audiences of Urban VIII., Easter 1624-summoned by the Inquisition, Feb. 1633-sentence of the Inquisition passed, abjuration of Galileo, 22 Jun. 1633-returns to Arcetri, Dec. 1633-loses his Daughter, Apr. 1634-becomes blind, 1637-d. at Arcetri, 8 Jan. 1642-Sidereus Nuncius, 1610—Dialogo sopra i du Masimi Sistemi del Mondo, 1632-Discorso e Demostr. intorno alle due nuove Scienze, 1638-Della Scienza Meccanica, 1649-Trattato della Sfera, 1655.

Some regard English writers as disposed to disparage the claims of Ireland to all things calculated to do her credit. We have never entertained any such opinion except in regard to third or fourth-rate writers; on the contrary, we deny that there is not a single first-class English author, male or female, who is not rather generous to old Erin than otherwise. But we think that the most persistent and conscientious hater of the Saxon will admit that there is nothing disparag. ing, or deserving of hate, in the following sketch of Innisfail's early story:

b

“Ireland, (Ir, Eri, Erin,) (Greek, Terne, Latin, Hibernia, Juverna,)—described by Pomponius Mela, about 50?-its inhabitants, the Scots, make descents on Britain and Gaul, between 350-430-mission of Palladius, about 431-mission of St. Patrick, about 440-460-ravaged and the churches plundered by Northumbrians, 684'-descent of Northmen on, 748,° 795 *— [Danes]—Anlaf establishes his supremacy in 853-ravaged by Northmen, 905-defeat of Northmen at Tara, 980-Brien Boru, king of, defeats Northmen at Clontarf and is killed, 1014-MALACHI succeeds him, 1014—and d., 1022 -Godred Chronan establishes himself in, 1068-Waterford seat of a bishopric by Ostmen, 1096-invaded by Magnus III. of Norway, who is defeated and killed, Aug. 1103-O'CONNOR the Great acknowledged King, 1136-invaded by Godred of Man, 1143-supremacy of Rome acknowledged by Synod of Kells, 1152-Henry II. of England authorized by Pope Adrian IV. to undertake conquest of, 1155-MURLOCH O’LOCHLIN, 1156—succeeded by RODERICK O'CONNOR, 1166-Dermot Mac Murrough seeks aid of Henry II., 1168-English invasion under Fitzgerald and Fitzstephen, associates of Richard de Clare, Jun. 1169-[Strongbow]-invasion of Henry II., 18 Oct. 1171-English slaves set at liberty: HENRY is acknowledged King at Council of Cashel, 6 Nov. 1171-Hugh de Lacy appointed governor, 1173-divided into twelve counties: general insurrection, 1174-promulgation of bull of Adrian IV., and submission of chiefs to Henry II., 1175."

The whole article occupies more than three columns, bringing down the historical events of that still unhappy country to August, 1870. In the article on New York, we have the item, "Orange and Catholic riots suppressed by military, 12th July, 1871," but, strange to say,

"Humboldt.

Drinkwater."

"Boss 19

not a word about "Bismarck" Sweeny, "Doge" Hall, Tweed, or "Reformer" Green! These are, of course, important omissions; nevertheless, we do not hesitate to recommend the work as the best of its kind it has ever been our privilege to examine.

Typographic Messenger. A Quarterly Magazine of the Typographic Art. James Connor's Sons, Publishers, New York City. Vol. vii, No. 2. April, 1872.

As this is a Quarterly, it may be suspected that we are actuated by jealousy if we say that its literary department is a little out of joint; or, perhaps, it would be more correct to say that it seems to partake somewhat of the miraculous, especially in view of its Latin motto, which tells us that, although spoken words perish, writings endure. Be this as it may, both on the title page and on the cover, the "Typograpic Messenger" is dated April, 1872. Thus it greets us at page 25 as the April number; and yet at page 27 we have an obituary notice of the late Mr. Bennett, in which we are told that "the first of June witnessed the decease of the well-known publisher of the New York "Herald." After informing us, further, that Mr. Bennett was celebrated for "enterprise in news gathering," the "Messenger " adds that the funeral did not take place till the thirteenth of the month.

