the last coming not only from the Peace become the law for that people; and though Society, but from eminent writers who hold neither the thinkers nor the workers in Positivist views-Mr. G. H. Lewes, Mr. France are as yet unanimous in detestation Frederick Harrison, Mr. Congreve, Dr. of war, the current of opinions flows in that Bridges, Professor Beesley, and others. A direction. The truest French Liberals believe still more important feature in the move- that the "solidarity of peoples" was one of ment is the manifestation of a solidarité be- the most vital principles developed by the tween the working classes of the western Great Revolution. Only those who, like part of the European continent. The organ M. Thiers, hang to the skirts of an effete of the co-operative societies, La Cooperation, Orleanism, a spurious constitutionalism an able journal published at Brussels, is filled which would ignore the people, still preach with addresses and answers that have passed the maintenance of a balance of power by between Associations of Artisans in France the sword. To the ignorant peasant, blindand Germany, all of which adopt without ed by the glitter of arms and deluded by the modification the entire creed of the "Ligne fanaticism of priestly teachers as ignorant as de la Paix." The same exhibitions of unity of feeling and abnegation of national jealousies have taken place on the part of the students and professors in the universities, colleges, and professional schools on either bank of the Rhine. Indeed, one of the most encouraging signs in the whole movement has been the tendency of the younger generation in France that which might be supposed especially subject to fits of war fever to accept the principles of universal peace.

The first Conference of the League was held on April 23d, in the splendid amphitheatre of the Ecole de Médecine, and has proved, we believe, a complete success. Le Temps, and the other journals throughout France and Belgium that have joined the League publish almost daily very copious lists of the names of new supporters, and there are indications that an International Union will grow out of M. Frédéric Passy's idea. It is too soon, of course, to predict anything of an enterprise apparently so desperate as the extinction of war, especially when that enterprise originates among the most warlike people in the world. But we should guard ourselves from the easy triumph of sneering at a sincere and a determined effort of a few honest men to paralyze the pernicions influence of that passion for military glory which has done so much to retard the advance of Europe in the path of civilization and prosperity. We have little doubt that the numerical majority of the French nation is still, as in the days of Napoleon I., intoxicated with the splendour of the battle-field; but we are quite certain that the number and the influence of those who believe in the opposite doctrine who regard war as an unholy and brutal thing, to be justified only by the most stringent necessity are increasing and will continue to increase. Anything with respect to which the brain and the hands of a people are at one must ultimately

himself, the dream of European domination which dazzled even the great Emperor, and led him to his ruin, may yet have vague and alluring charms; but the intelligent ouvrier of the great towns, who probably believes in Fourier, who no doubt has read Cabet and Louis Blanc and the Economist, knows as well as Mr. Cobden or Mr. Gladstone what war really is, and what it really does. He knows that war means to him harder fare and slacker work, with no unlikely prospect of starvation for his wife and children in the background. He will not readily accept this fate to serve the purposes of others- to prop a falling cause, or to cover marshals and generals with "glory."

Sybil's Second Love. By Julia Kavanagh. Three vols. (Hurst and Blackett.) - Miss Kavanagh ought not to spoil a genuine style by attempts at sensation. Her forte lies in quiet portraiture, as she has shown in some novels of high merit. But since other lady writers have earned a transient fame, and money which we hope they have invested more profitably, Miss Kavanagh has also tried her hand at murder and mystery. We say murder, though we are not sure that a murder is intended, but we never arrive at a satisfactory solution of the great riddle in Sybil's Second Love. Sybil herself is a charming character, and there is power in the portrait of her husband, as well as in that of her bosom friend and false stepmother. But both of these last suffer from the mystery to which we have alluded, and while Miss Kavanagh makes them scheme she thinks herself absolved from the necessity of keeping them natural. We regret these blemishes, for the novel is good in many points, and may occupy a conspicuous place in the list of those to be ordered from Mudie's. - Spectator.