the greatest amount of labour on the writer, and would seem to have required as an essential condition of its successful execution the use of a large and miscellaneous library. Many authors know the feeling of dissatisfaction with which they append a few words indicative of their authorities to statements which it has cost them hour upon hour of study to ascertain: the result of so much labour seems so little to tell the tale of all that it has required! But the Abbé Gorini had not only to hunt through his authors, he had first of all to borrow the books, and carry them to his poor but happy home. Nevertheless, instead of indulging in abstract speculations and unreal generalities, he has devoted himself to the conscientious examination of the original authorities to whom appeal had to be made in the case of the numerous misstatements of fact and false inferences which are unfortunately so abundant in the works of most modern writers on Church history. His method was eminently fair as well as laborious. He gives in full the passage of the writer whom he is correcting; he then examines and quotes the original authorities,— from whom, in nine cases out of ten, the misrepresentation was professedly drawn, and then states the conclusion simply and modestly. He is remarkably courteous and fair to his opponents; but he has left on record in very emphatic words his astonishment at the extent and magnitude of their misrepresentations. His Introduction informs us that he had begun his studies with no controversial purpose. had been in the habit of making extracts for himself from the writers of the Latin Church, from Tertullian down to St. Bonaventure and St. Thomas; and he had procured the works of modern historians with the view of enabling himself to understand better the old writers. What was his surprise when he placed these last by the side of their modern critics! He could hardly believe that both ancients and moderns were speaking of the same men, the same manners, and the same times. At last he set himself to the work of correcting the misrepresentations of the moderns, in the manner just mentioned. He We have said enough already to describe the character of his book. Its only fault lies in the fact that the kingdom of historical falsification is far too extensive to be conquered by a single champion of truth. It will require a whole army of Gorinis to destroy, one by one, in the calm and scientific manner here pursued, the misrepresentations that have been put in circulation, even by the most accredited writers of the Continent; and if the war were to be carried across the Channel, and the truths of history vindicated against English writers, we fear that the generation which saw its commencement would be in its grave before its close. The Abbé Gorini begins with the Apostles, St. Irenæus, and the Library of Alexandria; but he soon has to limit himself chiefly to matters connected with the Church history of his own country, though he follows M. Michelet and M. Augustin Thierry into the British Isles, to correct some misstatements as to the Celtic Church among us. In his third volume he finishes his historical series with accounts of St. Gregory VII., Hildebert, and St. Louis of France. The remainder of that volume, and the whole of the fourth, is given up to more general questions relating to the hierarchy of the Church and to the Papacy. The Abbé Gorini's book has been well received in France. He certainly deserves the great respect with which his remarks have been received by some of the very distinguished writers on whom he has commented so calmly and yet so forcibly. One of them-M. Augustin Thierry, who ended his career in the bosom of the Church -had the courage openly to thank him for his criticisms, and to avow his own mistakes. M. Guizot-who has also come under his animadversion has likewise spoken of him with sincere esteem, though we can hardly give an unreserved admiration to his refusal to enter on the discussion of the points as to which his own accuracy has been challenged. He seems to claim for himself the position of an impartial witness of the conflict that is always going on between the rival principles of authority and liberty; and to consider that the Abbé Gorini's position is essentially that of an advocate of one of those principles. It hardly follows from this that M. Guizot should be exempted from answering a charge of historical misunderstanding or misrepresentation of his own authorities. Mrs. 6. The tide of travelling Englishmen and Englishwomen seems to have been setting of late in the direction of Spain; and if Germany and Italy are to be the scenes of military operations for the next few months, it may be supposed that the Peninsula will have its full share of the crowd of sight-seekers who may be diverted from their usual haunts by the miseries and dangers of a state of war. Pitt Byrne's book* comes opportunely to the assistance of such