The martial achievements of this patron saint of the "Knights of the Garter" are considered apocryphal, and, in 1792, it required an octavo volume by Rev. J. Milner to prove his existence at all. Emerson says he was a notorious thief and procured his prelatic honors by fraud. The English history is to a considerable extent embodied in the national songs. Opinions, prejudices, and superstitions, however, are oftener embodied in them than facts. This species of literature has been very potent for good or ill in revolutionary times. Kings and parties have been both marred and made by them. The martial spirit, in all ages, has been kindled by lyrics; national victories have been celebrated by them; and by them individual prowess has been immortalized. The English people were famous for their convivialty and periodical festivals such as May Day, New Years, sowing-time, sheep-shearing, harvest home, corresponding to our Thanksgiving and Christmas. All these occasions were enlivened with songs and tales. The Christmas carol and story are famous in England's annals. Scott says: "All hail'd with uncontroll'd delight And general voice the happy night, That to the cottage as the crown, Brought tidings of salvation down. 'Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale 'Twas Christmas told the merriest tale; A Christmas gambol oft could cheer The poor man's heart through half the year." [Footnote 3: Ritson and Bishop Percy speak of different ages: one describing the rise and the other the decline of minstrelsy.] [Footnote 4: The song makes Arthur record his own death.] [Footnote 5: 7th vol. Child's British Poets.] [Footnote 6: Childs British Poets, I: 139 and 149.] * * * * * BOOK REVIEWS. ORIENTAL RELIGIONS AND THEIR RELATION TO UNIVERSAL RELIGION. By SAMUEL JOHNSON, with an introduction by O.B. FROTHINGHAM. _Persia_, Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1885. This is the third volume of the series, and was not quite completed at the time of Mr. Johnson's death in 1882. The other volumes, on _India_ and _China_, created much interest in the world of religious and ethnical study, a prominent London publisher and literateur saying to a friend of the present writer that nothing more would need to be written of China for the next quarter of a century. Max Muller testified to the high value of Mr. Johnson's work.