Sir Edward Bunbury's Greek coins the museum purchased to the value of 9401., and at the Montague sale to that of 4081., and a further sum of 580l. was also spent upon coins, other than Greek, at various sales, etc.; while 1237. was devoted to the purchase of historical medals from Mr. Montague's sale. The library was enriched by several important additions, including "Biblia vulgare istoriata, per Nic de Malerini," 2571. 15s.; the Nelson MSS., 4167.; MSS. from the Phillipps MSS., 600l.; and from the Auckland sale, 3267.; Indian MSS. collected by Dr. Jacobi, 2001. ; printed books, 1,250l., including a Caxton purchased at the Ashburton sale for 6601. The additions to the prints and drawings included a selection of Lord Leighton's studies, 300l., and a like sum for woodcuts and old prints, and 335l. paid to Messrs. Colnaghi for a collection of drawings by the old masters. Among the more important purchases for the Natural History Museum were a collection of birds from Mr. C. J. Hargitt, costing 500l.; of zoological specimens from Mr. J. Whitehead, 2001.; from Mr. O. Salvin, 3401.; and from Mr. E. Gerard, 133l. Fossils were purchased to the value of nearly 7001., and about 250l. was spent upon minerals, and 2001. was paid for a half-model of the Catadon macrocephalus.

South Kensington Museum.—The aggregate of the sums allowed for the purchase of objects for the various art collections under the control of the Science and Art Department was 11,6607., of which a large portion was specially set apart for works adapted for circulation and loan among the local art museums of the three kingdoms.

The administration and cost of the South Kensington Museum were made the subject of a parliamentary inquiry during the session, and a large amount of evidence was taken as to the manner in which objects were purchased, and how they were arranged and housed. The evidence was not completed when Parliament rose, but two interim reports were presented, strongly condemning the old buildings of corrugated iron, and urging the danger to the collection from fire, and the urgent necessity of completing the eastern side of the buildings. In consequence, the old buildings were promptly removed during the autumn, and preliminary steps taken to carrying out Mr. Aston Webb's design for the new buildings.

The principal purchase during the year was a portion of the collection of the late Mr. W. H. Wrench, C.M.G., H.M. Consul at Constantinople, acquired for the sum of 955l.; the most important items were a mosque candlestick of copper, 100l.; a copper jug, with silver inlay, 1007.; a Persian carpet, 1601.; and a number of woven fabrics and specimens of pottery. Four large panels of Damascus tiles of the sixteenth or seventeenth century were bought for 500l., and a panel of tiles from Constantinople for 100l. A collection of carved woodwork was acquired for the sum of 3501. At the Bonnaffé and Gavet sales in Paris a number of objects, chiefly carved wood and metalwork, were purchased for a total of 1,0571. 13s. 9d. Amongst the objects bought from the latter collection may be mentioned a Flemish tapestry, 144l. 8s. 10d.; and a German carved wood triptych of the end of the fifteenth century for 105l. 1s. A German wheel-lock arquebus of the seventeenth century was bought for 2501. A large Persian carpet of the seventeenth century, formerly

belonging to the late Mr. William Morris, was obtained at a cost of 2001. A beautiful carved wood statuette of the fifteenth century, representing St. George and the Dragon, was acquired for 2001. Amongst the other purchases may be mentioned twenty-two Japanese drawings of birds bought for 1007.; nine specimens of modern bookbindings for 140.; and a fine eighteenth century carved wood mantelpiece from Winchester House, Putney, for 801. Of the gifts, the most important was a silver mace, formerly belonging to the regalia of the Sheriffs' Court of the County of London, given by Mr. W. Burchell. The first picture exhibited at the Royal Academy by the late Sir J. E. Millais, Bart., P.R.A., "Pizarro seizing the Inca of Peru," was bequeathed by the late Mr. H. Hodgkinson. Another old English room from a house (pulled down) at Bromley-by-Bow-date about 1606-was set up in the south court of the museum. The rooms formerly occupied by the pictures of the Chantrey Bequest, transferred to the Tate Gallery, were provisionally occupied by the historical collection of water colours. A new room devoted to Cairene art, and one to textile fabrics and embroideries from various parts of the Turkish empire, were opened, and several important additions were made to the collection of Indian plaster casts from the palace of Akbar near Agra.

