NEW BOOKS.

I. Centulle: A Tale of Pau. By DENYS SHYNE LAWLOR, Author of Pilgrimages in the Pyrenees and Landes." (London: Longman's.) MR. LAWLOR assigns to a French friend of his the merit of the general scope and plan of this book, which aims at combining the attractions of a novel with the accurate details of a guide-book. The story increases in interest as it proceeds, and certainly there is no dearth of incident. But too many different subjects are attempted which could not possibly be treated satisfactorily together. There is, for instance, a minute history of "Our Lady of Lourdes," with an account of the language and country of the Basques, and of the customs and languages of the Gipsies; and all the changes of the story are interspersed with descriptions of Biarritz, Pau, Eaux-Bonnes, and other resorts of the health-seeker and pleasure-seeker. By the way, apropos of one of those subjects, can it be true that in the Basque language the same word stands for a fountain, a vineyard, or the summit of a mountain, and that that one word is ardlanzesaregarenenituricabarua? If so, it is no wonder that Scaliger, on first hearing the language spoken, said: 'They pretend to understand one another, but I don't believe they do."

II. The English Religion. Letters addressed to an Irish Gentleman. By A. M. (Dublin: M'Glashan & Gill. 1876.)

THIS shilling pamphlet of the very newest and freshest controversy is eminently readable, thanks partly to the large, clear type with which it is printed, but chiefly to the terse incisiveness of the style and the sound originality of the matter. There are nine of these letters, some of them quite too short, discussing the latest phases of the everchangingEnglish Religion" in a way which will often provoke the remark: "This must be by the author of the Comedy of Convocation."* Although the Letters are addressed to an Irish gentleman and will be useful to those who are within the one Home of Faith, they would be studied with still greater profit by those who are without, and all the more so because there is no violence or bitterness, and the earnestness of tone is only relieved occasionally by a little gentle sarcasm.

III. Legend Lays of Ireland. By LAGENIENSIS. (Dublin Mullany.) THIS Collection of Irish Legends, told in verse by "Lageniensis," is unlike "our Lagenian mine," in this respect, that it sparkles less on the surface, and the deeper you go the more you discover of solid merit. The Legends themselves are very interesting, and are here gracefully versified; but many will read with even greater pleasure the copious annotations and illustrations which display such a profound and loving acquaintance with Irish scenery and history. The preface gives a very complete account of the legendary poetry of Ireland; and to each

We have since seen the accuracy of this conjecture acknowledged in an advertisement of the work.

poem notes are appended, full of minute and careful information about each of the places and persons mentioned in the text.

IV. Five Lectures on the City of Ancient Rome and her Empire over the Nations, the Divinely-sent Pioneer of the Catholic Church. By the Rev. HENRY FORMBY. (London: Burns, Oates & Co.) THOUGH the space that remains at our disposal hardly allows more than a catalogue raisonné of the books that await notice, we will introduce each briefly to our readers, hoping to be able perhaps to return to some of them again. The English priest, to whose zeal we owe the "Pictorial Bible Stories," and other works of similar aim, has here given us five lectures which were read before the Dominican Fathers of Woodchester, on the providential part played in history by the ancient and modern City of Rome. That part is described in the title of this volume, which developes with much ingenuity and learning a view for which, of course, the author does not claim originality, referring it at the outset to Eusebius and St. Leo, and among late writers to M. de Champagny. Amid the great variety of testimonies gathered from poets, orators, historians and philosophers, we note a lively passage from Les Césars of the writer just mentioned, which begins: "Romulus est frère de John Bull, leur ressemblance m'a toujours frappé." Some points of the parallel which he proceeds to institute would be disputed by John Bull's neighbours.

We may be allowed to mention that this book is itself the "pioneer" of a much more important work on the Roman Empire and the Christian Martyrs, which is to be illustrated by such distinguished Catholic artists as Mr. C. Goldie and Mr. Westlake. We hope that this pious design may be accomplished as speedily as a work of such difficulty permits.

V. Elements of Gregorian or Plain Chant, and Modern Music. By the Professor of Music, and Organist, in All Hallows College. (Dublin: M'Glashan & Gill.)

For those who are interested in the subject of this little treatise, it will be enough to transcribe the title-page, and to add that the work is printed very clearly and attractively. In a cheap and convenient form it gives manifestly the fruit of much study and care, and of long practical experience.

VI. History of the Catholic Schools of Kilkenny. By an OSSORY Priest. (Dublin: W. B. Kelly.)

THE filial piety of an Ossory Priest towards his Alma Mater has furnished us with this very interesting and useful contribution towards the ecclesiastical history of Ireland. On the principle of the division of labour it is well that histories of the various dioceses and diocesan institutions should be written by some of the learned ecclesiastics who are connected with them as it were by ties of blood. This department of our literature is very scantily provided. Meath has found an historian in the late Rev. Antony Cogan; and we were promised a history of the diocese of Limerick from a highly competent pen. St.

Kyran's is, we think, the first of the Catholic colleges to have its story told; and this is fitting, since it claims the honour of being (even in its present form) the oldest Catholic educational establishment in Ireland, tracing its pedigree in other forms back to Father Peter White's School in 1558. When shall the history be written of the greatest Catholic college of all, on whose prosperity the future of the Irish Church most of all depends-in which every Irish mother, whose proudest hope is to see her son a priest, must take a personal interest -the learned and venerable College of Maynooth, which, when the feast of its patron and of the patron of Ireland comes round next month, will appeal to all Irish Catholics to prove their love for Ireland and the Catholic Faith and the Irish priesthood and the beauty of God's house, by contributing generously towards the worthy completion of the new collegiate church wherewith the genius, faith, and patriotism of MacCarthy will crown nobly the work of the great Pugin?

