of the Realm, many statistical and other Blue Books, annals, and similar compilations of ancient and modern facts, whether relating to the nation at large or to individuals. Brief biographical notices, cyclopædias, the simple enumeration of historical events, are properly denizened in this category. They have no claim to be throned amongst the best books, inasmuch as the works included in these two groups of word-books and fact-books have, in truth, no right to be counted amongst books proper. If they were to be ga- thered in, so also should "scores" and "tallies." On the other hand, fact-books may be of the greatest importance in their way, as when they furnish the raw-materials of history.
Lastly comes the most important class, includ- ing all true and real books, the class, namely, of Thought-books. In these we have not only words and facts, but the living intellect of man moving, marshalling, and endowing them — as the angel troubled the still waters of the pool, giving them great new powers. A piece of mechanism, such as Babbage's calculating machine, might produce records that could be classified under one of the other categories, but not under this. The phono- graph receives the impressed vibrations of sounds and repeats them. The book of- fers a record of invisible, inaudible, and intangible thought, and enables us to perceive the intellectual and emotional activities of individuals and of nations, remote or near in time and space. Its importance will depend on the importance of the subject, and on the power and fidelity of the intellect at work. Of course there is a wide series of varied workmanship. The literary form, since the first song of Amergin, has been of such general interest and so attractive that it must always stand in the front rank. But it should not exclude from sight science which, from the early speculations of St Virgil as to the Antipodes, and of Dicuil on the measurement of the earth, to the last lecture of our Astronomer Royal, or to the works of Salmon, Haughton, and Casey, &c, has flourished, whenever it was pos- sible to flourish, in this country. Undoubtedly, with such a classic in existence as the work of Graves, not to mention others, medi- cine has a right to recognition. There is mind in such a work. "Historicus," however was quite within his right in omitting all special studies, whether ecclesiastical, legal, medical, or scientific, which are not necessarily within the competency of the general reader. Certainly he has done wonders in the depart- ments of history and polite literature which he has chosen. It is not to be assumed that he men- tions accessible books only, or that he wishes us to take without scrutiny or question the works he names. Sir John Davis was one of the most un- scrupulous of lawyers, whose aim was quite different from what seemed the purport of his words, yet no doubt his writings deserve to rank amongst typical works. Others also if they do not depict the country depict themselves, and some do both. perhaps a clearer conception of the treatment of the subject by "Historicus" may be obtained if we separate that subject into its component sections. We shall then have — 1st. The section of Gaedhlic or Celtic Literature. 2nd. Of Norse-Irish Literature. 3rd. Of Norman-Irish, Anglo-lrish, and Neo-Irish, or modern Irish literature. 4th. Continental-Irish, and 5th, Irish-American and Irish-Australian Literature.
"Historicus" has given the key to the Literalure of the Celtic section by his mention of Dr W K Sullivan's "Introduction" to O'Curry's Lectures. It is not merely the best book on the subject — it is unique. If the author had devoted as much ability learning, energy, and time to any German, French, English, or American subject, the Government and people would have emulated each other in offering him the recogni- tion accorded to patriotic genius. In Ireland, how many knew of its importance or of its very existence until a few days ago? He could scarcely be asked to edit Mr. Richey's lectures. But anyone who, like myself, takes an earnest in- terest in Irish industrial advance, and who is aware of Dr Sullivan's reports on exhibits from Dargan's to the recent Cork Exhibition, would urge that he should edit his own scattered con- tributions, that so much valuable work might become accessible and operative for instruction. But, though the key to Celtic literature be given in this "Introduction," and in O'Curry's Lectures, more is required. Lord Carnarvon haw noted the deficiency. It is a strange thing, but true, that a large portion of Irishmen, chiefly tho^e of the cities, have not the remotest conception of the mental world of millions of their fellow-countrymen in the western half of this island. Yet foreign scholars are conversant with its cosmography. This is because the elements of Celtic literature ,are ignored at home, or only identified with the dry dust of annals or the grimacing distortions of comic guides. It would be otherwise were the "Three Sorrows of Story" familiar to the mind; or, at the least, if the "Fate of the Sons of Usnach" were, as that beautiful and pathetic classic deserves to be, a household book in Ireland. Though published, with a translation, a generation or two ago, it is scarcely obtainable, for there is no recent edition. The "Sick-bed of Cuchulain" and the "Fate of the Children of Lir," both of which appeared in the Atlantis, with trans- lations by O'Curry; the "Battle of Moira," the "Battle of Moyléana," published by societies now extinct, should likewise be read. The great heroic tale of the "Tain-Bo," or Cattle Spoil of Cuailgne — the Irish Iliad — is, I believe, as yet only accessible in the specimen edited by Dr W K Sullivan, the "Fight of Ferdia," and in Sir [[author:Samuel Fer- guson|]]'s metrical works. All down the ages such and similar productions, with the Ossianic lays and legends, have lived in the me- mory, occupied the thoughts, and helped to form the character of the Gaedhlic-speaking millions of our people. Even the tales which children love, and for which our city children depend on London, are widely different, and strange to, urban ears as those of the "Arabian Nights." They are not obtainable in Ireland, for Irishmen have neglected the rich folk-lore of their country. In Campbell's "Tales of the Western Highlands," however, I came upon legend after legend which I had heard from Donegal reapers in the harvest fields of Tyrone. To these should be added Kennedy's "Fireside Stories" — well recited tales, the com- mon literature of children over wide districts of Ireland. Those Celtic heroic and other tales may be supplemented by Keating's History, Lady Ferguson's Legendary History, O'Grady 's History, Croker's Legends, and Joyce's Early Celtic " Romances. But, when he can, the reader should go to the original, or to a close transla- tion. He will find a fascinating home-picture of ancient days in Adamnan's Life of St Columb-
