went to London. He spends some time every Summer fishing in favorite Donegal haunts. He is to produce in the Spring a biography of Thomas Moore and a volume of fishing sketches.

A

GENERAL meeting of the Galway Archaelogical and Historical Society was held in the Town Hall, Galway (Court avenue entrance), on Friday, December 4, at 8 o'clock p. m.

Among papers submitted to the meeting were "Ballintubber Abbey," by Martin J. Blake; "Ballykine Castle," by H. J. Knox; Folk-lore collected by C. M. Hodgson, and "Dromacoo Church," by T. T. Hamilton, who has kindly taken charge of the recent restoration of this Ruin, undertaken by the society with the help of the County Council.

T

HE will of the late Rev. Maxwell H. Close, M. A., M. R. I. A., one of the founders of the "Gaelic Journal," has been proved, and, among other bequests, he has left a sum of £1,000 "for the printing of the Irish Dictionary intended to be published by the Royal Irish Academy," but the proviso is made that, "if not completed within ten years from the date of the testator's death, or if commenced and shall be discontinued, the said sum of £1,000 is to fall into the residuary estate."

This bequest should stimulate Prof. Atkinson to prosecute the great Irish Dictionary for which material has been gathering for the past twenty years. It is just fifty years since William Eliot Hudson, in 1853, left a sum of £500 towards the publication of an Irish Dictionary, under the auspices of the Royal Irish Academy.

In the year 1848 Hudson, who previously had furthered the Irish revival

by the publication of the Dublin "Citizen" and "Monthly Magazine," projected an Irish Dictionary, but death prevented its realization. Surely, with the accruing interest from Hudson's £500, plus the principal, and the Close bequest of £1,000, the Royal Irish Academy ought to fulfill the dream of years before 1912.-Weekly Freeman.

“I

RELAND'S RENAISSANCE" is the title of a work by Mr. R. J. Smith, consisting of a series of essays on various subjects relating to Irish affairs, the avowed object of which is to promote mutual understanding, moderation, compromise and conciliation between the conflicting elements in Irish public life; which appeals for an honored place for reason as well as for sentiment, and which endeavors to substitute for that realism, so characteristic of the Irish temperament, a reign of commonsense and practicability.

Messrs. Hodges, Figgis & Co., Ltd., are the publishers.

Ꭰ

From his land over seas

Shan van vocht?

R. MAGNUS MACLEAN, who for three sessions held the appointment of Celtic Lecturer at Glasgow University, has been succeeded by Prof. Kuno Meyer, of Liverpool. Dr. Meyer was born at Hamburg in 1858, and took up the study of Irish and Welsh at Leipsic University. His published works are mostly in the domain of Irish literature.

The subject of his Glasgow lectures will be "The Celtic Church of Great Britain and Ireland." Mr. Magnus Maclean's third course of lectures will be published shortly by Messrs. Blackie under the title of "The Literature of the Highlands."

ST

TUDIES in Irish History, 1649-1775, is the title of a volume just issued by Brown & Nolan, publishers, London.

The work consists of a series of papers read before the Irish Literary Society, of London, during the past year, with an introduction by R. Barry O'Brien, who edited the series for publication. The following are the titles of the papers: "Oliver Cromwell in Ireland," by Lieut.-Gen. Sir William Butler, K. C. B.; "Ireland Under Charles II.," by Philip Wilson; "Ireland Under James II.," by Philip Wilson; "Sieges of Derry and Limerick," by H. Mangan; "Sarsfield," by Stephen Gwynn, and "After Limerick," by Alice Effie Mur". D. Sc.

HREE American novelists of the fair sex-Mrs. Burnett, Miss Dudu Fletcher and Mrs. Craigie -have had really notable success as playwrights. Another American woman, not in this case a novelist, who is undertaking dramatic work, is Mrs. T. P. O'Connor.

Her husband is quoted by the "Dundee Advertiser' as saying of her: "She will, one day, I hope and believe, take her place among the brilliant dramatists of her time. This is an impartial judgment, though it is that of a husband. I am free, I believe, from all partisanship when I discuss intellectual qualities, even those of my wife."

