dence of
Huguenot historians. The sneers of the Deist Voltaire, and the lies of
the Catholic Cambrensis, receive a sharp chastisement in his preface,
and a full answer in his text. He was a man of the most varied
acquirements and an elegant writer. More full references and the
correction of a few errors of detail would render his book more
satisfactory to the professor of history, but for the student it is the
best in the world. He is graphic, easy, and Irish. He is not a bigot,
but apparently a genuine Catholic. His information as to the numbers of
troops, and other facts of our Irish battles, is superior to any other
general historian's; and they who know it well need not blush, as most
Irishmen must now, at their ignorance of Irish history.

But the Association for liberating Ireland has offered a prize for a
new history of the country, and given ample time for preparation.

Let no man postpone the preparation who hopes the prize. An original
and highly-finished work is what is demanded, and for the composition
of such a work the time affords no leisure.

Few persons, we suppose, hitherto quite ignorant of Irish history, will
compete; but we would not discourage even these. There is neither in
theory nor fact any limit to the possible achievements of genius and
energy. Some of the greatest works in existence were written rapidly,
and many an old book-worm fails where a young book-thrasher succeeds.

Let us now consider some of the qualities which should belong to this
history.

_It should, in the first place, be written from the original
authorities._ We have some notion of giving a set of papers on these
authorities, but there are reasons against such a course, and we
counsel no man to rely on us--every one on himself; besides, such a
historian should rather make himself able to teach us than need to
learn from us.

However, no one can now be at a loss to know what these authorities
are. A list of the choicest of them is printed on the back of the
Volunteer's card for this year, and was also printed in the
_Nation_.[30] These authorities are not enough for a historian. The
materials, since the Revolution especially, exist mainly in pamphlets,
and even for the time previous only the leading authorities are in the
list. The list is not faulty in this, as it was meant for learners, not
teachers; but anyone using these authorities will readily learn from
them what the others are, and can so track out for himself.