tuous cadences of a modern English school, and who, being fortunately young, is certain to do good work for us in the future. How many hun- dred bookists know the dainty “ Oscar and l']va” of T C Irwin, or ‘‘Unspoken Words,” by Bovle O’Reilly ? The Irish Penny Readings might be commended as volumes which ountain many admirable selections from Irish authors in prose and verse, not otherwise ejisily accessible, Mr Alfred Webb’s Compendium of Irish Biography is, in another way, a perfect treasure, and must have cost him a lifetime of research and a world of pain. A real history of Ireland has yet to be written, and will not be undertaken except with the encouragement begotten of an emancipated people. I regret very much the sluggishness of the Royal Irish Academy. It does as little for ancient Irish literature as Trinity College does for modern learning (pace our good friends Galbraith and Houghton). There is, moreover, a smack of pedantry over much of what passes by the name of “ learning” with us, and occasionally some bos- thoonery. Other correspondents have fitly filled such gaps as “Historicus” may have left; and you will add to the service conferred on your readers if a selection be made and republished in a handy form of the letters on this subject. — Yours truly, T M Hbalt.
VERY REV CANON DOYLE, PP, RAMSGRANGE.
TO THE EDITOR OP THE FREEMAN.
Presbytery, Ramsgrange, Arthurstown, April 5.
DearSir — I have been honoured long since by the receipt of “ Historicus,” but as the minnow is out of place amongst whales, 1 deemed it more dis- creet to keep out of “ the swim,” as my little canoe might get crushed amongst the ironclads, and thought it safer not to launch it in the midst of their evolutions. Now, however, that the heavy ordnance has been discharged, and the bray of the trumpet is dying away on the breeze, the penny whistle and the pop-gun may be a variety. It seems to me, of all the learned, eloquent, and in- teresting communications on the subject, that of Sir C G Duffy is the best and most practical. I don’t take that gloomy view of our past which seems to oppress some of your most distinguished correspondents. I believe when the ample mate- rials now being disentombed and collected are placed in the hands of a gifted and accomplished historian, the story of Ireland wih be one of the most attractive and edifying in the history of the world. Our defeats and disasters are just as in- telligible as those of other nations overwhelmed by the superior force of cruel and unscrupulous enemies. On theirs was the Saxon and guilt.” But, sir, there is one boast (^’‘8% gloriari oportet, non exptdii quidem"' ) in which we can indulge, given to no other nation under the sun — our sufferings and sacrifices for the holy Catholic faith. Ip oHier countries many suffered, num- bers were tortured, but aU our people were put to the rack and the gibbet; so that, in simple truth, Ireland is the martyr nation of Christendom. This, I know, counts for very little in the estima- tion of an infidel world, but it is of vast import- ance to dear old Catholic Ireland. 1 congratulate my young friends on the many 'ueautiful books and instructive papers they now can procure for the merest trifle, but w'liich were not to be had for love or money in my early days, I am auxious tluvt some one more skilled than I can pre.su me to bo would draw up a list of books for the young, for liegiuners, and for that large and ever-increasing class who wish to know the history of their native land, but who have neitber money nor time to devote to the luxury of a na- tional library ; wealthy and learned leisure will be able to select for itself. — Dear sir, yours obediently, Thomas Canon Doyle, P P.
LADY FLORENCE DIXIE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN.
Sir — Throughout the interesting discussion which the able compilation of books by “ Histori- cus ” has elicited in your columns, only a few correspondents have referred to the best Irish books for British readers. As I think this is a very important point, I trust you will forgive me for naming nine books, which I believe are the very best that any Britisher ignorant of Ireland’s history and cause could read, and having done so come enlightened tliereon. The nine works in question are — 1st, Haverty’s History of Ireland. 2nd. Mitchel’s History of Ireland. 3rd. The Rise and FaU of the Irish Nation, by Sir J Barrington. 4th. Ireland and her Agitators, by W J O’Neill Daunt. 5th. Ireland under English Rule, by The Abbe Perraud. 6th. Young Ireland, by Sir Charles Gavan Duffy. 7th. Four Years of Irish History, by Sir C Gavan Duffy. 8th. New' Ireland, by A M Sullivan. 9th. The Parnell Movement, by T P O’Connor. There are of course many others that might be read with advantage, but the above works carry on the chain of Irish History from one period to another, and supply information on nearly every event of importance, and on nearly every ques- tion affecting the position of Ireland and her re- lation to England. The Britisher who makes himself acquainted with their contents cannot plead ignorance of the Irish Question. — Your obedient servant, Florence Dixie.
MR. OLIVER J. BURKE, B.L.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN.
25 Morehfginptou-road, Dublin,
3rd April, 1886.
Sir — One of the best Irish novels — “Untenanted Graves,” by Charles Kickham — unsurpassed in its delineation of Irish character, should not be for- gotten in selecting “The Best Hundred Irish Books.” Neither should we forget Mr. Justice “O’Hagan’s Ballads,” nor his “ Song of Roland.” In his preface to that charming poem the learned Judge has displayed much of research, and has thrown a flood of light on the early history of the immediate successors of Charlemagne. Morley’s Edmund Burke is also well worthy of place. So is the “ French Revolution,” by John George MacCarthy, and the History of