H

ODGES, FIGGIS & CO., Dublin, announce а third edition of "Wakeman's Irish Antiquities," edited by John Cooke. The late Mr. Wakeman was a well-known local antiquary, not of the literary sort, but one who went round laboriously drawing, measuring, and describing the remains around his own home-Enniskillen.

When he became known his experience was called in to report on a wider area; but all he accomplished was far short of the excellent summary now presented by Mr. Cooke, who has gathered from many sources much new matter, not to speak of the comparative method of treatment, which was beyond the vision of the local savants of thirty years ago.

Every person interested in Irish antiquities should possess a copy of this well illustrated handbook.

W

E are in receipt of the first volume of a "General History of Ireland from the Earliest Times of the Year 1547," by Rev. E. A. D'Alton, C. C., with a preface by the Most Rev. John Healy, Archbishop of Tuam, and published by Sealy, Bryers & Walker, Dublin.

Father D'Alton has not, apparently, aimed at literary style, but seems to have given all attention to compiling and presenting facts in a precise and business-like way that is in reality the manner in which the student and busy seeker after knowledge wants them presented.

"Some people," says Archbishop Healy, in a prefatory note, "may be disposed to ask if there were any real need of a new History of Ireland."

We believe there is and we hope the large sales of this volume will prove that we are right. As a reference book it should be in every Irish library. The book is well printed on good paper and contains 433 pages. The price is ten shillings.

S

BLADENSBERG

Observe the hand holding
the Stars and Stripes. This
was granted as reward for
General Ross taking the
City of Washington.

IR JOHN ROSS, of Bladensburg, the present Chief Commissioner of the Dublin Metropolitan Police, is a grandson of Major-General Robert Ross, who captured Washington, D. C., and burned its public buildings in 1814.

Major-General Robert Ross, in command of the British Army, had previously defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bladensburg, but he was killed in action a few days after the taking of the Federal capital. His family were authorized by the Prince Regent to style themselves Ross of Bladensburg, and is the only English family who display the American flag in their coat of arms.

TH

HE annual meeting and dinner of the American-Irish Historical Society will take place at the Hotel Manhattan, 42d street and Madison avenue, New York City, on Tuesday evening, January 12, 1904.

These annual gatherings of the society always prove very enjoyable, bring together many prominent gentlemen from various parts of the country, are always looked forward to with much interest, and, in a measure, attract national attention.

One of the leading orchestras in New York has been engaged for the occasion. There will be solo and chorus singing and the exercises will include other features of interest.

WR

E again desire to test our readers' familiarity with prominent or striking events in Irish history, and to that end propound a series of twenty miscellaneous questions relating to past events in the history of our country.

They are not difficult or profound questions, and can be easily looked up in any library containing a good history of Ireland. "Annals of the Four Masters," a file of THE GAEL, Dr. Douglas Hyde's "Literary History of Ireland," and a few other Irish reference books.

The answers to each must be as brief as possible. It is not necessary that ALL questions should be answered. Send replies to as many as possible.

To the first person who sends correct replies to all, or to the largest number of those questions we will send free of all charges Dr. Douglas Hyde's "Literary History of Ireland," Father Dollard's charming book of poems, "Irish Mist and Sunshine," and "Ireland, Industrial and Agricultural."

To the person sending the second largest number of correct replies we will send a copy of Charles Lever's famous story, "Harry Lorrequer," 2 vols., bound in cloth, all charges paid.

To the ten persons who come next in rotation (according to the number of correct replies sent in by them) we will send each, free of charge, a handsome volume by some wellknown Irish author.

CONDITIONS.

1. Write only on one side of the paper and attach name and address of sender legibly.

2. Send a coupon cut from the cover of THE GAEL with your letter. If the coupon does not accompany the replies your letter will not be considered. We ask this for the purpose of confiing the contest to GAEL readers exclusively.

3. There is no objection to your consulting or seeking information concerning the answers to those questions from members of your family or from your friends. The winners will be announced in the March GAEL. All replies should be in not later than February 15th.

