Page:The best hundred Irish books.djvu/44

 Young Ireland. By Sir C G Duffy.

Luby’s Life of O’Connell.

Life of O’Connell. Edited by Mullany.

Justin M'Carthy’s History of Our Own Times,

Huffy’s Irish Catholic Magazine.

MUSIC.

Moore’s Melodies set to music by Sir John Stephenson.

Edward Brenting’s Irish Musical Melodies-

The Spirit of the Nation set to music.

Ancient Irish Music. By Dr P W Joyce.

Ancient Irish Song Picked up by Dr Petrie and Set to Music.

MR. CHARLES DAWSON.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN.

Palmerston Park, April 2

My Dear Sir — Before this correspondence closes there is something due to “Historicus,” and those who followed him in the line of instruction, from many like myself who have been benefited by the publication of these letters. We always knew how poor we were in literature, but we did not know how comparatively rich we are. In the tight for bare life w'e could not puton the ornaments of civilisation as independent nations could, and yet, compared with captive ' peoples, from the list of “ Historicus” and his colleagues, we appear to have done our share. Now that t'ne “faculty,” in a literary sense, have made good any omissions, it is difficult for an outsider to suggest anything fi'esh-.

However, in looking over the exhaustive cata- logue of “Historicus” and his commendation under the various heads of History, Romance, and Poetry, a few works suggest themselves which, though perhaps in error, I failed to find mentioned up to this. Sir James Ware’s “ Antiquities and History of Ireland” and his numerous works on t.iie state of this country are full of interest, and allow what love he bore the country he de- fended.

Then I do not remember any allu.sion to the “ Vmdiciae Hiberniae ” of Matthew Carey, bein^ a refutation of the calumnies against his country as to the war of 1641. I am not sure if the works of Dr John Curry, a Catholic physician, especially hi.s “Historical and Critical Review of the Civil Wars in Ireland,” have Vieen mentioned. Dr Curry, with Mr. Wyse and Mr. O’Connor, founded the first “ Catholic Committee,” the forerunner of tbe future “Catholic Association,” which even- tually gained Emancipation. It is not likely that the valuable work of the Rev James Wills, D D, “ The Lives of Illustrious and Distinguished Irishmen,” has escaped notice. The ex-Lord Chancellor Ball says of it — “ It is the first, and such is its excellence that we should not be sur- prised were it the last, attempt to supply a do.sidcratum of oUr literature.” Notice.s of the.so and many others are to be found in a “good Irish book,” “A Compendium of Iri.sh Biography,” by Alfred Webb, wlio has thus himself enriched our literature in a marked de- gree. Irish arclucology is indebted to the late Karl of Dunraven and Mis.s Stokes, who, says Mr Webb, “visited nearly every barony in Iro- laixl,” and published two interesting volumes, of v/hich tlui Athena urn said, “ the learned world

is greatly indebted to both the Earl of Dutiraven and Miss Stokes for producing and publishing so noble a record of antiquity.” My fellow-citizen, Mr Maurice Leuihan, M R I A, must be credited with a most complete and interesting “ History of Limerick,” in which he displays a deep and accurate knowledge of the annals not only of that city but of Ireland.

Turning to Romance : “ The Inva.sion,” by

Gerald Griffin, is a powerful narrative of the Danish period, and his “ Tales of the Five Senses” rival those of Miss Edgeworth in por- traying, though not burlesquing, Irish life. I should not omit a reference to Gerald Griffin’s powerful drama, “ Gysippus.” It was played in London, at Drury-lane, with immense success, and might well be again produced in his native land. Some correspondent might have referred to “ Crofton Croker’s Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland,” but I did not note it. His col- lection of Irish manuscripts and antiquities was most numerous and rare. Very lately Miss O’Byrne has published most inte- resting historical novels, “ The Pale and the Septs,” and others brimming over with inte- rest regarding the exciting periods of ’98 and the Union, These stories, wliich contain vivid pic- tures of social life in Dublin in those times, do not seem to me to have attracted the attention which they deserve.

Amongst the poets has J J Callanan, of Cork, been forgotten ? But could one forget his sweet poem of “ Gougane Barra ? ” it is forgotten, how, ev'er, in the Encyclopoedia of English Literature, but should not be omitted from a list of Irish books. “ The Transactions of the Irish Famine of ’47,” by the Society of Friends, is a most in- teresting and valuable book — a tribute at once to their ability and charity — and may well be classed amongst the “ oest.”

I should also mention the publications of the Irish Home Government Association, in which Isaac Butt, J F Maguire, John 0. Blunden (on Coercion), O’Neill Daunt, and others paved that way on which many, if not all. the popular leaders of our day have since marched to victory.

If Ireland in her woe and misery could thus, as shown by “ Historicus,” turn aside from her necessities, and in the midst of turmoil, so hostile to culture, do so much, what may we not expect from the genius of her people when, relieved from these necessities, she can woo the muse in peace, and become again, as she w;ts of yore, the home <>f saints and scholars ?

As an omen that we are on the eve of such a blessed change I am inclined to welcome the very interesting topic which has been so successfully started by “ Historicus.” — I remain, my dear sir, very faithfully yours,

Charles Dawson.

P S — If books are made by leave.s, tlion wo should not forget the admirable leaflets on poli- tical and social topics published by Mr. Edmund Haivey, of Waterford, and distributed by liim over the United Kingdom. If ))Oor in general literature compai-cd with England, wo are espe- cially so in that practical and social clas.s repre- sented by iSmilea, and such essays as those of the Cobdeu Club, G F Heath, &c, Ac.