more unfortunate that Lady Hodgson proceeds to sneer at the methods employed by the officer commanding the relief column. There were many incidents in the Governor's retreat, of which Lady Hodgson was an eyewitness, which might have given her ample scope to employ her critical faculties, without discussing a subject of which she could know nothing save by hearsay, and on which her opinion could not be of the least value.

When Sir James Willcocks reached Prahsu on June 8th, he found the wire broken down beyond the Prah, with no supplies in any quantity further ahead. The only troops available were the small number he had himself brought up; and these were at once pushed forward to occupy Bekwai in co-operation with the force which had fallen back from Kwissa. As fast as troops arrived from the coast they were sent forward, and every exertion was made to hurry up stores for victualling the fort, without which relief would have been merely nominal. If, instead of remaining at Prahsu, the officer in command had himself gone forward, he would have lost control of the expedition and have lapsed into the position of an officer commanding a column. Until he was in a condition to make a definite forward movement, with his base secure, it would have been an inexcusable blunder to rush ahead, merely to be in his turn cut off and isolated. It follows, therefore, that the imputation of unnecessary delay, cast upon the relieving force, is absolutely unfounded. If this be the case, no language, in our opinion, is sufficiently severe to condemn the publication of such statements as these, calculated to throw discredit on a brilliant soldier and his men, by whom every effort was made, in the most discouraging circumstances, to fulfil a task which ought never to have been laid upon them.

We have noticed Lady Hodgson's narrative at considerable length, because her position, as the wife of the late Governor of the Gold Coast, is likely to confer upon her statements and opinions a circulation and a credence which we regret to say we do not think they deserve. We may now pass to the more agreeable task of sketching the events which concluded the campaign. These events are fully told in 'The Ashanti Campaign of 1900,' by Colonel Montanaro and Captain Armitage, and in ‘The Relief of Kumasi,' by Captain Biss. The latter work is

somewhat marred by an unfortunate exuberance of style; but it is nevertheless an interesting narrative of personal experiences and well worth perusal. The Ashanti Campaign' is, undoubtedly, the best account yet published of the whole course of operations. The authors have divided their task, and are to be congratulated on the manner in which it is performed. Both have written plain straightforward narratives, devoid of innuendo, and have only commented on matters about which they are justified in expressing an opinion. We confidently recommend their book to those who are interested in a unique campaign, which has brought into prominence the soldierly qualities of our West African troops.

On the return of the relieving column to Bekwai, affairs began rapidly to mend. A reinforcement, under Colonel Morland, had arrived from Cape Coast. After a day's rest Sir James Willcocks decided to make another attack on Kokofu. For this purpose a column was despatched under Colonel Morland, which surprised the enemy at breakfast and completely routed them, killing several without the loss of a man. Flying columns were sent out in every direction to smash up the various war-camps scattered through the country. Most of these columns met with considerable opposition, but in every case were completely successful. When the country south of Kumassi had been cleared of the enemy, the headquarters were transferred from Bekwai to Kumassi, and the remaining portion of the country similarly cleared.

Several days north of Kumassi lies Kintampo, the most southerly station of a protectorate known as the Northern Territories. When Major Morris was summoned to assist the Kumassi garrison, a considerable force was left behind to hold this place and the remainder of the country. Although there was no reason to suppose that the rising had spread so far north, no little anxiety was felt as to what might have occurred; and it was impossible to obtain any authentic information. A strong column was therefore sent up with supplies to replenish the stores, which must necessarily have been exhausted some time previously. The column returned, having found that Major Sheppard, upon whom the command had devolved after Major Morris's departure, had successfully maintained order, and that everything was in a satisfactory state,

The operations were not carried on without considerable losses on our side. The total number of Europeans of all ranks at any time in the field did not exceed 280; of these 9 were killed, 7 died of disease, 52 were wounded, 52 invalided. In the native ranks, numbering about 3800, 154 were killed or missing, 680 wounded, 102 died of disease. Of the carriers, about 10,000 in number, 45 were killed or wounded, 430 died of disease, and 50 native levies were killed. This total is not small, but it would have been very much greater but for the splendid work of the medical officers, under Dr McDowell, C.M.G., to whom Sir James Willcocks in his despatches draws well-deserved attention.

By the middle of November 1900, the work of the punitive columns was completed, and the Ashantis had no desire for further fighting. They had fought well, and can certainly claim for the future the treatment due to a brave, if barbarous enemy. While we fully admit that their customs and many fetish rites are repugnant to civilised ideas, it is a great mistake to consider the Ashantis as devoid of morality. That they certainly are not so, the negotiations which preceded Major Morris's arrival at Kumassi clearly prove. An armistice had been arranged, during which one of the refugees was shot while searching for food; and the Ashantis at once sent in word that the occurrence was an accident, the man having been killed by one of their force who was unaware of the arrangement. Again, in spite of the fact that, under the rules of war, no beleaguered post would be allowed reinforcements during an armistice, the Ashantis permitted Major Morris's column to pass, unopposed, over two stockades and through a large war-camp. It should be stated, in explanation of what might seem to have been a breach of the armistice on our part, that Major Morris had no notion that an armistice had been made; while, on the other hand, the Governor was equally unaware that Major Morris was approaching. Upon the whole, the character of the natives is such that in a few years, under reasonable government, this colony should develope large resources and be a valuable imperial possession.

Art. X.-THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.

1. Regina v. Cockerton. Judgment of the Queen's Bench Division, December 20th, 1900.

2. Rex v. Cockerton.

April 1st, 1901.

Judgment of the Court of Appeal,

3. Education in the Nineteenth Century. Edited by R. D. Roberts. Cambridge: University Press, 1901.

By a singular chance the first parliamentary year of the second term of office of the present Unionist Government is marked, like the first year of its first term, by a necessity for partial, and an opportunity for comprehensive, educational reform. In 1896 the exigency was created by the promises very properly given by members of the ministry, before the general election of the preceding year, that something should be done to relieve the 'intolerable strain' from which the voluntary schools were suffering, owing to unexpected developments of the educational system established in 1870. In the present instance the need for some immediate legislation is due to the discovery, assuming the Cockerton judgment to be finally confirmed, that some interesting and apparently popular developments of school board work are illegal, and, unless the law is altered, or private benevolence steps in, will have to be pulled up short.

The increasing difficulties of the voluntary schools had, in 1896, shown the evils of piecemeal legislation; while the report of the Royal Commission presided over by Mr Bryce, indicating the lines on which reorganisation should proceed in the sphere of secondary education, had strengthened the case for comprehensive reform. That report produced a marked effect on public opinion, and it was well calculated to do so. It was, in the best sense of the word, a liberal document. It recognised to the full the good work that was being done by existing agencies of divers kinds-grammar schools, higher grade elementary schools in their more advanced developments, and private schools; and, while pointing out quite clearly the nature of existing deficiencies- the overlappings and waste in some directions, the actual want of adequate educational supply in others-sketched out a system under which educational resources might be economised,