he loveth it as if nothing could happen more happily. You would say there were in that place Plato's academie, but I do the house injury in comparing it to Plato's academie, wherein there was only disputations of numbers, and geometricale figures, and sometimes of morall and vertues. I should rather call his house a school, or universitie of Christian religion, for there is none therein but readith or studieth the liberall sciences; their speciall care is pietie and vertue, there is no quarelling or intemperate words heard, none seen idle, which household discipline that worthy gentleman doth not governe by proude and loftie words, but with all kind and courteous benevolence: everybody performeth his dutie; yet isthere always a lacritie; neither is sober mirth anie thing wanting."

Yet even then he had deep, instinctive misgivings, as to the future of England. His son-in-law, Roper, afterwards his biographer, himself a truly religious man, began one day to speak exultingly to him of the happy state of the realm that had so Catholic and zealous a prince, so learned and virtuous a clergy, so grave and sound a nobility, such loving and obedient subjects, all agreeing together as if they had but one heart and one soul. Sir Thomas answered: “And yet I pray God that some of us may not live to see the day in which all this will be changed, and in which we will be glad to be permitted to possess our own churches and our own religion in peace.'

(To be concluded in our next.)

THREE ROSEBUDS.*

I. CLOUD-SHIPS.

Do not ask me!

I cannot laugh and run.
I fain would lie and bask me
In the morning sun,

Under this stalwart pear-tree
In the cool-shaded grass,
While round me and above me
The shadows pass.

I see, where the breeze divideth
The heaving boughs,

Snow ships sailing in the blue sky
With burnished silver prows,
Freighted with angel visitants,

Chartered for earth's shore

Blow, panting breeze, and land them
Ere the day is o'er.

Blessed thoughts and deeds of love

Are stored within the hold,

And angels guard o'er treasures rare,
Richer than gold.

*We guarantee these little pieces as the genuine and unrevised work of a child

about half way through her teens, Printing them after many years is

Blow, breeze! and speed them:

Lacketh many a soul

The healing launched by God this day

Blow, breeze! and speed the cloud-ship to its goal.

II. BEGONE DULL CARE!

SULLEN step and face of woe—
Part old Care and let him go
A pilgrimage to Jericho!
He's a sulky fellow-traveller,
Drags one on with bleeding feet-
Never sees the cooling river,
Never tastes its waters sweet.
Prop him with his staff of grief,
Longing packed within his wallet,
In his breast a vulture nestling-
Heartache, we were wont to call it.
Turn him facing towards the north,
Throw the lucky slipper after!
While we watch his form receding,
Let us hold our sides with laughter;
Let us send him not a thought.

Up! and o'er the hills of summer-
Friends will meet us on our way:
Bee, the pleasure-hunting hummer-
Birds, that split the air with song,
Waiting, watching for our greeting.
We will have a jovial day,

All our old companions meeting.
Laughing still to think of him,
Grim, old, dim-eyed Care, retreating.

III. A WILD NIGHT.

God be with us, what a storm;
Angels guard us, how it blows!

'Twere an awful night to be
Rocking on the sea.

The angel of the icy breath
Sweeps the sea to-night;
Jesus grant that on his wing

He may healing bring!

Chilling hearts grow strong in death-
Christ is walking on the sea!
Struggling fear and anguish cease.

In everlasting peace.

Souls despairing shriek aloud

Jesus walks not on the sea!

Methinks I hear their drowning cry

Ringing through eternity.

NEW BOOKS.

I. Life of the Apostle St. John. Translated from the French of the Abbé Baunard. (New York: Catholic Publication Society, 1876.) IN setting at last about the pleasant task of introducing to our readers the new books which have lain so long on our table, we think it but courtesy to begin with one of many which have come across the Atlantic. M. Baunard has in this goodly volume woven together all that concerns the life, work, and writings of the Beloved Disciple with a grace and fervour of style and a richness of erudition that make the book almost worthy of its theme. The beauty of that theme cannot be described more vividly than in the following passage from one of Dr. Newman's "Discourses to mixed Congregations:

"Yet still more beautiful, and almost as majestic, is the image of his namesake, that great Apostle, Evangelist, and Prophet of the Church, who came so early into our Lord's chosen company, and lived so long after all his fellows. We can contemplate him in his youth and in his venerable age; and on his whole life, from first to last, as his special gift, is marked purity. He is the virgin Apostle, who on that account was so dear to his Lord, the disciple whom Jesus loved,' who lay on his bosom, who received his Mother from Him when upon the cross, who had the vision of all the wonders which were to come to pass in the world to the end of time, Greatly to be honoured,' says the Church, is blessed John, who on the Lord's breast lay at supper, to whom, a virgin, did Christ on the cross commit his virgin Mother. He was chosen a virgin by the Lord, and was more beloved than the rest. The special prerogative of chastity had made him meet for his Lord's larger love, because being chosen by Him a virgin, a virgin he remained unto the end.' He it was who in his youth professed his readiness to drink Christ's chalice with Him, who wore away a long life as a desolate stranger in a foreign land, who was at length carried to Rome and plunged into the hot oil, and then was banished to a far island until his days drew near their close."

The American translator has, on the whole, performed his difficult task satisfactorily. We are reminded a little too often by the style that what we are reading was written originally in French. When the late Abbé le Hir is quoted, one could hardly recognise under the "Religious Essays" the well-known periodical to which he contributed-the Etudes Religieuses, which the translator seems to mistake for a work published by the learned Sulpician.

The readers of this "Life of St. John," so excellent in matter and in form, will rejoice to learn that Madame Barat, the Foundress of the Order of the Sacré Coeur, has found her first biographer in its author, M. Baunard. They will also hear with pleasure that this recently published "Vie de Madame Barat" will soon be introduced under the happiest auspices to its place in English religious literature.

