Literary And Antiquarian Gossip.

lication of a series of volumes on " Foreign Countries , " each distinct in itself , and which will form a valuable compendium of the newest facts . "Greece" and the " West Indies " are the subjects of the first two volumes just issued , and from the character of these the series gives promise of being a very useful one .

Mr . Councillor Fewster , a well-known numismatist of Hull , is about to publish , for private circulation , a work on the coins and tokens of the town . The collection of antiquarian information is being made a prominent feature by many of the most influential provincial papers . That department of the Nmcastle Chronicle has contributors in all parts of our island . The Manchester City Nmcs contains select and very valuable notes of a like character

appertaining to Lancashire ; and in the same county we have the well-stored " scrap-book " of the Leigh Chronicle , and the interesting " Notes and Queries " column of the Oldham Chronicle . The archceological ana of the Welsh border is collected under the heading of " Byegones " in the Oswestry Advertiser and in the " Shropshire and North Wales Notes and Gleanings " of the widelycirculated Shreicsbury Chronicle . Mr . Thomas B . Trowsdale conducts " Local

Notes and Queries " columns in the Lincoln Gazette , the Gloucester Journal , and the Wolverhampton Chronicle . Mr . J . P . Briscoe , F . R . H . S ., ably presides over a similar feature of the Nottingham Guardian , and the Rev . B . H . Blacker edits the "Gloucestershire Notes and Queries" published in the Stroud Journal . The Leeds Mercury and the Bedfordshire Times and Independent , besides several other county journals which we might mention , have also antiquarian corners . This is a definite and encouraging indication of the increasing interest which is evinced by the masses in the perusal of old-world lore .

Chambers Journal , one of the oldest and best of our famil y monthlies , continues its hold upon popular favour . The frequent articles on social subjects , signed "W . C , " are always eminently readable , and the rest of the contents are well up to the mark . A paper on " Rocking Stones" in the August issue of this journal we would specially commend for the large amount of interestinginformation it contains .

We notice that the King of Spain has signed a convention of copyright with France . From what English authors say of French publishers , it is very doubtful if this will result in much profit to Spanish literature , and , on the other hand , it is scarcely to be supposed that French authors will grow unbecomingly obese in consequence of it . Still , it shows that the march of civilization is something more than a phrase . What a pity this particular species of civilization cannot march westward as well as eastward and southward !

Upwards of a dozen separate volumes of the author ' s edition of Miss Rosa M . Kettle ' s works have been published , and we are glad to see that Messrs . Ward and Lock are bringing out a people ' s edition in the regulation yellow boards . This course will undoubtedly help to extend the popularity of this elegant writer ' s charming books .

We have received from Mr . William Isbister ( Limited ) , 26 , Ludgate Hill , London , a " Handbook of the New Code of Regulations , 1880 , and other Official Instructions , Orders , and Circulars of the Education Department , " carefully compiled by Mr . John F . Moss , the able clerk of the Sheffield School Board . It is intended for the use of school board managers and teachers , by whom we feel sure it will be received as a boon , on account of the clearness with which it elucidates obscure points of the government regulations . Copious notes and

an excellent index greatly enhance the value of the work . The book is prejiared from a larger one on the practical administration of the " Education Acts , 1870-80 , and Incorporated Statutes , " which was compiled b y Mr . Moss , in conjunction with Mr . E . M . Hance , LL . B ., clerk of the Liverpool School Board .