Samuel Ferguson and Gerald Griffin who are only intruders here, and who are represented by the most familiar of their poems. Mr. Paul deserves our thanks for his perseverance in compiling such a work, and his courage in sending it out on the world. Some of his critical estimates would fall an easy prey to a cynical reviewer, and certainly he does not err on the side of excessive severity.

5. Pastoral Theology. By William Stang, D.D. (Brussels: Société Belge de Librairie).

The title-page of this fine octavo joins with the Belgian publishers M. H. Gill and Son of Dublin, Burns and Oates of London, and Benziger of New York, Cincinnati and Chicago. It also informs us that Dr. Stang was formerly Rector of the Cathedral in Providence, Rhode Island, and is now Vice Rector, and Professor of Pastoral Theology, in the American College, Louvain. The present volume is a very beautiful treatise on the special department of ecclesiastical knowledge which is confided to his care as professor. The first book treats of preaching and catechising, the second of all the sacraments in order and all the sacramentals, and the third of pastoral direction. The circumstances of the United States* and of Ireland are sufficiently similar to make Dr. Stang's observations almost always suitable for an Irish priest. We should be surprised if we heard of a priest from the country taking up this book from the counter of 50 Upper O'Connell Street and laying it down again, except for the purpose of extracting from his purse the six shillings which would make him its possessor.

6. The Love of Nature in English Poetry. By Patrick Morgan MacSweeney, B.A. (Dublin: Alexander Thom and Co).

Prize Essays are seldom literature. Mr. MacSweeney's Essay on the above subject, which won the Chancellor's Gold Medal for English Composition, 1896, in the Royal University of Ireland, is an exceedingly meritorious exception. In matter and form it is a model of its class. The style is sober, clear, and unaffected, and there is a great deal of solid thought and original research in the substance. It shows very

wide reading. The part that regards the influence of the Celtic spirit is particularly interesting. The compact type of Her Majesty's Printing Office has condensed into these fifty pages of royal octavo more than the matter of many a pretentious volume. It is, as we have

The American accent is discernible occasionally. An amusing instance is where "the best models in English Literature are Shakespeare, Longfellow, Washington Irving, Dickens, Wiseman, Newman, Manning, Faber, and Brownson." Of all the poets since Shakespeare only the Author of Evangeline! we might have worse. But Washington Irving has no right to be found in such

terribly select company.

Well,

said, a piece of literature of great promise, and, as it stands, a highly meritorious performance.

7. Cromwell in Ireland. A History of Cromwell's Irish Campaign. By the Rev. Denis Murphy, S.J. (Dublin: M. H. Gill and Son, 1897).

This is a new edition, well printed and bound, although costing only three shillings and sixpence, of one of the most admirable monographs devoted to any period of Irish History. When it was first reprinted from our own pages with large additions as a separate volume, it received the highest praise for accuracy, research, and impartiality from such authorities as Dr. S. R. Gardiner and the Editor of The Spectator. The present edition begins with a short sketch of the Author. To the history itself, which occupies 360 pages, are appended 70 pages of small type, illustrating many of the more interesting places and persons mentioned in the previous chapters. A very perfect index of 50 pages completes a laborious and conscientious work which will long preserve the memory of its Author. We may add that of Father Murphy's last book, "Our Martyrs," which only issued from the press a few months ago, more than twelve hundred copies have already been sold.

8. Pius the Seventh 1800-1823. Burus and Oates).

By Mary H. Allies. (London :

Though it is not stated, this work has appeared as a volume of the Quarterly Series begun and carried on for so many years by the quiet energy and devotedness of Father Coleridge, S.J. Miss Allies has narrated the history of the long and memorable Pontificate of the first Pope of this century, with a thoroughness of research and a dignity of style worthy of her illustrious father.

9. Moran's Spring Annual 1897. (Aberdeen: Moran and Co).

This sixpenny brochure contains six stories with illustrations. The stories are all by different authors; Mrs. Guthrie, Mafra Neville, Martin MacHugh, Welbourne Summers, Maria Nethercott, and J. J. Moran. In American fashion a short account is given of each of the authors, with portraits of two of the ladies. The third lady, of whom no portrait is given, interests us most, as she lived and died in Dublin. An important event in her life is not alluded to in this account of her, namely her conversion to the Catholic Faith which took place a few years ago. Miss Nethercott died last Christmas, after a long illness borne to the last with a joyful serenity which greatly edified and consoled her good and devoted Protestant relatives.

