoga and Lake George. A trip through Canada, visiting Montreal, Thousand Islands, Toronto and on to Niagara Falls was greatly enjoyed. Later they traveled through the United States, stopping at Cleveland, Pittsburg, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and back to New York. His friend, Professor Youmans, wished to arrange a public dinner in his honor, and November 9th was the date fixed upon, and in the interval Mr. Spencer and Mr. Lott visited New England. Among other places of interest he visited Concord and Emerson's grave, and on their return to Boston they nearly missed their train and Mr. Spencer ran at full speed for quite a distance. The effort was too great for him and brought on a serious relapse, so that when the time for the dinner came he was feeling very ill and hardly knew how he could endure the excitement and fatigue; but he stood the ordeal without any serious consequence, and two days later sailed for home. He found that his trip had really injured his health, for he says, "I came back in a worse state than I went, having made another step downward toward invalidism." During the six or seven years that followed Mr. Spencer was often ill and able to do only a very little literary work, at times suffering serious relapses. At this time he was busy with the "Autobiography," but this work was necessarily slow and painful, but before his death he completed and revised it. It is eminently fitting that this book should be published by D. Appleton & Co., for it was through this firm and his warm friend Professor Youmans that Mr. Spencer was first introduced to the American public. They

continued to publish his works often at a loss, and though there was no international copyright law, they conscientiously paid him the full royalty. Since the Civil War there has been an increasing demand. for Mr. Spencer's books, so that now the sales have amounted to nearly threequarters of a million volumes.

"Men of the Covenant." By Alexander Smellie, M.A. Thirty-seven illustrations. Published by Fleming H. Revell Company, New York. 440 pp. $2.50.

This is a great book, historic and interesting, with many excellent biographical sketches of good and wicked men, written by one who is thoroughly acquainted with his subject. The story of the Scottish Church in the years of the persecution has been often told, but we think never presented with such genuine enthusiasm, nor in a more vigorous and comprehensive style, than by this author. The many fine portraits of the leading spirits of these years of struggle add much to the interest and attractivenes of the book.

"The Covenanters," says the author, "were the men and women who uttered the strongest convictions of their souls in two great documents of the seventeenth century, a heroic period in the history of Britain. One of these documents is the 'National Covenant of Scotland,' as it was recast and sworn in 1638. The other is the 'Solemn League and Covenant,' similar in aspiration, but wider in geographical scope, being designed to embrace England and Ireland as well as the smaller country north of the Cheviots and the Solway."

On February 28, 1638, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, no less than 60,000 persons had come from all parts of Scotland and were assembled in the churchyard of the

Greyfriars, Edinburgh, to listen to the reading of the "Solemn League and Covenant," framed by Archibald Johnson of Wariston, an advocate of the Edinburgh courts, and Alexander Henderson, foremost and most statesmanlike of the Presbyterian clergymen of the day. The charter consisted of three portions; the first was a reproduction of King's Confession of 1851; the second enumerated the various acts of the Scottish Parliament, which condemned Popery and confirmed the privileges of the Reformed Church; the third was a grave and emphatic protest against those alien modes of worship which had provoked the present troubles. Wariston was the author of the second portion, Henderson of the third. The Earl of Lindonn, famed for his eloquence, addressed the densely packed assembly. After him Alexander Henderson offered up fervent prayer. Then Archibald Johnston lifted the fair parchment "above an elve in squair," for it was upon a splendid ramskin that the Covenant had been inscribed. He read its contents clearly, so that all could hear. The Earl of Rothes called for objectors, but there were none; then in every corner of the church right hands were uplifted and the oath to keep the bond was sworn, and many cheeks were wet with weeping. The process of subscribing followed; inside the walls it went forward hour after hour. Some wrote after their autograph "until death," some did draw their own blood and used it in place of ink. When at length the ramskin was carried out of the churchyard evening had set in after the short spring day. But the people waiting there, excited and expectant, could not be satisfied until many of them too had appended their names. There are flat tombstones close beside the building on one or other

of which the parchment must have been spread. It was 8 o'clock ere the work was over and the crowds dispersed.

And this was simply the first step. Noblemen and gentlemen conveyed copies of the pregnant deed from district to district, from town to town, from village to village. The ministers explained and commended its sentences from well-nigh all the pulpits of the land. Virtually the whole of Scotland signed it, the two notable exceptions being the Episcopal capital of St. Andrews and the city of Aberdeen Aberdeen which the young Marquis of Montrose, soon to be protagonist for the King, vainly attempted to coerce into acquiescence. But the uprising was no product of compulsion and imperious. management. It was the unforced and resolute answer of the Scottish race to Canterbury and Whitehall.

The answer was one in which patriotism and religion were blended. It was the protest of an indomitable people against the curtailment of political right and freedom too dear to lose. It was the declaration, also, on the part of a church which loved intelligently its own simplicities of creed and worship that it could not tolerate the imposition of forms which it hated and from which, not so long before, it had by a mighty effort, emancipated itself. Scotland was heartily willing to acknowledge Charles, to fight his battles and to give him her unstinted allegiance, but he must not filch from her either her civic liberty or her spiritual birthright. If he touched these treasures he would find her humor 'thwarteous' indeed, and he was certain to confront a will yet more decided than his own." struggle which followed the signing of this Solemn League and Covenant lasted for twenty-eight years, and was

The

marked by bitter persecution, wholesale bloodshed and heroic martyrdom, but resulted in civil and religious freedom, not only for Scotland, but for the whole Protestant world. Sir David Lindsay of the Mount gives in a few words the aim and object of the Covenanters"Habitare fratus in unum

Is a blissful thing:

One God, One Faith, One Baptism pure, One Law, One Lamb, One King."

