An immense amount of wretched misgovernment would be avoided if all legislators and all voters would engrave these wholesome definitions upon their minds. In connection with the books just mentioned much detailed and valuable information may be found in the collections of essays edited by J.W. Probyn, _Local Government and Taxation_ [in various countries], London, 1875; _Local Government and Taxation in the United_ _Kingdom_, London, 1882. See also R.T. Ely's _Taxation in American States and Cities_, N.Y., 1889. The most elaborate work on our political history is that of Hermann von Holst, _Constitutional and Political History of the United States_, translated from the German by J.J. Lalor, vols. i.-vi. (1787-1859), Chicago, 1877-89. In spite of a somewhat too pronounced partisan bias, its value is great. See also Schouler's _History of the United States under the Constitution_, vols. i.-iv. (1783-1847), new ed., N.Y., 1890. The most useful handbook, alike for teachers and for pupils, is Alexander Johnston's _History of American Politics_, 2d ed., N.Y., 1882. _The United States_, N.Y., 1889, by the same author, is also excellent. Every school should possess a copy of Lalor's _Cyclopaedia of Political Science, Political Economy, and the Political History of the United States_, 3 vols., Chicago, 1882-84. The numerous articles in it relating to American history are chiefly by Alexander Johnston, whose mastery of his subject was simply unrivalled. His death in 1889, at the early age of forty, must be regarded as a national calamity. For a manual of constitutional law, Cooley's _General Principles of Constitutional Law in the United States of America_, Boston, 1880, is to be recommended. The reader may fitly supplement his general study of civil government by the little book of E.P. Dole, _Talks about Law: a Popular Statement of What our Law is and How it is to be Administered_, Boston, 1887. In connection with the political history, Stanwood's _History of Presidential Elections_, 2d ed., Boston, 1888, will be found useful. See also Lawton's _American Caucus System_, N.Y., 1885. On the general subject of civil service reform, see Eaton's _Civil Service in Great Britain: a History of Abuses and Reforms, and their Bearing upon American Politics_, N.Y., 1880. Comstock's _Civil Service in the United States_, N.Y., 1885, is a catalogue of offices, with full account of civil service rules, examinations, specimens of examination papers, etc.; also some of the state rules, as in New York, Massachusetts, etc. * * * * *