The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-25
/" NEW IRELAND.D
puhlin Nation. N&r.

the above title has just been isaned in two
large and hAndsome volumes By Mesers
Sampson, Low and Co., Fleet street. Lon
don. lite publication was awaited with
much esgerness by large number of per
eoIs both in ireland and EoRiRpd, ard we
believe New IreIspd" VIII not disappoint
the expectations which have been formed OF
| it. It is not q political pea, or sDy argu-
| mert fog auy set Of opiuions; nor yet is it
| closely knit history Of the course of Irish
| Affairs during the past quarter of q century.
Ii comprises q series of chapters which
might correctly be described as the authors
personal reccllections of Ireland. They are
written in 9 condensed. highly picturesque,
and vivid style, and each IN its turn takes
. powerful grasp of the readers attention.
In it's plan and its Feet on tie mind the
work seems to Us to resemble those diora-
mas Of foreign lands " hich are occasionally
taken about and exhibited. The artist
who illustrates tour through India or the
holy Land does not depict every mile Of
the road he selects o number of the most
striking of the We've which present them
selves along the journey, and brings them
before the eye OF the spectator in close sue
ceseicn, dividing them only by the conven-
eional big rock or tall trees arising out of
the foreground. In like manner ia each
chapter in Mr.. Sullivan's work o separate
and distinct scene which does not flow or
fuse into the next, bat 10 made to bring out
very marked effects of relief or contrast.
In these sketches of IRISH life there are
bright scenes aad dstk ones, scenes rich in
racy humor and others p%xpeessibly sad,
all of which, taken together, make up what
We regard rs q very interesting, impressive,
and valuable work. Although the facts
here told are 70 rs in . great degree fami!-
lar, We have fousd this narration of them
come with wonderful freshness upon our
mind, and bring Up crowding recollectiops
which remain vita Ms long after the last
page has been turred, snd the volumes put
aside. But for pelsons having less con-
nected memory of the men and the events
referred to, and especially for English peo-
pie, who know very little about them, Mr..
Sullivan's work 10 likely to poesess q still
greater charm. We Understand that, not
withstapding its high price, the pu ubiishers
have received large orders for New Ire
land" which, We feel certain, will have q
long-continued and extenslve circulation.
In his brief preface, the suthor has given
very clear account of the character and
scope of his work-one which will occupy
80 little space that We are tempted to qRote
it here. he saya:
Within considerably less than half 9 century
changes, social and political, accom- plishipR y
veritable revolution have taken place in Ire.
land. In the follosiDg pages l have under
taken q ot SO much b picture them in ell their
phases, or 10 write formal history of the
serEatio1, series a sketches or narratives
which may perhaps sseist in the reader aud
more correct appreciation of visible results.
have indeed been mindful Of the fact that
these volumes woqid be published, and, if
may say it, be read nEp gland yet decided
not to write them eitler "for' or "at' the En-
glish people, but to tel my stovy in ny own
way, and from my own point of view. l do
not pretend to be diepassionste l have borne
AS will be seen in what foiiows-an active
part in some of the stsrmiest scenes of Irish
lie 70 TO- Z. e
and wish hold my place as mau of
decided views and strong convictions.
trust, however, il may 10 found that ! have
taken thought of the responsibilities which
devolge upon one who atteupra contribu
tion, DO matter how humble, to the history of
his time, not TO the controversies of politics
or poiemics. l avow, peIhaps, too bold an sm
btion in expressing The hope that these
chapters may assiat in prorroLing that better
understanding and kindlier feeling between
the New Engla and the New Ireland which
patriotic hearts on either shore must asSnredly
desire. No lighter confederation no hope less
high, has led Inc to undertake them.
The fret of the two volumes into which
tho work is divided ia cOncern ned rather
with the OLD Ireland than with the new. 1t
has reference to the establishment of the
system of National Education, TO the Re-
peal era, the Ribbon conspiracy, the Fam
Inc, the Temperance movement, the Young
Ireland party, the Land War in the south-
ern aud midland counties, the operation of
the Incumbered Estates Act, the Tenant
League, aud the fortunes of the SRGlierite
party. In each of these sections of the
work very graphic picture of the condi,
ton of the country at the time referred TO
is presented, and in many cases some racy
stories illustrative of the period are told.
The author closes his chapter entitled
"The School Master Abroad" with the fol-
lowing remarks:
Not all at once will one perceive how many
and how vast are the changes which flow from
theee altered circumstances. 1t is, repeat
nothing less than q revolution that the hum
BILE little thatch-roofed National ScbooI-or,
let me more accurately say, the Nationsl
School supplemented by q cheap popular liter
ature-has effected In ireland. Political lead
ershiP, in the sense in which it prevailed in
our fathers time is gone for ever-wcuid be
simply impossible now. And with the old
time leadership Of one magnificent genius, or
one well trusted class there have also disappear
ed many Of the old time modes and habits of
political life and action. It is utterly aston.
ishing how few persons seem to realize or to
have noticed these changes, so pslpAbly though
80 silently wrought under their very eyes
during the last thirty years. Every day we
hear some one whose memory dweIIs ardently
on the period of Reform, or Emancipation or