Lectures in Reply to James A. Froude; The English Historian (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872. Excerpt: ... FORTH LECTURE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: --t have perceived in the public papers that Mr. Froude seems to be somewhat irritated by remarks that have been made as to his accuracy as an historian. Lest any word of mine might hurt, in the least degree, the susceptibilities of an honorable man, I beg beforehand to say, that nothing was farther from my thoughts than the slightest word, either of personality or disrespect for one who has won for himself so high a name as an English historian. And, therefore, I sincerely hope that it is not any word of mine, which may have fallen from me, even in the heat of our amicable controversy, that can have given the least offense to that gentlemSn. Thus, as I would expect from him, or any other learned gentleman, the treatment which one gentleman is supposed to show to another, so do I also wish to give him the same treatment. And now, my friends, we come to the matter in hand. Last evening I had to traverse a great portion of my country's history, in revieving the statement of the English historian, and I was obliged to leave almost untouched one portion of the story, namely--the period which covers the reign of Queen Anne. This estimable lady, of whom history records the unwomanly vice of an overfondness for eating, came to the English throne on the demise of William of Orange, in 1702, and pn that throne she sat until 1714. As I before remarked, it was perhaps natural that the Irish people--the Catholics of Ireland, trodden into the very dust--that they should have expected some relief from the daughterj of a man for whom they had shed their blood, and from the grand-daughter of the other Stuart King, for whom they had fought so bravely in 1649. The return that the Irish people got from this good lady was quite of another...