on the darkest period in our checquered story stems either forgotten or unknown, even to those who show such acquaintance with Irish literature as "Historicus" of his commentators!
2nd. With no less surprise have I missed from the list Cardinal Moran's "Roth's Analecta," which, did it contain nothing more than the astounding revelations made public for the first time in the correspondence between Adam Loftus and Walsingham, should secure for its author at least a notice amongst Irish historians.
3rd. It always seemed to me that the most interesting as well as the most reliable picture of Ireland anterior to Emancipation now existent is that fascinating record, "State of Ireland, 1825."
It faithfully records the views and opinions of every most distinguished Irishman in Church and State then living on every phase of the Irish question, whether social, political, or ecclesiastical and yet it, too, is absent from your lists!—Faithfully yours,
THE EARL OF CARNARVON.
Lord Carnarvon presents his compliments to the editor of the Freeman's Journal, and has read with interest the proof of the article on the "Best Hundred Irish Books," which has reached him here. But at this distance from home, and without access to references which are necessary in order to express an opinion on such a question, Lord Carnarvon would hesitate to make any comment. This much, however, he observes that the title of the "Best Hundred Irish Books" hardly corresponds with the suggestions that follow. Some of the allusions in the article are not to books by Irishmen, or exclusively confined to Irish subjects. Many are chapters or parts of works relating to other matters, and are therefore rather in the nature of materials for the composition of Irish history.
Lord Carnarvon observes that there is an almost entire omission of all works treating of the geological and the economic conditions of the country. No reference to the pre-historic monuments on which much has been written; not a great deal on early legendary history, and only a slight reference to the numerous class of personal memoirs, which are at least of high value for such a purpose as the writer of this article contemplates. It must also be added that the books, or parts of books, alluded to in this article differ very largely from each other in literary and historical value.
Porto Fino, Genoa, 24th March, 1886.
THE RIGHT HON THE LORD MAYOR, M.P.
To my mind the article of "Historicus" on "The Best Hundred Irish Books" is a somewhat straggling and puzzling piece of work. What is meant by the best books? Is it the most instructive, the most entertaining, those that exhibit the finest literary style, or those that arc best calculated to improve the minds and morals of those who read them? "Historicus" does not indicate for us what is his standard of excellence. His definition of what to his mind constitutes an "Irish book" is perfectly novel and somewhat astonishing. "Irish books," he says, "by which I mean books, or parts of books, written, no matter by whom, about Ireland or the Irish." This extraordinary definition brings into the category of Irish books every lampoon and libel on Ireland and the Irish people published in England or in any other part of the world. It includes every book written, no matter by whom, published no matter where, dealing with no matter what subject, if it contains a chapter, conceived in no matter what spirit, relating to Ireland and the Irish people. Under cover of this wide definition he brings into his list such "Irish books" as Thierry's "History of the Norman Conquest," Froude's "History of England."
Green's "History of the English People," Goldwin Smith's Essays, John Bright's Speeches, Macaulay's History of England, Hume's History of England, and so on. It is only a wonder he did not include several volumes of Punch; they contain a good deal "about Ireland and the Irish." Some of the historical works above mentioned have very honest and even sympathetic references to the condition, at various times, of the Irish people; but to designate them as "Irish books" is simply absurd. Of the really Irish books mentioned by "Historicus," some are of slight literary merit, others are, in parts at least, coarse and disgusting caricatures of "Ireland and the Irish," and have done much to fix in the English mind an utterly false idea of the typical Irish peasant. Passing from the article of "Historicus"
I will only say that as your numerous correspondents are rapidly adding to his list of "The Best Hundred Irish Books," I shall name only two or three that up to this time have not been mentioned;—Thom's Directory and "Bunting's and Petrie's Collections of Irish Music."
SIR CHARLES GAVAN DUFFY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN.
Dear Sir—You invite my opinion on the able and exhaustive paper on Irish Books written by "Historicus," and I must begin by expressing iny regret that he did not fortify it with his name. It must be a name worth printing, for I am much mistaken if there be a dozen men in the island who possess the minute knowledge which he exhibits of the materials upon which a serious student of Irish history must meditate. But I fear he commits a mistake in discharging this he of special knowledge on the people as a guide to their reading. It is a guide for students doubtless, and a highly valuable guide, but out of the hundred books he specifies there are not ten which are not removed from the range of popular enjoyment either by their price, their rarity, or their intrinsic importance. Carte's Ormond, for example, would cost as much as a hundred volumes of popular literature, or two hundred of the "Universal" and "World" libraries, which are in vogue just now on the other side of the channel. His hundred books could not be bought for £50, and unfortunately it is difficult to coax an Irishman of the industrious classes, who constitute the bulk of readers as well as the bulk of the nation, to spend more than a shilling or two at a time on any book whatever.
"Historicus" has done such good work that it is worth much time and pains to perfect it, and I venture to suggest that he should frame two lists one for a student's Irish library, the other of works recommended for general reading in Ire-
