feature of English journalism as long as the Houses of Lords and Commons were to legislate for the United Kingdom. The tentative experience of many years is necessary before the organiser of a newspaper can gauge the feeling of the constituents to which he addresses himself. In this respect the proprietor of the Irish Times has made himself a conspicuous exception. In these days no project in journalism—indeed it may be said in anything--can secure a prosperous result unless it be promoted with commercial courage. To the exercise of this quality the proprietor of the Irish Times may attribute the position of the journal with which his name in Ireland is now identified. Struggling at first against the obstacles which normally oppose the progress of a newly-established newspaper, he soon showed by his commercial activity that he was determined to prove that a daily paper in Ireland might be able to rival its competitors in its own land, though they had the valuable advantage of older age. It is not necessary in this place to specify the various stages through which the Irish Times has passed, but it may not be amiss to indicate briefly the literary machinery through which its present position is maintained. The general staff comprises as many employés as most of the daily London newspapers, and if the room for printers and machinery is somewhat circumscribed, the economy of space has been carefully and exactly calculated so that the greatest amount of work is done within the smallest circumference. Though classics and journalism may not seem to have anything in common, in this case the aptitude for the one has proved indirectly the capacity for the other. This observation will be more readily understood when the fact is adduced that the Rev. G. W. Wheeler, M.A., well known in academic circles in Ireland as the annotative editor of several Greek and Latin classics, has been the editor of the Irish Times almost since its beginning. The “Continental Gossip" from Paris, by Major Massey, a gentleman connected with several aristocratic families in the south of Ireland, is written in such a lively and brilliant style that some surprise has been expressed that the "special" of the Irish Times has not appeared in some higher walk of literature. The London correspondence is supplied by Mr. J. H. Doyle, one of the most active and experienced members of the press in the metropolis. Its staff of printers and machine hands is nearly equal in number to that of any English daily journal. Regarding its circu'ation relatively with the numbers issued of the other Dublin "dailies," it is not the purpose of this brief article to give an opinion. Indeed the subject of superiority in this respect has been recently the cause

of a rhetorical duello between the Irish Times and the Freeman's Fournal, the battle being a drawn one, so far at all events as the public are enabled to judge. The Irish Times is the only Dublin daily which publishes a sheet of eight pages. The enterprise of the proprietor is further demonstrated by his establishment of a brass band consisting of youths who are being trained as compositors. When they play at concerts or other entertainments they appear in handsome uniforms under the direction of their own bandmaster. Indeed, the Irish Times band has become one of the institutions of Dublin, and its services are always available—even at the sacrifice of the results of their ordinary labour-whenever the cause of charity can. be promoted by its performance. A servants' agency also forms part of the system organised by the proprietor for the advancement of the journal which he so energetically promotes.

However the question of circulation may be decided, it is unquestionable that as an organ of opinion the Freeman's Journal appeals to the sympathies of the greatest number. This will be readily understood when it is stated that it advocates Catholic opinion in the sense in which it is understood in Ireland—that is to say, Ultramontane politics. In further illustration of the statement that the Dublin press is directed by Protestant promoters, it may be stated as a curiosity of journalistic literature that the Freeman's Fournal-the representative organ of the extreme Catholic party——— is the property of a Protestant, Sir John Gray. This gentleman, however, has always strenuously advocated the cause of Ireland, as it is understood by the majority of the people. He was the friend and fellow prisoner of O'Connell, at whose skirt-to use his own words recently delivered - he first entered public life. In England Sir John Gray is best known as having made the motion on the subject of the Irish Church which may be designated as the precursor of the destruction of that institution. The Freeman's leading articles are written in a vigorous style and with uncompromising devotion to the cause it endeavours to promote. From time to time articles said to have been inspired by members of Liberal Governments have appeared in its columns. While the circulation of the other journals is principally local, the Freeman's Journal is read in every place where Irish people dwell, so that its influence may be said to extend to the limits of the habitable globe.

Evening editions are published by the Mail, the Express, and the Irish Times. There are, besides, two evening papers-similar to the Pall Mall Gazette and the Globe in England, inasmuch as they have no morning editions-the Evening Telegraph, issued from the VOL. X., N.S. 1873.

