space I have accorded to them in my "Outline of Irish History." I propose to express that admiration yet more strongly in the longer work on which I am engaged, and which I hope some day to finish.—Believe me, sincerely yours,
PROFESSOR BALDWIN.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN.
Dear Sir—I owe you an apology for having so long delayed my acknowledgment of the "proof" of the clever paper of "Historicus" on books relating to Ireland. I plead as my excuse pressure of work.
I confess that the little I had to say has been much better said by others. I would be quite at home in naming and criticising the best books on subjects which have been my own special study. On other subjects my reading has been of a very general character, I have glanced through most of the books on the list. In the main I agree with the criticism passed by "Historicus" on those which I have read. One gentleman has said that there ought to be some principle of classification. I would, with great diffidence, offer a few remarks on the books which, in the present aspect of our affairs, possess the deepest interest. As an earnest student of Irish history and Irish politics I would say with "Historicus" that Lecky deserves our praise, but I would give the premier place to Burke in any list of Irish authors. Burke was an intellectual giant. He never lost an opportunity of advocating what he believed to be the truth. To his writings we owe many of the enlightened views that have prevailed among the best of our modern statesmen. If we except the popular edition of his speeches in the series of Irish Orators published by the late Mr. Duffy, no issue of any of his great works has been published in Ireland in my time.
I would rank Berkeley next to Burke as a great thinker. He is read even less than Burke, His metaphysics are often difficult, if not obscure; but they afford evidence of great power, while such works as the "Querist" are masterpieces in their own way. I would put Swift in the same class. Great men like these have left us works which enable us to understand our political rights and duties as citizens. I would like to see a good selection from their writings in the hands of every Irishman. I venture to say that in the works of these great men would be found materials for working out the solution of the serious problems with which we are now brought face to face.
Burke would legislate in a way which would secure to every man what is legitimately his and protect him in the enjoyment of it as long as he used it in away in which competent and fair-minded jurists could not discern any policy hostile to the interests of society.—Yours faithfully,
MR GEORGE ATKINSON, M B.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN.
84 Drumcondra road, 27th March.
Dear Sir—1 thank you very much for your kind attention in sending me a proof of the remarkably able essay of "Historicus" on the Best Hundred Irish Books. I have read and re-read his observations with pleasure and profit. Most of his opinions I heartily concur in. Some of his conclusions I might hesitate to adopt, though am not qualified by special study to boldly challenge their soundness. The animated discussion which has been kept up by your correspondents since the views of "Historicus" were put must satisfy you, Mr. Editor, that a good work was done in starting the subject; while he also, I think, must be well satisfied, for evidently his main object was to awaken attention and stimulate inquiry rather than to draw up a list perfect in every respect.
I venture to point out some omissions which appear to me unaccountable. For instance, how did "Historicus" forget to name and place in the foremost rank of Irish books, the "Life of Sir William Rowan Hamilton?" This is the record of the career of a man born and educated here; living, working, teaching in the country from first to last; and leaving behind him a truly illustrious name to be inscribed on the list of Ireland's most gifted sons. His discovery of the calculus of Quæternions made him famous in the world of science, and it is acknowledged that his contributions to the scientific societies of Ireland and England were some of the grandest specimens of the higher analysis. He was a member of most of the scientific societies of Europe and America, and was enrolled a member of the Imperial Academy of St Petersburg for his services in the integration of dynamical equations. The life, of which two volumes have appeared, will soon be completed by the publication of a third volume. The work contains Hamilton's splendid lectures, a mass of valuable letters, and a quantity of the poems which he, the mathematican and astronomer, took delight in composing. Besides we have in these volumes copious and interesting memorials, letters, &c, of the Edgeworth family, the De Veres, the Dunravens, and a host of learned and distinguished contemporaries and compatriots. And, lastly, the biography is written with great ability, perfect sympathy, and faultless taste, by the Rev R. Percival Graves, a worthy member of a family that deserves to be held in high honour in Ireland—their native land.
Among other omissions, I note Mr. Alfred Webb's invaluable "Compendium of Irish Biographies;" the four vol. issue of Wills' "Irish Nation," with its portraits and genealogical charts; Dr Stokes' admirable "Life of George Petrie;" Mr. Bagwell's "Ireland under the Tudors;" Mr. Fitzpatrick's "Memoirs of Dr Doyle" and Lord Cloncurry;" Miss Stokes's "Irish Architecture;" Mr. Halliday's "Scandinavian Dublin," so judiciously edited by Mr. Prendergast; Dr Joyce's "Irish Names of Places," and Father Meehan's historical works. For all these I would certainly find a place in a list of best books written by Irishmen and dealing with Irish subjects, whether biographical, historical, or antiquarian.
About lighter literature I have nothing to say, except that when some good friend to the cause publishes a collection of the Best Hundred Poems composed on Irish themes by Irishmen and Irish women, we shall have a hook which every son of Ireland will place among his own prime favourites.—I am, dear sir, very faithfully yours,
George Atkinson, M.B.
