n to his ancestors, some 1500 years before, to
act, as if the state of things which ought to obtain, in territory
which traditionally, at any rate, belonged to his forefathers, did
really exist. And, that being so, I can only say I do not agree with
him, but leave the matter to the appreciation of those of our
countrymen, happily not yet the minority, who believe that the first
condition of enduring liberty is obedience to the law of the land.

* * * * *

The end of the month drawing nigh, I thought it well to send away the
manuscript of the foregoing pages yesterday, leaving open, in my own
mind, the possibility of adding a succinct characterisation of Mr.
Gladstone's controversial methods as illustrated therein. This
morning, however, I had the pleasure of reading a speech which I think
must satisfy the requirements of the most fastidious of controversial
artists; and there occurs in it so concise, yet so complete, a
delineation of Mr. Gladstone's way of dealing with disputed questions
of another kind, that no poor effort of mine could better it as a
description of the aspect which his treatment of scientific,
historical, and critical questions presents to me.

The smallest examination would have told a man of his
capacity and of his experience that he was uttering the
grossest exaggerations, that he was basing arguments upon
the slightest hypotheses, and that his discussions only had
to be critically examined by the most careless critic in
order to show their intrinsic hollowness.

Those who have followed me through this paper will hardly dispute the
justice of this judgment, severe as it is. But the Chief Secretary
for Ireland has science in the blood; and has the advantage of a
natural, as well as a highly cultivated, aptitude for the use of
methods of precision in investigation, and for the exact enunciation
of the results thereby obtained.

FOOTNOTES:

[101] Thus Josephus (lib. ix.) says that his rival, Justus,
persuaded the citizens of Tiberias to "set the villages
that belonged to Gadara and Hippos on fire; which
villages were situated on the borders of Tiberias and
of the region of Scythopolis."

[102] It is said to have been destroyed by its captors.

[103] "But as to the Grecian cities, Gaza and Gadara and
Hippos, he cut them off from the kingdom and added them
to Sy