R

Freeman office, and the Evening Post. No other portion of the Dublin press demands notice in this place; the character of the other journals can be easily obtained from a newspaper directory. There is, however, another paper in Ireland which may be cited among the curiosities of journalistic literature. This is the Limerick Chronicle, with which is identified one of the most respected families connected with the city whose name the paper bears. Its peculiarity, until recently, consisted in its military news, which was the freshest and fullest to be found in any paper in the United Kingdom. Indeed, at one time it was quoted in the English journals, and it was a saying that commandants of garrisons often learned their prospective movements from the Limerick Chronicle before they received any orders respecting them from the Horse Guards. Even now, though the Dublin daily papers reach Limerick early in the day, the Limerick Chronicle holds its own as a commercial speculation. It seldom inserts editorial articles; but this defect-if, indeed, it be one-is amply supplied by the able and tasteful manner in which it is subedited.

To sum up briefly the contents of this article-suggesting some peculiarities of the Irish press-it may be said that the Irish National press has done much to estrange the people in Ireland from the priests; that almost every influential paper in the sister island is directed by Protestants; and that the daily press of Dublin enumerates as many representatives as the daily press in London.

T. F. O'Donnell.

TABLE TALK.

BY SYLVANUS URBAN, GENTLEMAN.

On the 9th of January, a few minutes before eleven in the forenoon, Napoleon III. breathed his last. The event was forthwith communicated to the world, and we were not only startled at the news, but the cloud of misfortune being cleared away by Death, we all of us became aware that the late Emperor stood in the foremost rank of great men. Napoleon died in exile, and at the age of sixtyfive; but if, like his favourite hero, Julius Cæsar, he had been assassinated in the meridian of his power and in the vigour of his manhood, the sensation caused by his death could hardly have been more profound. Perhaps the dust of a century must rest upon his tomb before he will be fairly estimated, for the Muse of History disdains the story that wears the gloss of novelty. The excitement coincident to his death, however, shows that he will have a niche in the Temple of Fame that would have satisfied the most voracious ambition. But what would have most gratified the late Emperor, if he could have had a prevision of the talk of mankind on the morrow of his death, was that in France, his native land, in Italy, the land he redeemed from bondage, and in England, the land he loved with the love of an adopted son, he was kindly remembered. Nor is the death of the exiled Emperor an unimportant event. His late sorrows had to some extent made Imperialism and his dynasty unpopular in France. A people covetous of military glory could not forgive the fatal field of Sedan. They did not remember the twenty years of prosperity, but even a section of devoted Imperialists held that the Prince who had surrendered his sword to the German victor could not again be the ruling Emperor of the French. Napoleon III. is dead, and an obstruction to the restoration of the Empire is removed. Napoleon IV. is too young to be responsible for the troubles of the Empire. He is so young that he may live to give the word of command when France is ready for the war of vengeance. While Napoleon III. lived the restoration of the Empire was well nigh impossible, but now no one who is conversant with French affairs will say that it is impossible.

It was not the political consequences that

men thought of when they heard of the death of Napoleon III. They thought of his wonderful career—an exile in boyhood, a forlorn adventurer in his early manhood, the prisoner of Ham, the refugee in England, the Prince President, the Emperor of the French, the arbiter of peace and war, the ally of England in the Crimean war, the hero of the Italian war, and once more an exile in England. And throughout this career Napoleon bore himself as became a king of men. In prosperity never unduly exultant, in adversity ever calm, he had often manifested an intrepid bearing in moments of danger, and amidst the horrors of Sedan men marvelled at the fearless demeanour of the unfortunate and suffering Emperor. It is admitted that he rendered splendid service to the cause of human progress. He might have fought Germany in 1864, and triumphed, but his triumph would have postponed the unity of Germany; and posterity will not blame him for hoping to keep up the position of France without deluging Europe with blood. His Mexican expedition was a mistake; but success might have been a blessing to that country. When his death was announced to the Italian Chamber, there was a grateful acknowledgment that he had by his advice and by his prowess emancipated Italy. After centuries of hostility, he united England and France in the bonds of amity. There is something touching in his staunch and enduring friendship for our country. He offended his subjects rather than relax that friendship, and adopted a policy of free trade beneficial to both countries, though it was not popular in France. About his private character there is to be said that his wife and son were devoted to him, and no man ever had more loving friends. Their affection was not less ardent when he was in exile, grieved with warm and irrepressible grief. faults and failings, but his virtues were grand and conspicuous. Take him altogether, he was the greatest man of our times, and though dying in exile it is not surprising that his death has engaged the attention and thought of the world.

and when he died they He was human. He had

IN these high-pressure days it is gratifying to see an author stepping aside from general work to set up a literary monument, however small, by which he would desire to be remembered. I have myself had these fits of longing to live in the future, to be known and to be read long after the weeds have buried the plain slab with him in whose memory it was once set up fresh and new. I fancy Blanchard Jerrold was influenced by some sentiment of this kind