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?

1. Who were the so-called twelve Apostles of Ireland?

2. Give the exact date of the Battle of Clontarf?

3. What king remitted the Borumean tribute, and at what Saint's instance?

4. What is the Lia Fail and where is it now?

5. What was the origin of the St. John's Eve Bonfires?

6. The following lines were written by a famous Irish novelist, Who was the author, and where do the lines appear?

"Oh, Dublin sure there is no doubtin'

Beats every city upon the say,
'Tis there you'll see O'Connell spoutin',
And the Lady Morgan making 'tay.'

For 'tis the capital of the greatest nation,
With finest peasantry on a fruitful sod,
Fighting like devils for conciliation,

And hating each other for the love of God."

7. Who was the reigning King of Ireland at the birth of Christ?

8. In what great battle was the power of the Fenians broken and by whom?

9. What became of the manuscript St. Columcille surreptitiously copied from St. Finnan?

10. What were the relative commercial values of man and woman in Brehon Law?

11. What was the motto of the Four Masters?

12. A famous poet, who is at present editor of a leading Irish-American newspaper, wrote the following striking lines:

Shall we fold our hands when the fight is ended,
And the broken fetters reluctant fall?
When freedom comes after long endeavor,
Shall our hate be buried in love forever,
And the bitter past be forgotten all?
Shall we think no more on the blood expended,
On the days of want and the nights of woe,

On the galling chains and the taunts more galling,
And the famine-murdered for vengeance calling,
Where the graves, like waves, lie row on row?
The entire poem has been printed in THE GAEL. What
is the name of the author?

13. When and where did Thomas Addis Emmet, the '98

A Comic History of Wexford.

TH

HE New York Sunday News" has for some months past been publishing serially in its columns brief histories of various Irish counties from the pen of a staff writer, a Roscommon man, who seemed well posted on the subject and evidently had access to the necessary reference books needed to supply, or verify the dates of historical events that occurred in those counties in the past.

For some reason not pertinent to this story the Roscommon man fell by the wayside and severed his connection with the "News." To fill his place a typical free lance "journalist" was engaged to complete the series of county histories left unwritten. It is hardly necessary to say the alleged "journalist" has already demonstrated that he is eminently unfitted for the task he has undertaken.

He is an Irishman, but has absolutely no knowledge of Irish county history and manifestly lacks the application and perseverance necessary to acquire the exact information needed to produce a county history worth reading. He was arrested in Ireland over twenty years ago and spent a brief period in Kilmainham jail at a time when Parnell was imprisoned there. This episode in his career has been his stock in trade ever since, and he never fails to introduce it, and retell it, and discuss it, and write about it, in time and out, until his acquaintances have come to dread his approach and flee when they see him coming.

Two county histories, Wexford and Leitrim, have already appeared from his pen and are spoken of in Irish circles as "Comic County Histories."

Every one has heard of the country stage manager who arranged to present the play of "Hamlet," and not having any one in his stock company competent to personate the melancholy Dane, cut out the part entirely. The play of "Hamlet," with Hamlet left out, exactly parallels the History of Wexford as presented by the "Sunday News," because nearly all mention of Wexford in a historic sense has been omitted.

There are quotations given from Carlisle and Ruskin and the old spacefilling stock-story of the author being in jail with Parnell for a few minutes is of course thrown in, but the battle of Vinegar Hill, the siege of New Ross, the fights near Wexford, Newtown Barry, and other places, are not even mentioned. Father John Murphy, the insurgent leader; Bagenal Harvey, the Protestant leader; Miles Byrne and General Holt are in this veracious history (?) as if they had never existed, presumably because the "journalist" had never heard of them! There is no mention of any of the old Irish septs

that occupied Wexford in olden times, nothing about the old families that fought and bled for it; they have been completely ignored. The history of Wexford as presented by the "Sunday News" is absolutely the worst rot in the way of Irish history ever offered to an intelligent Irish reader by a serious newspaper.

