certain, too, that had he resigned his living he must have starved. I mention this merely as a curio.

Among the really learned ecclesiastical writers of the generation must be counted T. W. ALLIES, whose work is yet scarcely sufficiently recognised even by his co-religionists. Born in 1813, he became fellow of Oxford, and was later chaplain to Bishop Bloomfield. He joined the Catholic Church in 1850, resigning his preferments. The mere titles of his works show how large and how broad was the range of his learning. He wrote "The See of St. Peter and the claims of the Primacy." He gave an account of his own course and struggles in a work significantly called "Per Crucem ad Lucem-the Result of a Life," issued in 1850. But his magnum opus was a great and comprehensive treatise on the formation of Christendom, which occupied him for many years of laborious investigation. As may be conceived, the field of inquiry must have been enormous.

*

Many will recall in Dublin the quiet, soft-voiced Professor who lived a life of retirement from 1855

*The most stupendous work of this class in modern days would seem to be the Berlin Professor Harnack's gigantic "History of Doctrine," the references alone betokening an amount of reading and research that seems incredible in the case of a single man. It is all in the interests of the "Higher " or destructive criticism.

till his death in 1877. This was JAMES ROBERTSON, whom Dr. Newman had named a teacher at his abortive Catholic University, or rather High School. He was not thought to be of much mark, and yet, in his unpretending way, he had exercised a vast deal of influence. He had been schooled under De Lammenais and the Abbé Gerbet, who makes such an important figure in the "Récit d'une Sour." He had studied literature almost as a profession, and was the first to bring before the English public F. Schlegel's "Philosophy of History," in a scholarly translation, which still "holds the field," and has passed through many editions. This was issued in 1835, a time for some epoch-making works, which sank deeper into the public mind than they would do now. Möhler's "Symbolik" was also rendered into English by him in 1843. The very title of this work -"An Exposition of Doctrinal Differences between Catholics and Protestants, as Evidenced by their Symbolical Writings "-shows of what interest it must have been for those engaged in the serious struggle of the time. As was to be expected, many editions were called for, and it made "a profound impression" on the Tractarian party at Oxford. This was not much literary baggage, but, all the same, Robertson was a link between the German movement of the 'thirties, the Lammenais agitation, and Dr. Newman. Schlegel was a name to

conjure with, as any one will see who reads CrabbRobinson's account of German provincial coteries at the time. In Dublin these claims were found of small interest, and Robertson was looked on as an amiable, commonplace personage.

An interesting man died last year-one of the few survivors of the old literary school. This was THOMAS ARNOLD, second son of the famous Headmaster of Rugby. A cultured man of high literary tastes, as might be expected in the case of the brother of Mathew Arnold, he was associated with Wordsworth and other poets. Like his brother, he became an inspector of schools, but on embracing the Catholic faith had to resign his office. It is stated that after an interval he became dissatisfied with his new religion and reverted, but on further consideration he returned, and thenceforth was to live and die a Catholic. This was, no doubt, a case of hasty or imperfect preparation, and under such conditions the person can hardly be considered to have given up his old opinions at all. He found a haven in the "Catholic University" at Dublin, and later in the new Royal University. His daughter is the well-known novelist, Mrs. Humphry Ward, one of the writers by whom spiritual conflicts and problems are used for purposes of fiction and, indeed, made very interesting.

There has lately appeared a long-expected Life of COVENTRY PATMORE, one of those men who have known most of the interesting men of the day. He was a dreamy being, a poet of a superior order, and had something of Leigh Hunt's poco curante temperament. Every one knows his " Angel in the House," always understood to be a portrait of the first of his three wives. He was a convert, and always wrote in a religious and Catholic spirit. In his earliest enthusiasm he expended a large sum on building a church at St. Leonard's, and, with a sort of unexpected oddity, called in a Protestant architect-a friend of his own-the accomplished Mr. Basil Champneys, to design the work. When it was completed the donor fancied that he was to have a sort of control-he also complained that other engagements had been broken-in which he was speedily undeceived, with the result of an estrangement between him and the clergy of the place. This was an unfortunate result to so disinterested and useful a plan. His poems are somewhat passionate in dealing with love. We have other Catholic poets who write in this passionate strain, using much warm and original imagery; but such themes are perishable and transitory, and have no real basis: on the same principle, stories in which amatory agonies and distresses are set forth with an earnest sympathy by clergymen and Catholics are scarcely

compatible with devotion to Catholic teachings and principles. Coventry Patmore was also a graceful writer of prose, and his lighter essays are remarkable for this grace and much original feeling. He had an extraordinary sympathy for another pleasing writer of our time-Alice Meynell--to whose choice and delicate utterances he was never wearied in directing public attention, by both praises and criticism.

A most cultured and "graceful poet would perhaps be the best description of AUBREY DE Vere. Every one seemed well affected towards him and in perfect sympathy. Some years ago he furnished his reminiscences of a long career; it was surprising to find with what a number of important personages he had been on terms of intimacy.

The earlier Catholics of the 'forties, as I have shown, shrank from the public service-perhaps from a timidity and because they felt they were distrusted; but it must be said that wherever they did come forward they were distinguished for ability. From Stonyhurst there came three who made a reputation in the Colonies-CHARLES CLIFFORDlater Sir Charles-who became a Speaker of one of the Houses of Parliament; CHARLES WELD, well distinguished as Minister of State and Governor in