II. Simple Tales. (London: R. Washbourne.)

THE world is growing old. There is some difference of opinion as to its precise age on its next birthday; but certainly the world is growing old. And yet, old as the world is growing, it retains the

same childish fondness for story and song. Song and story alternate pleasantly in this little volume; but even the poems are also stories, and come under the common title of "Simple Tales." Simple indeed they are with that simplicity which is the result of culture and much care. The little volume has been brought out very tastefully by the publishers; and, unpretentious as it is, it satisfies us better than any similar collection that we have come across for many a day. There is one omission that ought to be supplied; the title-page gives neither the name nor initials of the Author.

III. The Voice of Creation as a Witness to the Mind of its Divine Author. Five Lectures. By FREDERICK CANON OAKELEY, M.A., formerly Fellow of Balliol College. (London: Burns and Oates.) CANON OAKELEY treats of Natural Theology in five discourses, addressed, not like Paley's famous work to those who require to be convinced of God's existence, but to an ordinary Christian audience. The subjects taken up are-the Love of God in the Creation; the Ways of God in Creation; the Vestiges of the Fall, and the Types of the Gospel in Creation. These most important and interesting topics are discussed in a very attractive and impressive manner. The following passage recalls the somewhat similar observations of Cicero, but ends in a sphere that Cicero knew not of :

"The earliest visitant of the morning is light; and light comes to us, not in a rushing flood and in violent contrast with the darkness which has preceded it, but with the soft step of a friend fearing to startle us. When it reaches the earth, it meets in each one of us with an organ precisely fitted to receive it. This organ is so constructed as at once to reveal the vast multiplicity of objects which lie within the range of its view, and to allow an accurate inspection of such among them as are brought more immediately under its cognisance. It is also placed so as to insure a protection adequate to its value, and demanded by the number and variety of the dangers to which it is liable. An over-arching brow shades and defends it from above; a flexible lid instantaneously and instinctively secures it against injuries which threaten it in front. It is lubricated by a secretion of fluid which, after performing its office, is carried off by a channel answering the purpose of a waste-pipe. It is, moreover, so fortified by the projecting bones which surround it, as to save it from the effect of accidents which would be fatal to it in a more exposed position. Hence it is that the Church, when she seeks the Divine protection against the perils of the night, asks in the words of the Psalmist to be kept as the apple or pupil of an eye."

In illustrating another branch of his subject, Canon Oakeley speaks of the web of that "unpopular little insect," the spider. "On this flimsy footing the little acrobat poises herself with the skill of a Blondin, and woe to the adventurous fly that presumes to molest her in her stronghold."

Cardinal Manning, in his cordial letter of approval prefixed to this beautiful little work, points to the lecture on the Vestiges of the Fall as specially valuable. Would that the indefatigable investigators of Nature did not so often forget God in his works!

IV. The Three Pearls; or, Virginity and Martyrdom. BY A DAUGHTER OF CHARITY. (New York: Catholic Publication Society.) "WHAT is the third pearl? Virginity and martyrdom are only two,"

said a casual reader of this title-page. But virginity and martyrdom are combined in each of the Three Pearls, namely, the three virginmartyrs, Agnes, Cecilia, and Catherine of Alexandria. The pious writer tells the story of each, first in prose, and then in verse. She would herself be the readiest to declare that her poetry, correct and tasteful as it is, is too commonplace for themes so attractive and so poetical. The best type and paper have been laid on the shrine of these three young saints.

V. Union with our Lord Jesus Christ in his Principal Mysteries. For all Seasons of the Year. By JOHN BAPTIST SAINT JURE, S.J. (New York: Sadlier & Co., 31, Barclay-street.)

THE solidity and unction of Father Saint Jure's spiritual writings are acknowledged by all. The present translation of one of his best works has been revised by a Father of the same Society, and has received the approbation of Cardinal M'Closkey. It is brought out more sumptuously than we are accustomed to in our religious literature.

VI. Supplement to the Notes on the Rubrics of the Roman Ritual-Penance and Matrimony. By the Rev. JAMES O'KANE, Senior Dean, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth. (Duffy: Dublin and London.) VERY many of the Irish clergy are now among our subscribers, and each week that passes adds several to the number. This is, therefore, not altogether an unsuitable place to notice with a few words of praise the last service which the late Dean O'Kane bestowed on his brethren in the priesthood. The "Supplement" is worthy of a work which the Roman authorities have characterised as vere aureum et accuratissimum opus. Those who procure the present publication will be sure to add to their theological libraries (if they do not contain it already) the "Notes on the Ritual," to which after a minute examination this authoritative approval was given. The interesting question discussed in so vigorous and interesting a manner by "H. F. N." in the Irish Ecclesiastical Record for last November and December-" Domicile, Quasi-domicile, and Simple Habitation"-is treated here with still greater fulness. The late Dean and the ex-Professor of Maynooth take precisely the same view of the question. Those who remember with affection and reverence the solid and amiable qualities of the Author of this little work will set a special value on this last relic of a holy and learned priest, who in all that he has written has exemplified the conscientious accuracy of his mind and the genuine sincerity of his character.

VII. S. Joannis Chrysostomi de Incomprehensibili et S. Gregorii Nazianzeni Orationes Theologica. (Londini apud David Nutt.) UNDER shelter of the remarks with which we introduced the preceding work into seemingly uncongenial company, we beg again to call the attention of priests and ecclesiastical students to the series which Father Hurter, S.J., is editing at Innsbruck under the title of Sanctorum Patrum Opuscula Selecta ad usum præsertim Studiosorum Theologia.