IRISH HISTORY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23867, 22 July 1939, Page 4

IRISH HISTORY

REDESDALE AND THE " TROUBLES " "lite of Lord Redesdale." By Eveline Bertha Mitford (Longmans, Green). £1 2s 6d. . To many of the past generation and, probably, to all of the present, the progress of Irish history is something of an enigma. -Such a remark applies especially to those who have lived in the overseas dominions remote from all the "Troubles." For this reason any book which gives an account of the thought, and the results from that thought of one occupying a position of power and responsibility in Irish political circles is likely to be eagerly read. The late Miss Mitford's study of her ancestor, the first Lord Redesdale, is, for these reasons, more than usually welcome. Redesdale was Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1802 to 1806, and previous biographies have accepted as true certain accusations made against him when he occupied that important office. Lord Redesdale was a very eminent English lawyer and parliamentarian, and it is not a matter of any moment what we may think of his legal reforms and political opinions and activities. His most strenuous opponents in these avenues of public service have never questioned his ability nor his integrity. When he entered upon his Irish career the whole aspect of things altered. He succceeded Fitzgibbon. Lord Hardwicke, the Lord Lieutenant of that day, had urged the appointment of Kilwarden, pressing the fact that it would be wise to give the post to an Irishman. But there is not any doubt that Lord Redesdale was welcomed most heartily by the Irish Bar as possibly the most eminent Chancery lawyer of his day, and his reform of Irish procedure was apprecicated, Difficulties arose, however, through the close friendship he formed with Lord Hardwicke, who came to rely rather unduly upon his learning

At 16 ANTHONY EDEN, still at Eton, was already in his letters home displaying an immature interest in politics; at 18 he was in the trenches; at 26 he was elected to Parliament; and at 37 assumed full Cabinet rank. If there is nothing sensational in his rise to importance in the British Parliament, his is a story which shows how merit must be added to advantages of birth and education if a young man is.to obtain recognition from the veteran statesmen who have most influence in the counsels of the Conservative Party. L. Raskay's biography in the "How They Did It" series >\ (Pallas . Publishing Co., Is 9d) summarises briefly < and capably Mr Eden's career and the influences which moulded it. In the same series are published three other biographies, "Stalin," by Oscar Rsy, " Mussdlini," by 'Paolo . CampaneXli, " Roosevelt," by Peter Mendelssohn, which provide admirably .unbiased sketches of their subjects. '■*•'<