The Royal Academy.—Three vacancies were occasioned among the ranks of the academicians by the deaths of Sir John Gilbert, F.R.W.S., Mr. J. B. Burgess, and Mr. J. L. Pearson, architect, and a fourth by the retirement of Mr. J. C. Horsley. Of these only one was filled up during the year by the advancement of Mr. John E. Sargent, while Mr. Alfred Parsons and Mr. J. J. Shannon-both painters-were elected associates.

The winter exhibition at Burlington House was composed wholly of the works of the deceased President, Lord Leighton, and comprised upwards of 200 pictures, ranging from his first exhibited work, "Cimabue Finding Giotto," painted in 1850, down to "Clytie," which was finished only just before his death in 1896.

The summer exhibition showed a very considerable increase in the number of the works admitted over the average of previous years. This was especially the case in the sculpture galleries, where some excellent work was exhibited. The works purchased under the terms of the Chantrey Bequest were: 'Pilchards," by Mr. Napier Henry (1,2001.); "Colt Hunting in the New Forest," by Miss Lucy Kemp Welch (525l.); "In a Fog," by D. Farquharson (4201.); and a marble figure, "The Nymph of Loch Awe," by F. W. Pomeroy (150l.). Among the other important pictures of the exhibition were Mr. E. A. Abbey's "Hamlet" (the play scene); Mr. J. W. Waterhouse's "Hylas and the Nymphs"; Mr. Byam Shaw's "Love's Baubles" and "The Comforter"; Mr. H. W. B. Davis' "Flowery May"; Mr. E. O. Ford's bust of Sir J. E. Millais, P.R.A.; Mr. Frampton's "Dame Alice Owen"; Mr. Herkomer's "Madonna"; Mr. G. Clausen's "Ploughing"; Mr. H. Lathangue's "Gleaners"; and Mr. C. Gregory's "Boultor's Lock."

The Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours suffered a serious loss by the death of its aged but still vigorous president, Sir John Gilbert, R.A. He was replaced, after a severe competition with Mr.

Hubert Herkomer, R.A., by Mr. E. A. Waterlow, A.R.A., who was elected by the casting vote of the chairman.

Two exhibitions of works by members and associates were held in the course of the year by the Royal Institute, Water Colours and Oils, the Society of British Artists, the Society of Painter-Etchers, the New English Art Club; and numerous other societies held their usual annual or biennial exhibitions.

At the New Gallery the winter exhibition was limited to a collection of the works of Mr. G. F. Watts, R.A., including a large number of those which will be included in his bequest to the nation. At the Grafton Galleries an almost equally good exhibition of the works of Ford Madox Brown, a distinguished member of the pre-Raphaelite group of painters, attracted a large number of visitors. An interesting and fairly comprehensive collection of portraits of dramatic and musical celebrities was brought together at these galleries.

ART SALES.-The most important collection of pictures dispersed during the season was that made by the late Sir John Pender, which realised (Christie's) 81,913. The next largest amount was realised by the collection of Mr. Arthur Seymour, which fetched (Robinson & Fisher) nearly 20,000l.; and in succession those of Mr. George James (Christie's), 11,9397.; Mr. Reginald Cholmondeley (do.), 10,9071.; Sir Charles Booth (do.), 9,7861.; Mr. G. P. Boyce, R.W.S. (do.), 9,140l.; Mr. F. W. Armytage (do.), 7,215l.; Sir J. E. Millais, P.R.A. (do.), 7,470l.; and Mr. George Richmond, R.A. (do.), 6,935l. The Reynolds' engravings, collected by Hon. Ashley Ponsonby, realised (do.) 6,745l., and the Bartolozzi (do.), 4,5721.

