12 APRIL 1913, Page 3

Professor Edward Dowden, who died last week, had held the

chair of English Literature at Trinity College,Dublin, since 1867. He wrote many excellent books, amongst which his admirable critical study of " Shakspere : His Mind and Art," his life of Shelley, and his short monograph of Southey were perhaps pre-eminent, but his nature was even finer than his books. There never was a man of great learning so free from the arrogance of intellect, so courteous in controversy, so con- siderate to ignorance and inexperience. But if he loved his fellow men, he was never afraid to declare his opinions, and for many years he had taken an active part in the cam- paign against Home Rule.