New-York tribune., 1907-09-07
literary yNet0s and Criticism.

patriotic Irishnen sometimes lacked something
that might have served to make their tub prac-
uce and their organization OF popular move
ments CT permanent avail.
Another characteristic Of MI Larnpson's pres
entation OF Irish conditions is common TO the
sreeE-backed Irish histories Every i'll from
which Ireland has ever suffered is due 10 Eng
nsh causes. Apparently there could have been
q race OF people very near to the angels III
character and heavenly attributes # ENGLAND
IN The twelfth century had not had the misfor-
tune to become hyphened to Ireland-if there
had been no English settlement TO setting up
OF d Parliament and A system of representation
on the English model; attempt 10 establish
me English Church in ireland: no Irish munic-
iT'ai corporations the Bristol model. no laws
III restraint Of Irish trade. and no penal code
Most men not OF Irish origin. and certainly most
bnEiishmen who read Mr.. Lanpson's numerous
pages describing generations of social anarchy
IN Ireland, win feel like laying aside the book
with the fervent wish that the fate that at
tended the French naval expeditions against
Ireland in the days Of Napoleon had attended
Strongbows expedition: and that all that had
remained Of Strongbow had been p mural slab
IN Westminster Abbey telling what A daring
ana adventurous fellow he was and how he was
enguifed by a storm III the Channel While en-
route to add another emerald TO the British
crown.
Nevertheless Mr. Lampson's book is in some re-
specta distinctly much better than the studies
Of Irish history hv some other Irish historians
His delineation Of the penal code against the
Roman Catholics is moro detailed than any at
tempt 70 reproduce it since Simon Butler wrote
his history Of II part Of the literary propa-
EaEda Of the movement that led 10 the Parlia-
rnentary franchise being restored to the Catho-
lies in Ireland iu : ' The long str gle for
Catholic e1nancipa ton IS exceptionally we'll told
it brings out what IS ofte-, lacking in Irish his
tories Of the movement that ended in 1s2a-the
fact that for nearly forty years the Roman
Catholics i'm Ireland had more civil liberty than
Roman Catholics in England and Scotland L
follows with much interesting detail the fate Of
the various proposals that were made between
the Union and 1899 for giving the British gov
ernment some veto on the appointment Of
bishops by the ecclesiastical authorities at
Rome There was no provision for a veto in the
act cF 1929. and the absence Of il has been 10
disadvantage to the British government. hut j:
Is distinctly Of value :" have the proposals
clearly stated by an author who is obviously
familiar with the history and economy of the
Church Of Rome in ireland. Land legislation
for Ireland from 1870 to 1881 IS also well de-
seribed: 80 are Tho conditions Of the Irish
Church in the century that preceded it's dis
esta bIislluent. Tho chapter education is less
satisfactory because there Is no clear or de-
tailed exposition Of the system of staUe-man-
taired education at the present day But apart
from the Irish and Roman Catholic bias The
voluue IS unsatisfactory from other points Of
view There are scores OF statements which
call for some authority IN their support. the
euc~nlous mass Of material is not always well
uarshalled. and there is some repetition. There
is to-day M more obvious lack in British his
torical literature than that OF q really good
story Of ireland in the nineteenth century. Mr..
I.alapson's volume over and over again sug-
scsts what an interesting and valuable addition
might he made ny such work. but unfortu-
nately notwithstanding all the time and labor
that has gone to its production, It does not be-
gin 70 al this need.