The highest prices given at the various sales for individual pictures of the English School were: G. Romney, R.A,, "Two Children in a Garden " (Messrs. Foster), 9,100l.; J. M. W. Turner, R.A., "The Wreckers" (Pender), 7,9801. "Mercury and Herse" (do.), 7,8501.; "State Procession" (do.), 7,3501.; "The Giudecca" (do.), 7,140l.; John Phillip, R.A., "La Gloria" (do.), 5,2501.; T. Gainsborough, "Mrs. Paget" (Col. Paget), 5,0401.; G. Romney, R.A., "Mrs. Grove" (Lord Normanby), 3,675l.; Sir Edward Landseer, "Lost Sheep" (Pender), 3,150l.; "In the Forest" (do.), 2,6501.; "Anne Henshaw" (Paget), 2,415l.; Sir J. Lawrence, "Miss Farren" (Cholmondeley), 2,3621.; "Misses Fullarton" (A. Fraser), 2,3161.; "Mrs. Tickell" (Normanby), 2,100l.; Sir J. Millais, "The Proscribed Royalist" (Pender), 2,100.; Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A., "Sylvia" (do.), 1,8907.; W. J. Müller, R.A., "Encampment in the Desert" (do.), 1,680. Especial mention should, however, be made of the sale of two portraits by H. R. Morland, the father of George Morland, for the sum of 3,250 guineas, no specimen of "Old Morland" having hitherto realised more than a few pounds. The portraits, which belonged to the Mary Ratcliff Chambers' Trust, were described-but without authority -as the daughters of John Gunning, of Castle Coote, Roscommon, and represented one lady as a laundress and the other as an ironer.

Among the pictures by foreign artists the highest sums realised were: Franz Hall, "Portrait of a Gentleman," 3,5177.; Holbein, "Man's Portrait" (Millais), 3,150l.; Hondekoeter, "Cocks Fighting" (Unthank), 2,2841.; Hobhema, "Village Scene," 1,9851.; Troyon, "Heights of

Suresnes" (Pender), 1,785.; Vandyck, "Boy" (Hirsch), 1,6801.; Rosa Bonheur, "Landscape and Cattle" (Pender), 1,575l.

Among the book sales by Messrs. Sotheby & Co., the highest amount realised was 30,150l. for part i., and 18,650l. for part ii. of the Ashburnham collection; and for a collection of books and autograph manuscript of Sir Walter Scott, 5,6621.; Sir C. Domville's library fetched 5,2901.; Sir Charles Forbes', 5,146l.; Mr. A. Young's books and manuscripts, 4,7661.; Mr. Beresford Heaton's, 4,0551.; a further portion of Sir Thomas Phillipps' manuscripts, 4,195l., and a collection of the works of George Cruikshank made by Mr. W. H. Bruton, 2,5201.

The coin collections which were dispersed during the year were even more important than the libraries, including the Montague collection, English, part ii., 8,7847.; Greek coins, part ii., 2,8327.; historical medals, 5,2331.; and English, part iv., 1,813.; Sir Edward Bunbury's Greek coins, part ii., 3,880l. Mr. T. T. Mann's collection realised 2,344l.; Mr. Thomas Galland's, 1,300l.; and Professor Middleton's, 1,276l.

The highest price paid for a single book was 2,100l. for Raoul le Fevre's "Boke of the Hoole and Lyf of Jason," printed by Caxton, 1477, sold at the Ashburnham sale, part ii.

Amongst the other art collections sold by public auction should be mentioned Herr Zschille's collection of armour (Christie's), 11,2817.; Mrs. Gideon's jewels (do.), 9,618.; Rev. Montagu Taylor's objets d'art (do.), 6,3621.; The Hon. W. F. B. Massey-Mainwaring's collection of French snuff-boxes (Robinson & Fisher), 11,750l.; Mr. Newton R. Smart's furniture (do.), 3,450l.; Dr. Horton's articles of vertu (do.), 3,7001., and the war medals of Mr. W. H. Harris (do.), 2,115.

won.

