THE appearance of this abstract is most opportune. The small committee of persons interested in social problems which is responsible for its publication is anxious to bring before as large a section of the public as possible the urgency of the matters in question, and points out in the preface of the book that the Poor Law Commissioners have given it as their opinion that if the recommendations of the Commission on the Care of the Feeble-minded were carried into effect, a system of control over the feeble-minded would be initiated which would free the Poor Law administration from one of its greatest difficulties and, we may add, the country from a cause of enormous expenditure. In his introduction Sir Edward Fry quotes Bagehot's sad reflections upon the undue haste and benevolent thoughtlessness with which so much philanthropic effort is attended, and the terrible question which he poses as to whether the benevolence of mankind does not do more harm than good. Sir Edward Fry can, however, recommend the work of the Commission on the Feebleminded as one done with deliberation and not with “a wild passion for instant action.”The various problems which came before the Commission, such as mental defect and drink, mental defect and crime, and mental defect and illegitimacy, are adequately epitomised, and the far-reaching recommendations of the Commission duly considered as to the essential points. The book also contains some special articles, of which that upon segregation, by Mr. Galton, we can especially recommend to our readers.