HISTORY BOOKS.

Evening Star, Issue 8809, 26 April 1892, Page 3

HISTORY BOOKS.

TO THB EDITOR. Sib,— lt was your correspondent “Historians ” himself who referred to the ‘ Tablet.’ I merely pointed out to him that the views he found fault with had been quoted from non-Catholic authorities. In alt humility I asked him to give me authorities to set them right, but he refuses. In an equal spirity of humility I will now beg of him to give me the name of some approved book of hints on politeness, by whose aid I may try to mend my manners. His own connection with May Fair is evident from the tone of his correspondence. Circumstances once brought me into rather frequent communication with a young servant-man, whose master was a distinguished leader of the exalted locality. It appears I acquired no refinement from the contact. I should try, however, to make better use of ft similar opportunity if your correspondent would kindly favor me with it. Your correspondent quotes mo falsely. I did not, as he writes, condemn “ all Protestant historians as liars.” I never used the words he places within Inverted commas. My reference to Macaulay was meant to show that non-Catholic writers could be quoted in support of the statements made in the Christian Brothers’ book. That being so, no non-Catholic has a right to find fault with the Brothers’ book as exceptionally bad or designedly perverted, lam glad to see your correspondent took my hint about Macaulay’s Essays, so far oven as Cranmer was concerned. His omission of the name in question from his list of martyrs is conclusive as to that. Let me now recommend him to study the whole e:say. Afterwards he might, for example, read Miss Strickland and Hossack; and, for Henry VIII,’s connection with the Reformation, Mr Froude’s late work. When he has done all this, and a little more perhaps, he will be in a position to pronounce more reliably with regard to the Christian Brothers’ book and the sources whence it has been compiled. An intimate acquaintance with the manuals used in the primary schools, though no doubt very creditable, is not sufficient for the purpose in question,—l am, etc., John F, Pebein. Dunedin, April 26.