* * * * The life of William J. Walsh,
Archbishop of Dublin, by
the Rt. Rev. P. J. Walsh (Longmans, 21s.), covers a long chapter in Irish history. Born in the prosperousk shop. keeping class of Dublin, before the middle of the nineteenth century, he lived till the third year of the War. By nature he was a very conspicuous man : " he had the showman's knack of attracting attention to anything he would say or do." In all the disputes of his day he took a prominent Part—yet he was without eloquence and without literary gift. Except to children (of whom he was exceedingly fond) he very rarely preached. A good scholar, a better musician, and an excellent conversationalist, he never lost his joie de vivre, and even as an old man would laugh till the tears ran down his face. The Irish loved him. But we all have the defects of our qualities. Such a man was bound to be a patriot and his patriotism was unfortunately insular—Ireland was everything, England nothing, the Empire non-existent. His nationalism came next to his faith. He loved his flock, specially the humbler members of it, as men love their own sons, with a love by its very nature exclusive. He saw them suffering great poverty, and, as he thought, great injustice, and he fought for their rights with all his heart and soul, The ever-intriguing figure of Parnell, a mystery to the Irish hierarchy no less than to the House of Commons, flits through these interesting pages. The biographer promises us another volume dealing with the pastoral and religious life of his hero. It will be eagerly awaited by those who have enjoyed the
Present volume. * * * *
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