longer say, 'St. Thomas à Becket, pray for me.' After the tombs came the convents. Not a kneeling-stool was left. We read in a document cited by the historian,' Item, handed over to his Majesty four chalices of gold with their four patens, and one golden spoon, the whole weighing one hundred and seventy ounces. Received, Henry, king.' The autograph is in London. "In Sweden, the Reformation could not fail of success, for the state was bankrupt, and Gustavus Wasa loved money. The king, therefore, says Menzel, eagerly embraced doctrines which allowed him to appropriate to himself the immense wealth of the clergy...... Denmark was subjected to Christiern the Second, an ambitious prince, avaricious, cruel, the cowardly assassin of the patriots whom he feared. He was himself the slave of Duweke, a Flemish girl of base extraction. The mistress of the king had taken a fancy for the doctrines of Luther. Confession was somewhat onerous to this chaste lady. She succeeded easily in converting her royal lover."

It must be confessed, that, if Protestantism contented itself with the dry narrative of these apostasies, which too frequently remind us of the question of Judas, What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you? the recital would become a little wearisome; but by the side of these modern Judases, the author has, in the interest of truth, placed the noble examples of firmness and Christian faith exhibited by the Catholic clergy. The bishops in his narration appear radiant with majesty. They are despoiled, they protest; they are cast into prison, they are silent; they are led to death, they chant their hymns of triumph.

Whilst the power of the new church is consolidating itself in Germany, whilst the Reformation gains numerous partisans in Bohemia, Poland, and Hungary, whilst it finds a powerful support in France in the nobles, whilst in the Low Countries the revolutionary spirit of the people seizes with avidity on this element of revolt, Catholicity receives from a man poor and without science an aid far more efficacious than the victorious arms of the Emperor or the treasures of the New World. Ignatius Loyola was then founding the Company of Jesus. The author here hesitates not to make the most beautiful eulogium of this Company, and cites in proof a long passage from the historian Menzel. Another Protestant says, that "The Order of the Jesuits has unquestionably contributed more than all others to the preservation of the Roman Catholic faith in those countries which had not as yet embraced Protestantism."

In another chapter the author compares the Protestant institutions with the Catholic, and everywhere assigns the superiority to the latter. He enlarges on Bible societies and Protestant missions. He carries his readers with these missions over the four quarters of the globe, and even to the centre of Oceanica, and makes them see the sterility of their works in contrast with the fruitfulness of the Catholic missions, marching from victory to victory.

Such is this work of Höninghaus, composed of pages selected from Protestant books not heretofore translated into French. In reading them, it is easy to perceive that the dissident writer, while making the defence of our faith, retains somewhat of the old leaven of sectarianism. But if all traces of this kind were effaced from the work, it would be entirely a Catholic book. It is well that at certain turns of thought, at certain epithets, we are reminded that the historian or the theologian does not belong to our communion.

There is, in these two volumes published by M. Audin, a great number of pages very pleasing and attractive. They are marked by a vast erudition; perhaps they are too erudite, and demand too much applica

tion and effort on the part of the reader to be properly appreciated. The anthor has not treated separately each subject which he announces, and given it by aid of his citations a suitable development; but he has preferred to arrange and connect in consecutive order the citations themselves, and to make them form the very groundwork and body of his history. It surely was not to spare himself labor and pains, to attempt to reduce to order, to harmonize, so to speak, the thoughts of so many different authors; to make such a multitude speak on the same subject, and to fetch from so many mouths the same echo of approbation of the Catholic Church. This advantage, so conducive to the triumph of truth, will certainly compensate for the efforts of application certain passages in this book would appear to exact of the reader. However, this work, we are sure, is destined to find its merit acknowledged by all, especially by the serious and reflecting.

2.

A History of Ireland, from its first Settlement to the present Time; including a particular Account of its Literature, Music, Architecture, and Natural Resources, with upwards of Two Hundred Biographical Sketches of its most eminent Men; interspersed with a great Number of Irish Melodies, original and selected, arranged for Musical Instruments, and illustrated with many Portraits of celebrated Irishmen, and a series of Architectural Views. By THOMAS MOONEY, late of the City of Dublin. Boston: By the Author. 1845. 12mo. pp. 1651.

