19 MAY 1888, Page 22

The Life of S. Patrick. By William Millen Morris. (Burns

and Oates.)—This is a third edition, and presumably, therefore, has found many readers. Doubtless it has its value, but it requires a previous education to appreciate it. The writer repudiates scientific history. Tradition seems to him just as authoritative as contemporary record. Even "The Legend of the Shamrock" finds an honoured place in his story. It is vain for the scientific historian to object that it is not mentioned in any of the old Lives of the Saint. "The obvious answer is that there were very many things said and done by St. Patrick which were not written down." To suppose that this should give a presumption that any particular thing not written down is true, is surely a curious freak of the reasoning faculty.