MR. LECKY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN.
Athenæum Club London, March 19.
Sir—I have very little to say in the way of I criticism about the exceedingly comprehensive list of Irish books you have sent me, except that the writer has, I am afraid, most extravagantly overrated the first named on his list. I shall perhaps best meet your wishes by adding a few books which occur to me on the spur of the moment. Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernæ" forms one of the most interesting collections of lives of Saints in the world, and it is very shameful that it has not been reprinted and translated. Reeves's edition of Adamnans "Life of St. Columba" is a work of the highest historical importance. Carlyle was, I remember, accustomed to speak of it with the warmest admiration. the works of Montalembert and Ozanam should also be read in connection with this branch and period of Irish history, and also the works of Petrie and of Miss Stokes on Irish architecture. On the Tudor period, let me mention Mr. Bagwell's excellent history published last year—a work of singular impartiality and research. To the long list of 18th-century books I would add the works of Henry Brooke; the three most admirable county histories of Smith (Cork, Limerick, and Waterford), which Macaulay spoke of as among the best works of the kind he had ever read; and Crump's "Essay on the Employment of the People," which throws much light on the social and industrial condition of the time. I do not notice on your list the great name of Goldsmith, and "Historicus" ought also not to have forgotten one of the purest, sweetest, and most truly national of cotemporary Irish poets—Aubrey de Vere. Among representative works of fiction may I put in a word for a very recent arrival, Miss Lawless's charming story "Hurrish"—Your obedient servant,
W. Lecky.
THE MOST REV. DR. M'EVILLY.
Tuam, March 20.
The Archbishop of Tuam highly approves of the idea put forward in the proof of an article about to appear in the Freeman's Journal with which the Editor has kindly favoured him relative to publishing and recommending works illustrating the history of our country. The Archbishop would not venture to offer any opinion as to the merit of the books bearing on Irish history, contained in the article in question, as, indeed, he never saw or read very many of them. But he has full confidence in the ability and critical powers of the writer in the Freeman as to the excellence and merits of the works referred to. The Archbishop would, indeed, be sincerely glad to see the idea fully carried out, as there are but few branches of knowledge in which our people seem less versed, owing to the want of books and suitable opportunities, than in the history of their own country. The Archbishop sincerely hopes the project may prove successful. It is worthy of the patriotism of the Freeman's Journal to initiate it.
DR GALBRAITH, TRINITY COLLEGE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN.
Trinity College, Dublin, 21st March 1886.
I have read over the proof, and was much pleased. Such an article is calculated to be very useful in guiding young students of Irish history, the number of which I hope will increase daily. I do not know of any book of importance not mentioned by "Historicus," except perhaps "Rinuccini," translated by Miss Hutton.—Yours faithfully,
Joseph A. Galbraith.
THE RIGHT HON GEORGE OTTO TREVELYAN, MP, SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN.
8 Grosvenor-crescent, London, 20th March.
Sir—I am capable of very much enjoying the disquisition of "Historicus"; but I am singularly illfitted to supplement it, for I never read except for pleasure, and consequently I read few books, and those very often. As far as my reading coincides with his, he appears to be a consummate critic.
The Irish books which I place among the very choicest reading are—The Autobiography of Wolfe Tone, the Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry, which has the same freshness and spontaneity as a picture of Ireland, which Tourguenieff's "Recits d'un Chasseur" has as a picture of Russia; Lecky's "Irish Leaders," the Appendices in Arthur Young's "Ireland," and (though, perhaps, an Irishman would not agree with me), Anthony Trollope's first, and in some respects his best, work. "The Macdermots of Ballycloran." Barrington has a great attraction, principally from the defects of the writer, who is one of those authors whose weaknesses make him readable; but, as the book goes on, it gets ever worse, till it is worthless. "Fynes Morrisson's Tour in Europe between 1590 and 1600" is as valuable as any book in existence; but his Irish experiences never interested me at all in proportion to his European travels. "Barry Lyndon" can hardly be called specially an Irish book. Its merit is purely literary; but in its own. way it has never been surpassed. I shall get "Mitchel's History of Ireland," on the authority of "Historicus"; for the little I have read of Mitchel fully bears out the epithets he applies to that most nervous writer.—I remain, sir, yours faithfully,
G O Trevelyan.
THE EDITOR OF THE PALL MALL GAZETTE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN.
Northumberland-street, Strand.
The editor of the Pall Mall Gazette presents his compliments to the editor of the Freeman's Journal, and begs to thank him for the proof of "The best Hundred Irish Books." The list seems to the editor of the Pall Mall Gazette to be a most useful one, and does a work which he has often wished to see done. As soon as the article appears in the Freeman's Journal it shall (with the editor's permission) be quoted from in the Pall Mall Gazette.
But as few English readers will have time to read the best 100 Irish books, would not "Historicus" pick out for us the best six or twelve?