THE subject of this history is one to which no American should be indifferent. There is not a more remarkable people on the globe than the Irish, and none whose history is more worthy of an attentive and profound study. During several centuries of our era, Ireland was the instructress of the European nations, and, in nearly every age since, her scholars have honorably distinguished themselves, especially in poetry and eloquence. No inconsiderable portion of English literature, if we may be pardoned the bull, is Irish. It suffices to mention the names of Swift, Berkeley, Steele, Goldsmith, Sheridan, and Burke. But to us Ireland is more especially interesting for her misfortunes; the unheard of wrongs which she has for so many ages endured; her firm attachment to the Catholic faith under every privation, and amid every temptation; and her recent patriotic efforts to resume her rank among the nations of the earth. The Irish, wherever scattered abroad, are the enemies of oppression, and the ardent - perhaps too ardent - friends of liberty; and we cannot but hope that the time is not far distant when oppression shall cease in their own native isle, and Tara's harp be restrung, and Tara's halls once more resound with the songs of national freedom. We, as a people, have a warm sympathy with Ireland. We remember her generous sympathy with us in our own struggle for independence; that she has furnished a large portion of our own population, and no inconsiderable number of those we delight to honor; and through all our borders ascends the fervent prayer for her deliverance.

Of the merits of Mr. Mooney's work we are but imperfectly qualified to speak. The late day at which we received a copy has not given us time to read it with the care requisite to enable us to pronounce a final

judgment. Moreover, we are not familiar enough with Irish history, ancient or modern, to be able to judge of the merits of the work regarded simply as authentic history. So far as we have read, without vouching for the accuracy of all its details, and reserving to ourselves the right to question, in some instances, both its facts and its theories, we may say that we have found it exceedingly interesting. The author, or rather compiler, has brought together a great mass of valuable information; and if he has not given us a complete history of his nation, he has at least given us a series of highly interesting and instructive lectures on its history. The work is well printed, and its illustrations are creditably executed. It is written in a free, easy, attractive style, which at times rises into a high order of eloquence; and its author is evidently not only a warm-hearted Irish patriot, but a writer of commendable industry and no inconsiderable literary merit. Some may question his taste in several matters of minor importance, and especially the method he takes of bringing his work to the notice of the public; but we trust nothing of this kind will lead any one to underrate his ability, or tend to prejudice any one against the work itself, which those who have read it with more attention than we have, who are altogether more familiar with Irish history than we are or can pretend to be, and whose judgments in any case we should prefer to our own, assure us is really the most complete and readable history of Ireland easily accessible. We hope it will be extensively read; and if it contribute somewhat to a juster appreciation of the Irish character, and tend to create a deeper interest in Ireland's struggle for a redress of grievances, not in vain will it have been written and read.

3. — Puritanism, or a Churchman's Defence against its Aspersions, by an Appeal to its History. By THOMAS W. COIT, D. D. New York. Appleton & Co. 1845. 12mo. pp. 527.

THE Puritans certainly have their faults, and we allow ourselves at times to speak of them in no complimentary terms; but somehow or other, we rarely, if ever, read an attack upon them by others, without being strongly moved to take up the cudgels in their defence. Our old Puritan blood warms in our veins, and we are ready for the fight. Especially is this the case, when we find them attacked by an Episcopalian. We recognize no right in the Episcopalians to call our ancestors hard names. If we ourselves sometimes do so, that is all in the family; but an Episcopalian is a stranger, and has no right to interfere in our family quarrels. In a religious or an ecclesiastical point of view, the Puritan has no occasion to hang his head before an Anglican. Both claim to belong to the Church, and with equal reason, for one is as far from it as the other; both usurp rights which belong only to the Church of Christ; both favor religious establishments, and claim the right to punish heretics and dissenters; both persecute; but the persecutions of the Puritan are as a drop in the bucket, compared with those of the Anglican. Neither has any virtues except those which receive their reward in this life, and in these the Puritan excels. The only real difference between them is, that the Puritan is the more consistent of the two. Both are dissenters, only the Puritan is a dissenter from a dissenter. The Anglican is in this the worse of the

two; for he dissents from the Church which has authority from Christ; the Puritan dissents from a church which has, at best, authority only from the state. We would rather be a Puritan than an Anglican, though we thank God, that, through his great mercy, we are no longer either.

