PREFACE.

A BOOK of gossipping history, of which the scenes are laid as much in Italy as in Ireland, ought, perhaps, to find general readers. The principal figure introduced is the Rev. Dr. Lanigan, the learned ecclesiastical historian. In some earlier chapters he is but indistinctly seen pushing his way through the throng of his times. We see more of him as he comes nearer to us, and when his progress, from advancing years, is more slow.

"The life of a man of letters," says Goldsmith, "is rarely marked by adventure." Dr. Lanigan's career comes somewhat within this rule. With the exception of half-a-dozen incidents, it was uneventful; and, encouraged by Gibbon's counsel, I have very frequently "taken refuge in circumjacent history." This swelled so largely beneath my hand that in revising the sheets I cancelled without stint. Some parts may appear rather capriciously put together, but previous works of mine show that a more artistic arrangement could, if desired, be readily followed.

Dr. Lanigan having, from his collegiate and studious pursuits, occupied a much smaller space in the public eye than the patriotic prelate, Dr. Doyle, I had more room on the canvas of the present picture for the drapery of family tradition than I found myself at

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liberty to introduce round "J. K. L." In sketching the present portrait I have dwelt longer than I should otherwise have done on a number of small traits, chiefly in illustration of that protracted period of suffering which made so much of his later life a heavy cross. Nor is this, after all, perhaps, much to be regretted. The success of Guido's "Ecce Homo" is not due to the free dashes which largely constitute the strength of an artistic study, but to a multitude of minute touches, each unimportant in itself, yet when viewed collectively impart fidelity, vitality, and value to the picture.

If in the following pages John Lanigan is generally found surrounded by wits and worthies, rather than the isolated figure more in accordance with stereotyped biography, it is right to say that I had before me the encouraging example of a book warmly praised by Brougham, "Curran and his Contemporaries," in which Curran is often lost sight of for half-a-dozen pages at a time. Without some arrangement of this sort their memory would soon become wholly lost; for, although all noted men, many were not of sufficient mark to claim separate biographies.

If any reader should object to my frequent poetical citations, he would do well to remember that this example has been set by great classical historians, from the entertaining Plutarch to the grave Polybius. The innovating idea of heading historic chapters with apt quotations is, however, entirely my own.

foot-notes appear, detract

In the earlier part many ing, probably, from the artistic effect of the page. But it is some consolation that they are far less full than in Mitchelet's life of Luther, which has been pronounced a model of biographic composition. Be this as it may, I gradually relinquished them altogether, or welded their strength into the text.

If Dr. Lanigan had errors-and that he had any has yet to be shown-I disclaim any attempt to justify them. I have no sympathy with his mistakes, if any; but I have every sympathy with his sufferings, his patriotism, his genius, his achievements, his aspirations.

I believe there is internal evidence in one page only to show that these sheets were printed off several months ago, though, for reasons uninteresting to explain, their publication was deferred. I allude to a passage in which poor Charles Lever is spken of as still alive. The delay in question was at least useful in confirming the accuracy of some anecdotes introduced. For instance, I did not at first know who the two professors were who visited Dr. Crowley after he had left the Catholic Church and become a parson (p. 93); but inquiries since instituted at Maynooth show that Dr. Crolly, afterwards Primate, was one,

and Dr. Denvir, afterwards Bishop of Down, the other. W. J. F.

75 Pembroke-road, Dublin.

15th December, 1872,

liberty to introduce round "J. K. L.' In sketching the present portrait I have dwelt longer than I should otherwise have done on a number of small traits, chiefly in illustration of that protracted period of suffering which made so much of his later life a heavy cross. Nor is this, after all, perhaps, much to be regretted. The success of Guido's "Ecce Homo" is not due to the free dashes which largely constitute the strength of an artistic study, but to a multitude of minute touches, each unimportant in itself, yet when viewed collectively impart fidelity, vitality, and value to the picture.

If in the following pages John Lanigan is generally found surrounded by wits and worthies, rather than the isolated figure more in accordance with stereotyped biography, it is right to say that I had before me the encouraging example of a book warmly praised by Brougham, "Curran and his Contemporaries," in which Curran is often lost sight of for half-a-dozen pages at a time. Without some arrangement of this sort their memory would soon become wholly lost; for, although all noted men, many were not of sufficient mark to claim separate biographies.

If any reader should object to my frequent poetical citations, he would do well to remember that this example has been set by great classical historians, from the entertaining Plutarch to the grave Polybius. The innovating idea of heading historic chapters with apt quotations is, however, entirely my own.