The alleged history of County Leitrim is on a par with Wexford. It could not be worse. It is illustrated by street scenes in Boyle, which is in the County Roscommon, and by a portrait of Mr. Jasper Tully, a resident of Boyle. Evidently the fellow who wrote the history (?) believes that Boyle is in the County Leitrim.

To the editor who buys and prints such stuff Ireland is terra incognita; most probably he has heard the story of the author being in jail with Parnell and accepts the "journalist" at his own valuation as a literary man and historian.

Donoughmore Riches.

any

After the war between Chili and Peru the former seized the valuable nitrate district of Tarapaca, and left Peru with a foreign debt of fifty-one and a half millions sterling, without revenues to defray it. Then came forward the Graces, of New York. William R. Grace was born at Queenstown in 1832, ran away to sea at 14, and worked his way on a sailing ship to New York. After a few years there in humble life he went to Callao, Peru, as a clerk in 1850. He became a partner in his firm, and sent to Ireland for his younger brother Michael, who joined him in establishing the New York firm of W. R. Grace and Company, South American merchants and financiers.

If you were in a South American Republic and had the dollars you could get anything you wanted from W. R. Grace and Co., from a Mannlicher rifle to a postage stamp. The firm's greatest coup was, however, the conversion of the Peruvian debt. Lord Donoughmore, father of the present peer, was in Peru for three years as the ally of the Grace Brothers, and it is a happy climax that the present peer should marry Michael Grace's beautiful daughter and her Peruvian dollars.

The arrangement, involving negotiations with Chili, was a long one, but finally the Peruvian debt was split in two. Chili undertook in consideration of her annexation of Tarapaca to be responsible for half of it; the remaining sum of twenty-five millions sterling was taken over by the Grace Brothers and the Peruvian Corporation. Thus Peru was entirely relieved of her foreign debt.

In return for this undertaking the late Lord Donoughmore and the Grace Brothers secured the most bounteous privileges. They obtained control of all the railways in Peru for 66 years, with quays at certain ports, the free rights of navigation of Lake Titicaca, the wonderful inland sea at the summit of the Andes, all the guano remaining in the territory of Peru up to 3,000,000 tons, payments from Peru amounting to two and a half millions sterling, secured on the customs of Callao, and the right to mortgage the railways and guano of Peru up to £6,000,000.

In addition Chili paid over to Peru, which transferred it to the coffers of the Donoughmore-Grace syndicate, about a million sterling derived from the sale of guano in the disputed territory since the war of 1881, and agreed to hand over for eight years the product of certain other deposits estimated at £160,000 a year.

The Graces obtained valuable silver mining concessions, and this gigantic financial operation has left them the real Kings of Peru-the Irish-Americans on the throne of the Incas.

Mr. Michael Grace, one of these wizards, lives at Battle Abbey; his elder brother resides in New York. In December, 1901, Lord Donoughmore married beautiful Miss Elena Grace, the daughter of his father's financial ally, and thus cemented his alliance with the Last of the Incas.

Ꮤ

On the Shaughraun.

THILE in Kilkenny recently Dr.
Henebry took occasion to find

fault with the manner in which affairs are conducted in that diocese. There are too many public houses, he said, and the newspapers rather encourage them by printing their advertisements, which is very reprehensible. The schools are not conducted according to his ideas, and from a letter sent by him to one of the wicked newspapers we gather there is much room for improvement in that diocese.

The newspaper referred to replied by printing some extracts from THE GAEL, which had the same effect on the doctor that a red cloth is said to have on a male member of the bovine species.

In his reply the Kilkenny editor told the doctor a few plain unpalatable truths, which made him so uncomfortable that he packed his trunk and started once more for the United States.

Dr. Henebry has been on the shaugraun ever since his services were dispensed with by the Catholic University, at Washington, D. C., and we understood his trip to Ireland was made with a view of propitiating the Bishop of Waterford and perhaps in hope of being assigned to an obscure parish somewhere in his diocese.

To a man seeking a favor from the Bishop it was manifestly unwise to adversely criticise the convent schools in that part of the country. The fact that he comes back empty handed to his great and good friend, Father Yorke, speaks volumes.