On the 16th century an excellent handbook is that by Darmesteter and Hatzfeld; and the recent _Literature of the French Renaissance_ of A. Tilley (2 vols., 1904) is of high value. Sainte-Beuve's _Tableau_ has been more than once referred to. Ebert (_Entwicklungsgeschichte der franzosischen Tragodie vornehmlich im 16^ten Jahrhundert_) is the chief authority for dramatic matters. Essays and volumes on periods and sub-periods since 1600 are innumerable; but those who desire thorough acquaintance with the literature of these three hundred years should read as widely as possible in all the critical work of Sainte-Beuve, of Scherer, of Faguet and Brunetiere--which may be supplemented _ad libitum_ from that of other critics mentioned above. The series of volumes entitled _Les grands ecrivains francais_, now pretty extensive, is generally very good, and Catulle Mendes's invaluable book on 19th-century poetry has been cited above. As a companion to the study of poetry E. Crepet's _Poetes francais_ (4 vols., 1861), an anthology with introductions by Sainte-Beuve and all the best critics of the day, cannot be surpassed, but to it may be added the later _Anthologie des poetes francais du XIX^e siecle_ (1877-1879). (G. Sa.) FRENCH POLISH, a liquid for polishing wood, made by dissolving shellac in methylated spirit. There are four different tints, brown, white, garnet and red, but the first named is that most extensively used. All the tints are made in the same manner, with the exception of the red, which is a mixture of the brown polish and methylated spirit with either Saunders wood or Bismarck brown, according to the strength of colour required. Some woods, and especially mahogany, need to be stained before they are polished. To stain mahogany mix some bichromate of potash in hot water according to the depth of colour required. After staining the wood the most approved method of filling the grain is to rub in fine plaster of Paris (wet), wiping off before it "sets." After this is dry it should be oiled with linseed oil and thoroughly wiped off. The wood is then ready for the polish, which is put on with a rubber made of wadding covered with linen rag and well wetted with polish. The polishing process has to be repeated gradually, and after the work has hardened, the surface is smoothed down with fine glass-paper, a few drops of linseed oil being added until the surface is sufficiently smooth. After a day or two the surface can be cleared by using a fresh rubber with a double layer of linen, removing the top layer when it is getting hard and finishing off with the bottom layer.