THE REV FATHER O'NEILL'S LECTURE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 23, 5 October 1894, Page 18

THE REV FATHER O'NEILL'S LECTURE.

Ox Friday evening, as announced by as, the Rev Father O'Neill delivered, in St Joseph's schoolroom, Dunedin, under the auspices of the Catholic Literary Society, a lecture entitled '• Some Irish writers in English Literature." The Very Rev Father Lynch adm., president cf the society, occupied the chair, and the Rev Fathers Murphy and Dahdah were also present. The room was filled by an appreciative audience. The lecture was prefaced by a performance by the members of the St Cecilia Society of portions of Mendelssohn's " Lauda Sion " which were very creditably sung, Mr Ward conducting and Mr A. V.illis presid'ng at the piano. Toe rev lecturer spoke to the following effect :—: —

Very rev chairman, ladies and gentlemen, your presence here this evening in such large numbers I consider to be the best proof of the interest you take in the subject on which lam to address you, I feel assured that no explanation is necessary as to the utility of keeping before our minds what Irishmen have done for the enrichment of English literature, and I am equally satisfied that no person present, whatever his views on the patriotism of some distinguished Irishmen may be, will misunderstand or misinterpret the good will and feeling with which I offer my remarks. It is told of Dmiel O'Connell, the great Irish Liberator, who after years of heroic labours succeeded in breaking the chains that bound his Catholic fellow countrymen, that during a visit to France, he was once made the object of the hoßtila attentions of a rather demonstra'ive Frenchman. This man, in the hearing of O'Connell, poured forth the vials of his wrath againßt perfidious Albion, denounced her institutions, impugned her character for honour and honesty, and, in short, left nothing unsaid that would be calculated to rouse the resentment of the most peace-loving Briton, O'Connell remained perfectly calm and undisturbed in the midst of this storm of vituperation. The puzzled Frenchman at length asked him if he understood what he had been saying, and on O'Connell quietly telling him that he understood every word perfectly, the disgusted Fieachman asked him how he could lißten to such abuse of his country without attempting to defend it. "My friend," said O'Connell, " the country to which I belong owes kss love and affection to England than even] your own country does. Though I speak England's language and owe allegiance to her crown, I wage war to the death with her crnel and oppressive laws, by which she has striven for generation to crush spirit and life oat of my people. I am An Irishman, sir, and can listen with equanimity to all the hard things you may say abont England's perfidy." Since the days of O'Connell a better understanding haß arisen between the two races. The English people have studied^the Irish problem for themselves, Irish politicians are

