The Irish Reformation; or, the Alleged Conversion of the Dish
Bishops at the Accession of Queen Elizabeth, and the assumed Descent of the Pre- sent Established Hierarchy in Ireland from the Ancient Irish Church- Disproved. By W. Mariere Brady, D.D. Fifth edition. (Longmans.) —Such a stir was caused by this work both in England and Ireland, and so many answers to it have been attempted, that we are not sur- prised to see the words "fifth edition" on its title-page. Dr. Brady publishes a letter from Mr. Fronde bearing on the controversy, and re- plying to some of the strictures made on his own history by those who entered the lists aganist his disciple. And in an introduction to this
edition, Dr. Brady criticizes the critics of his former editions, vindicat- ing himself from the charge of being unfaithful to his Mother Church, and exposing the inaccuracies of those who would correct him. We may leave Dr. Brady himself to deal with writers in the Contemporary, Review who would talk of fearing Danaus even when he brings gifts. But graver issues are raised when Dr. Brady asks, "Do these persons, who have thrown out innuendoes against the author as unfaithful to his- Church's interests, mean to affirm the proposition that those who belong to an Establishment are required in loyalty to that Establishment to serve it by the concealment or distortion of historic facts ? If so, they are at least bound to state distinctly that such is the opinion they have formed of their duty in relation to historical research. The public will then know how to estimate the views of history which they put for- ward. The author's conviction is that such an estimate of duty is io the highest degree dishonourable to the Establishment so aided, and: that an entire allegiance to truth is not only consistent with our alle- giance to the Church, but is a part of that allegiance." We can only echo Dr. Brady's words.
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