"The Imperialist." By Mrs. Everard Cotes. Illustrated. Copyright by D. Appleton & Co., New York. Published February, 1904. $1.50.

This new book by Mrs. Cotes (Sara Jeannette Duncan) is strictly modern and very unique in its style and plot. "The Imperialist" is a young Canadian lawyer who is intensely interested in bringing about "improved communications within the Empire," and was secretary for a deputation that waited on the British Government for that purpose. Certain phases of Canadian politics are quite thoroughly discussed. An important law suit in which the hero wins and an election in

which he finally loses are quite exciting. There are two love stories running through the book, and the experience of the lovers proves the old saying that "the course of true love never runs smooth." The author shows great skill in the description of scenes and in the analysis of conditions of society and life.

We give one or two quotations: "London's one great stomach-how many eating places have we passed in the last ten minutes? The place seems all taken up with inventing new ways of making rich people more comfortable and better amused. I'm fed up with the sight of shiny carriages, with cockaded flunkies on 'em, wooden-smart, rolling about with

an elderly woman and a parasol and a dog." "Politics in and about Jordanville were accepted as a purely masculine in

terest.

If you had asked Mrs. Crow to take a hand in them she would have thanked you with sarcasm and said she thought she had about enough to do as it was. The schoolhouse on the night of such a meeting as this was recognized to be no place for ladies. It was a man's affair, left to the men, and the appearance there of the other sex would have been greeted with remark and levity."

Readers of this book will get a good idea of the Canadians of Ontario, and will find that our neighbors over the border are not very different from ourselves.

"The Ancient Capital of Scotland: The

Story of Perth from the Invasion of
Agricola to the Passing of the Reform
Bill." Illustrated. By Samuel Cowan,
J.P., author "Mary Queen of Scots,"
and of the "Gowrie Conspiracy," etc.
In two volumes. New York: James
Pott & Co., 1904. Price, $7.50. All
rights reserved.

A review of this valuable book will appear in our June number, with reproductions of several fine illustrations of an

cient Perth and Scone. It is a book that should be in the home of every Scotch

man.

"The Vineyard." By John Oliver Hobbes. Ilustrated. D. Appleton & Co., New York, 1904.

"Strong Mac." By S. R. Crockett. Illustrated. Published by Dodd, Mead & Co., New York.

"The Rise and Progress of the Standard Oil Company." By Gilbert Holland Montague. Published by Harper & Bros., New York, 1904.

"Impressions in Rhyme." By Donald Robertson, New York.

During a brief visit in Boston last month, we availed ourselves of the opportunity of attending the meetings of some clans in the vicinity, and the cordial hospitality extended to us was heartily appreciated. Clan Chisholm, of Revere, with a membership of fifty sturdy Scotchmen, has done noble work during the past year. The success of this clan is due very largely to the tact and energy of its worthy chief, William Hamilton, who is also treasurer of the Grand Clan of Massachusetts. We had the pleasure of meeting Chief Hamilton at the convention of the Royal Clan in Cleveland last August, and we especially remember the wisdom and common sense shown in his speeches at that time, and he was easily recognized as one of the leading spirits of the convention. It was Mr. Hamilton, as some of the delegates have often recalled, who advocated that the Fiery Cross be published at the office of the Royal Clan in Boston, instead of in New Haven.

Clan Ramsay, of Roxbury, is fortunate to have among its members a number of prominent and influential men. The officers expressed to us their appreciation of the reports of the clan that have been given in THE CALEDONIAN, and many clansmen manifested their good-will by becoming subscribers. Past Grand Chief W. Ballantyne did all in his power to make our visit a pleasant one. Last year in his official capacity as chief of the Grand Clan of Massachusetts, he visited every clan in the State at great inconvenience, making it necessary for him to be away from his home for twenty nights.. By his interest and untiring energy he has infused new life into many of the clans, and has given prizes at his own expense to stimulate increase of

membership. He has a fine address and makes a good executive officer.

Clan Grant, of Lowell, although its membership is not so large, yet is doing effective work, and its influence is felt in the city. The sociability shown was very delightful.

Clan MacLeod, of Hyde Park, has among its members several talented singers and gifted speakers, and is steadily increasing in numbers, though the members are so scattered that the meetings are not very largely attended. It has on its roll about 140 active clansmen. At present they are busily preparing for a concert and lecture which is to be given this month.

Our visit to these clan meetings assured us that THE CALEDONIAN has many practical and substantial friends among the clansmen of Massachusetts.

Clan Ramsay, Roxbury, Mass.
Thy valiant deeds in days of yore
Inspires thy sons on foreign shores

To keep thy memory green.

The grand concert and ball held by Clan Ramsay, No. 145, O. S. C., on Thursday evening, April 14th, in ye goode old town of Roxburie, was the sixth of the series, and was conceded to be one of the grandest social events of the season. The ball was crowded with kilted men and finely gowned women.

Wilkinson's orchestra furnished the music for the occasion. The hall was prettily festooned with flags and bunting and decorated with potted palms and ferns. The concert was a grand success, every number on the program calling forth loud applause.

Promptly at 9.30 the grand march was