wanderers; though it would be unjust to set it down as a common book of travel. She has never before appeared as an authoress under her own name; but Flemish Interiors and A Glance behind the Grilles are works well enough known to make it unnecessary for us to say much as to her liveliness and her industry. Possibly a strictly severe criticism might pronounce that in this, as in her earlier works, Mrs. Byrne has occasionally let her liveliness become too elaborate, and her industry somewhat obtrusive of its conquests. The defect of her style is certainly an effort to be perpetually smart; which is a matter of some surprise in so practised an author. Some of her jokes, and most of her puns, are such as might pass muster in a family circle, but are not good enough for print. And if ladies do read Latin, must they be always quoting it? On the other point, that of industry, we can only most sincerely thank our authoress for the great amount of information as to the state of Spain which she has collected for us; and we hope that it will not, as it certainly ought not, prevent her book from being one of the favourite travel-books of the season which is now beginning. She has not yet exhausted her resources, for at the end of the two volumes now before us she promises us a third. When this appears, she will have given us as complete a *Cosas de Espana; illustrative of Spain and the Spaniards as they are. By Mrs. W. Pitt Byrne, author of "Flemish Interiors." London, 1866. book about a foreign country as could well be desired; for she has consulted the best authorities as to matters which do not fall within the range of a traveller's observation, and is thus able to give a very fair picture of the institutions, commerce, resources, and present literature of Spain. 7. The story of Mr. Keon's new book* turns upon the fortunes of a young nephew of the ex-triumvir Lepidus, who comes with his mother and sister to Italy to obtain from Augustus some estates of his father in Campania. The young man makes himself obnoxious to Tiberius, who also endeavours to possess himself of the sister; but he wins the favour and confidence of Germanicus, under whom he performs prodigies of valour in a well-imagined war against some German invaders of North Italy; and all ends well, according to the usual requirements of novel-writing. The characteristic of the book is the profuse use made by the author of historical personages: thus, besides Augustus, Tiberius, Germanicus, Sejanus, and the ladies of the imperial family and court, we meet with the names of Velleius Paterculus, Caligula, Piso, and a host of others. Dion, from whom the book receives its title, is Dionysius the Areopagite, afterwards St. Denys; and at the end of the tale we are actually transplanted to Jerusalem, at the time of our Lord's teaching. Mr. Keon has evidently sufficient powers of imagination and sufficient resources in his acquaintance with antiquity to have been able to dispense with this machinery for the purpose of attracting interest. very well, and has produced an exciting story; but the magnificence He writes of the personages he has introduced to us give it an air of ambition and pageantry with which he could quite have afforded to dispense. 8. The number of editions through which Father Gury's Compendium† has run is of itself sufficient proof of the value of his work in at least supplying a want in our theological schools. It is impossible for a work of this kind to come into extensive use without obtaining a very considerable amount of extrinsic authority. From its very nature it is examined, discussed, sifted by hundreds of men whose lives are devoted to the study of moral theology; and Church authority is ever on the alert to prevent or stop the dissemination of errors in a department of sacred learning every fluctuation in which at once extends its influence to the practical life of the faithful generally. But not only has Father Gury's work stood these tests; it has received express approbation from several high ecclesiastical authorities. Many, however, have felt that, valuable as it is as a manual of reference for those who are already sufficiently acquainted with * Dion and the Sibyls; a Romance of the First Century. By Miles Gerald Keon. London, 1866. Compendium Theologiæ Moralis, auctore P. Joanne Gury, S.J., in the principles of this science, there was room for improvement in its treatment of some questions which ought to come under consideration in the schools. The new edition, which has been drawn up by Father Ballerini, the experienced, acute, and learned Professor of Moral Theology in the Roman College, in concert with Father Gury, and the first volume of which was given to the public before the lamented death of the latter, in no small measure supplies these defects. The notes which Father Ballerini has added, and which about equal in bulk the original text, render continual service by adding precision to definitions, by