The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-29 00:00:00

THE LATE DR. LINGARD.

The death of Dr. Lingard is a national loss. As a
candid, impartial, and comprehensive historian, ho be-
queaths to his country a work, the labour of long years,
which may be pronounced the standard " History of
England," up to that point from which Macaulay starts.
The strict fairness and undeviating fidelity with which
the task is accomplished without the sacrifice of a con-
viction, the mild and tolerant principles, the large and
varied learning at once discursive and profound, the
lucid and ample style, render Dr. Lingard's History an
honour to his country arid to his Church, and an en-
during monument to his own fame. It is accepted by
all creeds, opinions, and parties, with equal respect and
admiration. The unruffled calm of this good man's long
and unostentatious life, the disregard of noisy celebrity,
the deep love of retirement, th© simplicity of life and
manners which distinguished his character, are as de-
lightful as they are instructive to recall; for they evi-
dence the temperate nature, the mild and patient spirit,
the open and chastened heart, which are the very
ideal of a Christian, and the only true signification
of a Catholic. That Dr. Lingard should have been
able, even in times of bitterness and intolerance,
to maintain and assert his own convictions, with-
out forfeiting the esteem of his controversial ad-
versaries, that his death should now be mourned as a
national bereavement, and a full voice of sympathy and
honour swell around his grave, is a high and signal proof
that it is not so much diversity of opinions as harshness
of imputation that rends men asunder: that truth need
never fear discussion: that it is only the perverse inge-
nuity of systems that can distort and thwart generous and
upright natures, which, left to their own development,
bring forth fruits of loving-kindness.
Doctor Lingard had happily lived far removed from
the atmosphere of the Papal Court; and so he died, as
he lived, an English Catholic. May we not, Englishmen
of all Churches or of none, lay aside our differences for
a moment at least, as we stand at the grave of a bro-
ther of whose memory we are proud? May we not
condescend to a little less of theology and a little more
of charity and forbearance?
In another part of our columns will be found a letter
[first published in The Arun.) from the friend and physi-
cian of Dr. Lingard, replying unnecessarily we think,
but with a natural indignation, to an ignoble report of
w•e know not what obscure paper. The beloved histo-
rian had long endured a painful malady with the un-
swerving fortitude of a philosopher and a Christian,
and he breathed his last in perfect happiness and trust-
ful peace.
The latest edition of the " History of England," and
we believe the fifth, was published in 1849, by Dolman,
and is in ten volumes.

" The History and Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon
Church" had been almost re-written by him.
The last work from the venerable Doctor's pen was a
republication at his suggestion of a treatise originally
written some years ago, entitled " Documents to ascer-
tain the Sentiments of British Catholics in former Ages,
respecting the Power of the Popes." This was issued
de circonstance last winter, with a preface by his friend,
the Rev. M. A. Tierney, the historian of Arundel.—
Leader.