VII. Judgments of Mr. Justice Barry, Mr. Justice Fitzgerald, and Mr. Justice O'Brien in the case of the Rev. R. O'Keeffe v. Cardinal Cullen. (Dublin: M'Glashan and Gill.)

THIS is the latest addition to the already extensive literature of this important lawsuit. It is a full and authorised report of each of the judgments delivered by their lordships. Judge Fitzgerald merely expresses briefly his concurrence with the arguments and conclusions advanced at great length and with consummate ability by Judge Barry ; but it does not need much legal acumen to perceive that the last of the judgments, Mr. Justice O'Brien's, has a distinct and very great value of its own. It is well that we possess these important documents in so satisfactory a form.

VIII. The Angel of the Altar; or, the Love of the Most Adorable and Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. By the Rev. T. H. KINANE. (Dublin: M'Glashan and Gill.)

WE had a word of welcome for this excellent little work on its first appearance. Meanwhile it has reached its sixth issue and is destined in many new editions to inspire the hearts of the faithful with a warmer love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It contains a rich store of solid and devout matter, not only on the title-subject of the volume but on the devotion to the Blessed Virgin, the life of Blessed Margaret Mary, &c.; and prayers and practical exercises of piety are appended to each section. The zealous Author, whom his Archbishop has just appointed Administrator of Thurles, has drawn an additional blessing on his work by incurring the toil of presenting to Our Lady of Lourdes a splendid lamp which she will value less for the four hundred ounces of solid silver which it contains than for the devotion of the Irish hearts that send it as a token of their love to burn perpetually before that favoured shrine.

NOTES IN THE BIG HOUSE.

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES.

As the happy Christmastide drew near, there was much excitement and speculation among our little people. Some children, who were nearly quite well, became a little nervous lest they should be sent home before the great day arrived. It was hoped that the festive decorations, and the erection of a crib in each ward might be accomplished on Christmas Eve while the tiny inmates were asleep; but every movement was watched by more than one pair of bright eyes, and every now and again an excited little head would pop up from its pillow to take a survey of what was going on around. However, the little wide-awakes lost the wonderful pleasure and surprise enjoyed next morning by the drowsy heads, who, on awaking, found before their eyes a beautiful crib already lighted up with many-coloured tapers hung in the green branches, and saw hanging from all the gasaliers and pictures wonderful flowery wreaths and festoons of holly and ivy.

When all the convalescents were dressed, it was a touching sight to see them standing round the crib, singing their Christmas hymn in the early morning light. Then came breakfast, in itself a second surprise; for, instead of the usual cocoa, there was “real tea,” a great treat to our little men and women.

As dinner hour in the Big House is so unfashionably early, we did not devote as much time and thought as other people do to that important part of the Christmas celebrations. Nevertheless, the little inmates did justice to their roast beef and potatoes, while looking forward to a luncheon of fruit and cakes and a lottery of toys in the afternoon. All the children who could be moved were put into the back ward, while preparations for the feast and lottery were being made in the front room; all, except "Beauty," who, trotting about in her little cap, superintended everything, and would not be kept out. Great was the impatience of the little mob in the back room while they were kept waiting, and equally great was their delight when they were admitted to the enchanting scene.

A strange little party they looked tumbling in, some on crutches, some with patches on their eyes, or with their heads bound up as if they had been in the wars, but all with happy faces, and all with merry voices, except our deaf and dumb child, who is having her little crooked foot made straight, and who, though she could not express her pleasure, was happy too in her own way with some nice toys spread before her on the bed. In the drawing of prizes every child was fortunate and all were pleased. After the feast was over the two cribs were once more lighted up, and the children sang again and again all the hymns they had ever learned or heard; and so Christmas Day ended as it began, with the sick children singing the praises of that Infant Saviour, to whose loving Heart in their suffering and their innocence they are doubly dear.

AUTHOR OF "HESTER'S HISTORY," "THE LITTLE FLOWER SEEKERS,'

PART II.

CHAPTER V.

LEO IS SHOT ACROSS THE SKY.

" &c.

LEO sank away down through the heap of clouds, quite powerless to hold himself up any longer. He thought he was going to be smothered, but instead of that he found himself very comfortable in the middle of the cloud. There was a dew in it which oozed into his eyes and cured them both. This was very delightful, but it was not so pleasant when the cloud began to part and float off in pieces just as the other clouds had done, and as it seemed all clouds must keep on doing, no matter how steady they looked. This time the heap divided suddenly down the middle, and Leo rolled off and was just falling sheer down into nowhere, when he struck against a third Hour, another beautiful creature who was hovering in the air right beneath the cloud. She had white draperies hanging about her and bright hair spread over her shoulders, and was swinging a golden censer full of fire. Leo nearly fell head foremost into the censer, which would have been worse than dropping down nowhere, but the beautiful creature caught him by the curls on the top of his head and held him upright in the air.

"Oh, thank you!" cried Leo, "though it does hurt a little. It is better than slipping down through the air, and falling on a church steeple or something. I suppose you are another Hour ?"

"Yes, I belong to the morning," said the beautiful creature ; "and you had a narrow escape, I can tell you. What am I to do with you now, I wonder?"

"Oh!" said Leo, "you know the kind of thing I am, I see. I had to explain myself to the hours of the night and to the cloudman. They did not know anything about boys at all."

"That is because it is always dark when they are about, I belong to the day and can see down on the earth. I have often seen boys, and I know very well that it is very dangerous for them to be tumbling about in the sky, where nothing is solid enough for them to walk upon. My advice to you is to get down again to the earth as fast as you can."

"I'd rather see a little more since I am here," said Leo; "besides, I don't know how it could be done. You couldn't fly down with me, I suppose ?"

"No," said the Hour, "I couldn't indeed; any more than you can