II. DRAMA.

There was nothing specially eventful in the history of the drama of 1897. No play of striking merit marked the year. No new actor or actress of the highest quality appeared. No new theatre leaped into sudden fame. Even the fine playhouse opened by Mr. Beerbohm Tree failed at first to attract the great audiences which, no doubt, will shortly learn to know it and to love it well. Neither the distinguished lessee of Her Majesty's nor yet the famous lessee of the Lyceum added in any appreciable degree to the great reputations which they have long since On the other hand, the year could boast of a large number of interesting and pleasant plays, of one or two remarkable personal performances, and, we imagine, of a good many financial successes. The increase in the number of suburban theatres stimulated, at least, the demand for light entertainment, and as a consequence almost thirty pantomimes were to be seen about Christmas time upon the London stage. But the end of the dramatic year was rendered gloomy by the tragic and startling death of Mr. Terriss, whose loss to the world of melodrama no other actor could replace, and whose power and popularity had so often brought success to the Adelphi theatre, which this year had to mourn the death of Mr. Agostino Gatti too.

First in the season's list of theatrical triumphs must be placed Mr. Forbes Robertson's production of "Hamlet," a revival which met with the

widest recognition and applause. Less subtle in some respects than Mr. Tree's impersonation, less powerful perhaps than Sir Henry Irving's, Mr. Robertson's rendering of the part was singularly natural and effective. In grace and finish and distinction it lacked nothing that his predecessors' renderings could claim, while in simplicity and genial reasonableness it struck a new and true note of its own. Mr. Robertson's innovation of restoring the ancient ending of the play was thoroughly justified by the approval which it met with, and Mrs. Patrick Campbell's Ophelia, if not altogether successful, yet often touched the level required. The same praise cannot be awarded to the other production of the year at the Lyceum. "Madame Sans-Gêne" was the only novelty offered by Sir Henry Irving, the long-promised tragedy by his own son being reserved for the first night of the new year. It was a mistake to adapt for the English stage a French comedy that would ill bear translating, and to rewrite for Miss Ellen Terry a part in which no English actress could expect to rival the triumph of Mademoiselle Réjane. Sir Henry Irving, however, performed the feat of making-up as a presentable Napoleon, and this daring experiment gave its chief interest to the piece. Among other adaptations we ought to notice in passing two examples of Mr. Sidney Grundy's skill, which found favour for a time at houses on both sides of the Haymarket, and which again illustrated the adapter's gift of dialogue and well-trained dramatic sense.

It was, however, in the realm of comedy that the chief successes of the year were won. Among these Mr. Pinero's play at the St. James's ought not perhaps strictly to be included. "The Princess and the Butterfly" roused great expectations, and it undoubtedly gave evidence of the perception, force and cleverness which have given Mr. Pinero an easy premiership among our writers for the stage. It was extremely interesting, and yet it could not be called a good play. As a study of follies, it was full of ability. As a study of the weaknesses of middle age, it was too full of scenes that bored. And once again Mr. Pinero yielded to that temptation to mingle seriousness capriciously with farce which is the besetting sin of a writer who understands both so thoroughly and who yet mixes them so ill. On the whole, and inevitably, the play did not appeal very widely to the public, although in many respects it was as able as anything that its author has produced. Less original, but more successful, were Mr. Jones's two plays of the year, both produced by Mr. Wyndham with his inimitable skill-“The Physician" and "The Liars." Of the former we will only say that it fared at least as well as it deserved, and that in other hands than Mr. Wyndham's it would probably have fared far worse. Its author's keen eye for dramatic situation served, however, to condone its weaker points. Of "The Liars" it is a pleasure to speak with much less qualified praise. Happily conceived and brightly written, treated and played throughout with buoyancy and lightness, "The Liars " revealed in Mr. Jones a power of genuine vivacious comedy of which his earlier plays, though often brilliant, had not given equal proof. There were no doubt passages in the dialogue which some severe critics would have struck out, passages of over-luxuriant metaphor, passages of humdrum moralising, which some tastes and tempers may reject. But the