welcomed in most ot the centres of population ia England, and get a fair hearing in their efforts to expose to view the festering sore under which Ireland for centuries has groaned, and on all sides there is a desire to see Ireland soon in possession of her legislative rights under the British Crown and Constitution, and once more assuming her place amongst the nations of tho world. But there Hie ulbei in*U«i 0 WSiJcb ii e gi B ;*i; YeV c iudepeiiuencd 10 which we Lave a strict right, and we are justified in protesting a-ainst the cool, off-handed manner in which England assumes before the world the credit due to the brains and intellect of Irelind. I think it is Max O'Bell who gives us the views of an enlightened foreigner on this point. He was taught like other fureigneis and multitudes of English youth that England had a monopoly in the production of the eminent personages who have made her name honoured in every department of genius. It was only when he came to make a closer study of the subject that he discovered that the little Green Isle had contributed a very respectable array of sta'esmen, poets, philosopher, orators, and heroes, whose names are emblazoned on the pages of history, and whose works will be the delight of generatione to come, as they have been of those that have past. I remember once being in conversation with an educated Englishman and talking on the subject of the share Ireland had in contributing to English literature. I can well recollect hi 8 expression of astonishment when I counted up some of the mo B t prominent names in English literature and claimed them as Irishmen. A look into a etandard authority confirmed my asseition, and my friend got food for thonght which helped to modify his views on Ireland. I have no hesitation in stating that, if the contributions of Irish born writers and leaders of public opinion were subtracted from the sum total of English literature, the remainder would be a mighty small quantity. It would be absolutely Impossible within the limits of a short address to do more than indicate some of the most conspicuous sons of genius that have sprung from the Emerald Isle. First in chronological order, of the memorable names that have adorned our language comes Jonathan Swift ; born in Dublin in the year 1667. He was an eyewitness of the changes that took place when the House of Stuart was hurleu from the throne and William of Orange took the helm of State. He was a young man when the final stand was made for James by the Irish soldiers that garrisoned Limerick, and he was destined to play a conspicuous part in the history of his country. From his infancy Swift was the vjctim of circumstonces which gave a misanthropical tuin to the course of his life. Born some months after the death of his father, the care of his earlier years fell to etrangerß and unsympathetic relatives. At the age of fourteen he entered Trinity College and the wretched pittance allowed him made him feel his dependent position keenly whilst his high spirit rebelled under the slights put upon him by those who were more favoured by fortune. His giant intellect could not, be restrained within the bounds of conventional forms and modes of mental training, and hence he was ever at war with his superiors. The unpleasantness of bis college life was brought to a c'imix by the conferring his degree upon him by a " B pecial grace," which is a euphemistic way of spelling disgrace. We next meet Swift at the house of a retired statesman in England, in which his position was little better than that of a menial. The poor fellow had to drudge at the woik of an amanuensis for a miserable wage, and he constantly chafed under the galling servitude that bound him to play the part iof sycophant to an inferior in intellectual power. He sought relief for his wounded spirit in writing bis ''Tale of a Tub," which bears upon it the stamp of unmistakable genius. For satirical power and keen insight into the foibles ol poor human nature, this work cannot be surpassed. The book tases the form of an allegory representing three sons who alter and misconstrue the will of their father. Tbe author laßhes most unmercifully the abuses in Church and State. It s said that the work gave such offence to Queen Aane that she would never to her dying day haar of Swift's promotion to a bishopric in the Established Church, which he coveted, and for which all his contemporaries admitted his fitness. Amongst those who came in for a large share of Swift's attentions in his " Tale of a Tub " were the critics who constituted themselves the judges and often the executioners of some poor shy aspirant for literary distinction. There is not, perhaps, in the English language a more powerful specimen of complete scarifying than (he digression on the critics. Some of Dicker's efforts have a close resemblance to Swift's mode of castigation, and Thackeray has profited by his study of Swift and reminds ub of him in several of his works, particularly Mb " Book of Snobs " But there is none more ready than Thackeray to admit the intellectual supremacy of Swift over all competitors. Thackeray's diagnosis Of Swift is a master-piece of literary acumen. He holds him up to our view under every aspect. Whilst arousing our interest in the extraordinary flights of imagination that characterise the writings of Swift, he at the same time knocks off half our enthusiasm when be depicts the selfish, abrupt, even brutal manner in which Swift treats those whom he could so treat with impunity. When he declares that he was not a man whom you would care to be intimate