clearing up ambiguous phrases, or pointing out the reason and bearing of apparently casual expressions. Not unfrequently the history of some delicate question in the schools. is given in brief, but with much learning and discernment. Sometimes a principle is fearlessly pushed farther than the author had himself gone; or considerations are subjoined which tend to modify opinions given in the text. Occasionally fresh questions are raised and discussed; or an elaborate treatment of a whole subject introduced. We may instance as of special importance, the additions to the treatises on human acts and on conscience, in which much light is thrown upon some disputed points about the doctrine of St. Alphonsus; the long notes upon animal magnetism, upon simony, and some points of the treatise on justice. The second volume is now passing through the press, and will probably be published in the course of the summer. The whole work has been carefully reviewed by the Roman censors, and, in addition to the well-known learning of the author, comes recommended by authority, as it bears the imprimatur of the Master of the Sacred Palace. 9. The character of Bellarmine's Commentary on the Psalms* is too well known to require any remarks from us. It evinces all that quiet, simple, we may almost say homely, piety which distinguished its author, whose fate it has been to be known chiefly as a controversialist, while he has in reality a still higher claim to honour as a saintly character. The work, though by no means all, in a critical point of view, which Bellarmine might have made it, is perhaps the most famous commentary on the Psalms of its size, and lives on in public estimation notwithstanding its many rivals. It is well adapted for translation, for the purpose contemplated by Dr. O'Sullivan; namely, to make the Psalms more intelligible to and so more valued by Christians at large. He has omitted much of the critical and polemical matter, as well as the Introductions prefixed to the Psalms in the original, and thus removed what might have been a stumblingblock to many readers who wish to use the book as a help to prayer. Now that the translation has been made, it will seem wonderful that it never was made before. *A Commentary on the Book of Psalms. Translated from the Latin of Cardinal Bellarmine, by the Ven. John O'Sullivan, Archdeacon of Kerry. Dublin, 1866. VOL. V. H [96] The Windeck Family. CHAPTER XXVIII. SUNRISE. WHEN winter is just about to give place to spring, there are often violent storms; nature is, as it were, shaken and agitated in the transition from the icy deadness of the one to the bright glowing life of the other. And so it is with the soul: the ice does not melt from the frozen heart at the first warm ray of the sun. Judith was in this transition state, and it was full of pain and anxiety. It seemed as if her conversion would entail sacrifices for which she was not prepared. Had not Lelio's whole life been changed? Was not Ernest's life one of constant self-denial? Certainly, they would both say, they were very happy. But a happiness which springs from a continual subjection of one's nature is not the sort of happiness one desires, mused Judith; or can it really be that grace enables one to feel more pleasure in conquering one's inclinations than in yielding to them? Then she began to ask herself whether the views of this young priest were not exaggerated; whether he did not require too. much; whether it might not be as well to hear what a Protestant had to say on the subject. But then she remembered the gentlemen in black coats and white ties, who had come to see her poor sister Esther, sometimes bringing their Bibles, and sometimes their wives; and her heart answered firmly, "No; a thousand times, no; a divine revelation must be announced by consecrated lips. I used positively to hate those Protestant preachers, because they gave no comfort to my darling Esther. I daresay that was very wrong of me: for people can only give what they have, and they have their book and their wives-only they have not the apostolical commission. They may be very worthy fathers of families, but they are no priests-no teachers of supernatural doctrine. No; that is a settled thing. I will have nothing to do with any religious body which does not possess a consecrated priesthood. I believe, not the man, but the priest; I reverence, not the father of a family, but the priest. Yes; but the reason of it all? Suppose I am under a delusion." She walked up and down the room in violent agitation; at length she called her maid, and said: "Lend me your bonnet and shawl; I am going to see some poor people." "Not to walk?" asked the girl, surprised. 66 No; but I want to go incognita, and I shall get a fiacre.” The maid was used to such whims; so Judith went out, took a fiacre on the Corso, and was driven to Sta. Maria della Pace, where she got out, and asked for the house of Lelio's parents. His mother |