10. Scripture Manuals for Catholic Schools. Sydney F Smith. (London: Burns and Oates).

Edited by the Rev.

We have given the general title of this series, but in reality this

first issue is part II of the Acts of the Apostles, chapters 13-28. The author of this admirable little commentary is the Rev. T. A. Burge, O.S.B., who annotates briefly and clearly every point in the sacred narrative. There are compact appendices describing St. Paul's three missionary journeys and his voyage to Rome, with an account of his five recorded discourses. An excellent map of St. Paul's journeys is prefixed. This very meritorious work has been undertaken with a view to the Oxford and Cambridge local examinations; but other intelligent Catholic readers who are beyond the examination age, will gladly make use of it. The series is to consist of five volumes-one on each of the three Synoptic Gospels, and two on the Acts of the Apostles.

11. Cochem's Life of Christ. Adapted by the Rev. Bonaventure Hammer, O S.F. (Benziger: New York, Cincinnati, Chicago).

This is a volume of more than three hundred pages, giving with some developments and pious meditations the scriptural narrative of our Lord's life and death. We should have wished indeed that a pious fancy should have been less indulged in such imaginary conversations as we find set down minutely at page 160. illustrations, which are not numerous, are very good.

The

12. Les Grandes Cathédrales du Monde Catholique. Par L. Cloquet. (Sold by M. H. Gill and Son: Dublin).

The

This magnificent quarto contains 380 pages illustrated by 208 engravings, and yet its price is only six francs, The author is one of the most learned authorities on ecclesiastical architecture. pictures of all the famous cathedrals are admirably executed. well worth buying and then getting suitably bound.

13. The Invention of God's Love for Man. By the Very Rev. T. Brady, P.P., (Dublin: M. H. Gill and Son.)

We are glad that the pious Pastor of Cootehill has at last been persuaded to place his name on the title-page of his book. He is the anonymous "Missionary Priest" who has for many years published the pious treatises entitled "How to escape Purgatory," "Shall we be saved," "Zeal for Souls," etc. They are all distinguished by great simplicity of style and a tender piety. The present little treatise is one of the most excellent of the series, and consists of thirteen chapters regarding the holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The fine large type will be acceptable to the simple readers for whom Father Brady chiefly consults.

14. The Catholic Truth Society has sent us the second part of "Rome: a Lecture for use with the Magic Lantern." Even without the fifty-three slides which can be hired to illustrate it, the lecture

reads very pleasantly in the fine big type employed for the convenience of possible lecturers by gaslight and perhaps with spectacles. From the same Society we have also received an admirably printed and admirably bound" 2nd revised edition" of Cobbett's "History of the Reformation," with notes and preface by Father Francis Aidan Gasquet, D.D., O.S.B.-400 pages thus produced and the price only two shillings. Best of all, they promise us at once a new volume of Miss Frances Maitland's exquisite stories.

TH

THANKS.

HE few pages towards the end of last year's volume which were headed "Thanks, Promises, Requests" have borne meanwhile such abundant fruit that we feel constrained to devote a page or two to thanks, not minding for the present requests and promises.

In the whole life of our Divine Redeemer there is hardly any scene so touching as when He deigned to complain that only one of the ten lepers who were cured came back to give thanks, It is a sacred duty to thank every one whose heart resembles the Sacred Heart so far as to do us a kindness very kindly. Without pausing to discuss the difference between kindness and kindliness, it is plain that the same substantial act of kindness may (to use a big word with no very particular meaning in it) be marvellously differentiated by the manner, tone, time, and other circumstances that accompany it.

In his "Spiritual Conferences" Father Faber says many very beautiful things about Kindness, dividing his subject into kind thoughts, kind words, and kind deeds. Under which heading will come kind letters, of which the brilliant Oratorian says nothing special? The particular form of kindness that moves our gratitude most of all just now is kind letter-writing. Blessed are they who can write readily a kind letter. Some excellent persons deprive a gift of half its grace by the ungracious, or at least ungraceful, letter that introduces it. But on the other hand how much a renewed subscription is enhanced in value by being conveyed with words like these, especially when the writer is of social position, religion, circumstances, and traditions such as might seem to disentitle a periodical like ours to her slightest recognition, much more to such excessive kindness as the following.

Here we had copied some amiable extracts from the letters of a titled lady and a policeman, of an Irish priest in England and an Irish priest at home; but on second thoughts it seems in better taste to cut them out and to represent them by that row of asterisks. However, the last of the four is so short and so reticent that it may safely be given. It only says:-" I enclose cheque for