As to the book before us, it is crude, declamatory, and destitute of all literary merit. Dr. Coit is a scholar and a man of ability. He appears to have had the facts before him, and might have given us a good history of Puritanism. He ought to be ashamed of having sent out so hasty, confused, and ill-digested a work; and we will not pardon him, till he revises it, compresses it at least three fourths, reduces his ample materials to order, and relates his facts in a straightforward manner, so that one can get them from his book, even in case he should not happen to be previously familiar with them.

4.

History of the Variations of the Protestant Churches. By JAMES BENIGN BOSSUET, Bishop of Meaux. From the French. New York: J. & D. Sadlier. 1845. 2 vols. 12mo.

WE welcome right heartily an American edition of this valuable work by the celebrated Bossuet. Every Catholic who is likely to come in contact with his Protestant neighbours should own and study it; and every Protestant who would appreciate his own religion, and ascertain the sandy foundation on which he is building, should also make himself familiar with it. We thank the Messrs. Sadlier for their enterprise in bringing it out, and trust they will find their interest in having done so.

5.-I Promessi Sposi. The Betrothed. By ALESSANDRO MANZONI. New York: Appleton & Co. 2 vols. 12mo.

WE have experienced too much romance in real life, and seen too much of the effects of romance and novel-reading on those very dear to us, to be able to recommend the reading of novels and romances. It is not well to waste over scenes of fictitious woe the tears and sympathy due to the real miseries of life. Yet we can recommend this romance by Manzoni, which, by the by, is too well known, and too highly appreciated wherever known, to stand in any need of our recommendation. So far as we are acquainted, it is deserving to rank first among the first romances in any language. It is the production of true genius, and breathes a spirit and inculcates a moral that one is the better for being familiar with.

6. The Catholic Keepsake.

delphia Fithian. 1845.

Edited by PROFESSOR WALTER. Phila12mo. pp. 252.

THE paper, printing, and binding of this new Catholic annual are very beautiful, and do the publisher great credit. The illustrations are not so

happy. They will be better hereafter. We have read the volume with much pleasure; and if we had not read it at all, from the known taste and ability of its accomplished editor, we should not hesitate a moment to recommend it to our readers. We are glad to see the efforts our Catholic publishers are making to furnish our Catholic public with a good stock of Catholic literature, and especially to witness the improved style in which they are sending out their publications. There was a time when Catholic publications in this country were sent out in quite a shabby dress. This time is passing away. Messrs. Dunigan and Sadlier, New York, Fithian and Cunningham, Philadelphia, Murphy, and the conductors of the Metropolitan Press, Baltimore, and Donahoe, of this city, deserve honorable mention for the general typographical neatness and beauty of their publications. We must not let heresy have the advantage in typography. The edition of the Holy Bible recently issued by Messrs. Sadlier, and especially that issued by Mr. Dunigan, of New York, are both very beautiful, and deserving, as they no doubt receive, the liberal patronage of the Catholic public.

7.- The Christian's Guide to Heaven, or a Manual of Spiritual Exercises, with the Evening Office of the Church in Latin and English, and a Selection of Pious Hymns. Boston: Donahoe. 1845. 16mo. Pp. 288.

THIS is a very good little manual of piety, and, though not superior to many others in common use, will yet be very acceptable to the devout Christian. The addition of the Ordinary of the Mass we think would be an improvement. The Hymns are selected with judgment and taste. The size is very convenient, and the book presents a very beautiful specimen of typography.

Edited by C. EDWARDS

8. The Jesuits. Translated from the French of MM. MICHELET and QUINET, Professors in the College of France. LESTER. New York: Gates & Stedman. & Co. 1845. 12mo. pp. 225.

Boston Haliburton

THIS work was received too late to be noticed at length in our present number. All we can say of it now is, that it is not unworthy of its two infidel authors, nor of its American editor.

THIS number commences the third volume of our Review, the second of the Catholic series. The work properly begins with the second volume, of which we can, to a limited extent, furnish new subscribers with the numbers. The general character of this Journal is now well known, and we can appeal with confidence to the American Catholic public for its support. Such a work, it is believed, is needed, and it is evident that it must rely almost exclusively on the Catholic public for patronage.