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would confine our efforts to removing all impediments and obstructions in its course ; we would give it no bounty , but we would take away all bounty from error and from idleness ; and we would commit it , without fear , to a free and unembarrassed competition . " These and similar passages impressed us in favour of the writer , and we took up his History with expectations of a degree of impartiality not hitherto met with . The work is dedicated to Mr . Abercromby , " as one of the purest of public characters , and one of the truest friends of Ireland ; " and the knowledge conveyed by the dedication , that the writer esteems Mr . Abercromby , and is esteemed by him , gives us additional confidence that we may find " a clear and distinct outline , drawn without prejudice or favour , of the great events of Irish history . "
" The chief object of my humble efforts in literature , says Mr . ODriscol , " had always been to suppress faction , and to raise up in its stead one great national interest in Ireland ; to root out party spirit ; to cultivate national attachments , especially in the gentry of that country ,- to unite these with the popular feelings ; and to bind the whole round the throne and island of Great Britain / 5 In the preface , p . ix ., there is a remark oh Leland , which may be considered as intimating the author ' s own design .
. " The first and the best historian of Ireland , he had before him a glorious task , if he had been equal to its accomplishment . He might have soothed and appeased the bitter hatreds and baneful animosities of his country ; he might have done much to reconcile his countrymen to each other ; he might have taught them , that they were the children of one land , and the worshipers of one Creator ; he mig ht have been the first to announce to 4 ; hem a new commandment , as surprising to the Irish as to the Jews of old , to love one another , and have found reasons and motives in abundance in the history he unfolded . '
The author ' s plan of giving a mere outline of the early periods of the history , and of dwelling particularly on those " eras which had a powerful influence on the course of subsequent events , we think judicious ; and he has thus made his work far more agreeable . After perusing it we can say , that its general tendency is such as we were led to expect ; and though violent partizanfi will not be pleased with it , we have little doubt of its being
approved by the majority of readers , especiall y as it is written in a lively and entertaining manner . We might notice some inaccuracies of style , and some errors , which are the result of haste , but they are comparatively trifles . We must , however , make one serious objection , which is , that Mr . O'Driscol does not usually quote his authorities . Even though our confidence in a writer should be so established as to make us rely on his accuracy and judgment , yet there is a satisfaction in knowing what are his sources of
information , especially when his account varies from that generally received . Should Mr . Q'Driscol read these remarks , we would earnestly recommend to him the correction of tliis defect in the new edition which we anticipate will be called for , as well as in the continuation of his * work . It may , indeed , render the page less agreeable to the eye of the superficial reader , but it will add to the real value of his History . We defer more particular reference to the details of the work , and our quotations , to our next number .
Untitled Article
j 76 Review . —O'Driscol ' s History of Ireland .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1828, page 176, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2558/page/32/
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