To one other paragraph in this remarkable letter, I shall briefly allude:  “I do not think Englishmen are enough aware of the harm some among us do by a contemptuous, satirical, disrespectful, defiant, language in speaking of Ireland and the Irish people.”  From peculiar circumstances, the present writer has had more than ordinary opportunities of verifying the truth of this statement.  The wound caused by a sarcastic expression may often fester far longer than the wound caused by a hasty blow.  The evil caused by such language is by no means confined entirely to Protestants.  There are, indeed, but few English Catholics who speak contemptuously of Ireland, of its people, or of its history; but, if I am to credit statements which have been made to me on unquestionable authority, there are some who are not free from this injustice.  A half-commiserating tone of patronage is quite as offensive as open contempt; and yet there have been instances where English Catholic writers, while obliged to show some deference to Ireland and the Irish, in order to secure the patronage and support of that country for their publications, have at the same time, when they dared, thrown out insinuations against peculiarities of Irish character, and made efforts to discredit Irish historical documents.

I had intended, in preparing the Second Edition of the “Illustrated History of Ireland,” to omit the original Preface, in order to leave more space for the historical portion of the work.  When this intention was mentioned, several laymen and ecclesiastics expostulated so earnestly against it, that I have been obliged to yield to their request.  I am aware that some few persons objected to my remarks on the state of land laws in Ireland, or rather on the want of proper land laws; but the opinion of those interested in maintaining an evil, will always be averse to its exposure; and I cannot conceive how any one who desires an injustice to be removed, can object to a fair and impartial discussion of the subject.  An English writer, also, has made some childish remarks about the materials for Irish history not being yet complete, and inferred that in consequence an Irish history could not yet be written.  His observations are too puerile to need refutation.  I have been informed also that some objection has been made to a “political preface;” and that one gentleman, whose name I have not had the honour of hearing, has designated the work as a “political pamphlet.”  Even were not Irish history exceptional, I confess myself perplexed to understand how history and politics can be severed.  An author may certainly write a perfectly colourless history, but he must state the opinions of different parties, and the acts consequent on those opinions, even should he do so without any observation of his own.  I never for a moment entertained the intention of writing such a history, though I freely confess I have exercised considerable self-restraint as to the expression of my own opinion