with for the reason that, if you were bi<j intellectual inferior (which undoubtedly would be the case of most of us) he would spurn and scorn you, whilst if you were of the gilded ranks and sported a title he would be your obsequious servant. In speaking of " Gulliver's Travels," which have been the delight of so many generations of young folk?, Thackeray gives way to reflections which are not all cuiuplluicutary to the aulW. The detail into which Swift descends would argue a prurient mind did we not know that his life was a constant warfare <igamst any but intellectual enjoyment. What a fuiure was created to be sure, by those travels when they appeared. The ignorance of geography that then prevailed made it possible for Gallivcr to gull the general public, for a time, with his fictitious history of a voyage amongst people who were no bigger thon bis finger. But under the aegis of fiction, what a scathing lesson did he not read the society of his day, and what a wholesome antidote for pride, silliness, and vanity did be not administer. Thackeray would warn us against the portions of Swift's worka that offend against decency or show a tendency to a want of reverence for things sacred. Speaking of the latter chapters of "Gulliver," he asks if you have read them, and if you have not, gives you Punch's advice to those about to get married—" Don't." Regarding the religious aspect of Swift's life he points to the evil tendency of some portions of the " Tale of a Tub," and putting these in juxtaposition with some incidents in the life of Swift, he leads you to the unmistakeable conviction that Swift was not by any means a man of strong faith. One incident is related amongst many that give some colour to this assumption. Delaney, the poet, one day came upon Swift aid hia archbishop talking in the street. The benevolent and kindly old prelate was in tears and Swift had on him a look of moat intense agoDy and passion. As Swift turned away the old man in a burst of sympathy remarked to Delaney. " There goes the most miserable man on God's earth, but on the subject of his misery never question me." We must not omit to notice a work by which Swift made himself one of the most popular man that ever gained the affections of the Irish race. The circumstances connected with the contract given to one Wood to coin a large quantity of copper are long since things of the past, and have perhaps been reduced to insignificance by comparison with transactions of a much shadier nature. But to Wood s cost, swift was on the alert, and raised such a storm by his " Drapier Letters" that the indignation of the country was rouse i and Wood's bass metal was consigned to merited obloquy. There is one feature in Swift's character which stands out in bold relief amidst all the unamiable traits with which we are familiar. If there had been no Stella to come across Swift's horizon we might have never discovered that he had a human heart. Bat we lose sight of the ogre-like hatred of his species which he took no pains to conceal, when we glance through his journal to Stella and there see how the mightiest iotel.ectual giant can show himself as moon-struck a swain as ever made himself a laughing sock in the eyes of a cynical world. The transition from the sublime in his more serious works to the ridiculous in this famous journal gives us some forecast of the nemesis that overtook this incomprehensible man before the close of his life. It has has been said that genius is oft close allied to madness, and never was there a more meioncholy example of the truth of this statement than in the case of Swift. The closing years of his life were years of gloom for him who had known but little of what we understand by happine&s. The cloud that had been hanging over him for many a day enveloped him and he sank out of sight and p'unged into that d*rk and hopeless abyss, where reason is dethroned from her high seat and nought but chaos holds sway. Swift has had clever and painstaking biographers in Dr Johnson and Sir Walter Scott. Hazhtt has devoted an interesting and appreciative lecture to the author of Gulliver. Thackeray has drawn what we must consider a highly realistic and life-like portrait of the man. Whatever differences* there may be in the points of view from which these distinguiehed waters obserred Swift, they all agree in pronouncing him one of the most gifted writers ihat ever charmed and entertained a discerning public.

The lecturer also sketched the literary work of Goldsmith and Burke— concluding with a brief allusion to the foundation of the Nation, by Gavan Duffy and Thomas Davis. He gave in illustration of the genius of the lattsr " The Sick of Baltimore " and 11 Fontenoy ."

A vote of thanks was moved by Mr J. J. Marlow, who spoke in high appreciation of the able and interesting lecture. He expressed himself much pleased at tbe effort made in this way to keep alive among the youth born in the colony the ennobling sentiment of patriotism. He also alluded to the mention made by the lecturer of «ir Ct arles Gavan Duffy, on whose services to his country, both at home and abroad, he passed a eulogium. Mr J. J. Connor seconded, the motion, which was carried by acclamation.

The rev lecturer, in proposing a vote ot thanks to the chairman the Very Rev Father Lynch, spoke warmly of the zeal and devotion that characterised the discharge of his duties in Dnnedin. The selfsacrifice, be said, by which Father Lyuch's work was distinguished was only equalled by the ability with which it was performed. An enthusiastic response by the audience proved how well deserved they perceived the praise to be.

Some further selections of music were given by the St Cecilia Society with equal succesp, and the audience dispersed, much pleased with the eveniDg's entertainment.