Now if it be remembered, that in order to be "progressive," an American magazine is supposed to be all written, and generally published, at least, three weeks prior to the date on its cover and title page, it must be admitted that the editor of the periodical before us seems liberally endowed with the prophetic gift. True, it may be alleged, that if so, it is the only gift necessary or useful for an editor, of which he furnishes any decided evidence in his April number.

Still there are some excellent things in the "Typographic Messenger "-its instalment of the History of Printing, for instance. But, in our opinion, the best things it contains are its really beautiful specimens of the various kinds of type which have made the foundry of the Messrs. Connor justly celebrated in all parts of this continent. It has also the recommendation of being the publication of an honest man--one whom the temptations incident to officeholding in New York could not corrupt, or induce to swerve from the path of rectitude and honor.

APPENDIX-INSURANCE,

GOOD, BAD AND INDIFFERENT.

Seventeenth Annual Report of the Insurance Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, January 1, 1872. Part II. Life and Accident Insurance. Boston Wright & Potter. 1872.

THE Scandinavians have a fable which runs thus: Thor, the god of thunder and retribution, once became indisposed, so that for several days none of his bolts were seen or felt. The pirates who then infested the North Sea soon became aware of what they regarded as a most auspicious event. A meeting of all the brethren was immediately convened, and the most unscrupulous robber was chosen by acclamation to preside. After some appropriate speeches had been delivered, a sort of Te Deum was unanimously voted and sent to Odin, gratefully thanking that supreme deity for having so afflicted the naughty Thor that he could do no mischief to so industrious and worthy a body as themselves, and praying that his affliction would be indefinitely prolonged at least long enough to enable them to lay in a sufficient provision against the storms of winter, when the business of ship-scuttling became dull. But the Te Deum had scarcely been sung to Odin, when the bolts of Thor began to fly again in all directions, and the first of the pirates struck with one was their worthy chief!

We are not, we trust, either so impious or so vain as to compare ourselves to so great and formidable a divinity as the mighty Thor, further than to say that we, too, had an attack of illness which, although not of a very serious nature in other respects, had the effect of obliging us to omit our Appendix from last June number-the first time that omission had been made in eight years. We will not say that the pirates have held any meeting to thank Odin for having afflicted us; but we have the most reliable assurances that a large number of their kindred, the land sharks, have become almost frantic with joy. It seems, for instance, that Batterson, of the Traveller's, the great accidental insurer, worked himself up into such a state of joyful frenzy that he broke one of his finest tombstones. Winston, of the Mutual, was so much rejoiced that he forgot to attend a very important meeting of the Bible Society-a meeting designed to render unusual spiritual service to the heathen off at the source of the Nile, and consequently very effectual as a whitewashing agency for injured reputations. Freeman, of the Globe Mutual, Protection Mutual, and

Reserve Mutual, manufactured in one day a whole gross of "nonforfeit. able" policies, and resolved to be the father, or rather the step-father, of at least three more "purely mutual" companies! Walker, of the Universal, determined to be more "universal" than ever, at least in dustthrowing and exchanging brass for gold, on the stock principle. North, of the Asbury, issued an order for five thousand of those blank forms, whose appropriate motto is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Bucklin, of the Economical, swore that he would be more "economical" than ever, when called upon for payment by the widow or the orphan. Ex-Alderman Franklin, of the New York Life, ordered the manufacture of yet another pamphlet to abuse the most honorable of that worthy company's rivals, and directed a new clause to be inserted in its policies, presenting increased inducements to its insane policy holders to commit suicide. We can make no further additions this time to the "roll of honor," although there are several other "protectors" of the widow and orphan quite as meritorious as those mentioned, who would be rejoiced to learn that our "Appendix" would forever continue to be omitted. But, even in so hurried a sketch, we must not forget the name of Griswold, of the Hartford Life and Annuity, a gentleman who combines the business of selling cheap dry goods, "yankee notions," etc., with that of selling cheap policies of insurance and cheap annuities. It seems this worthy person pledged himself to sell no more calico, but henceforth to devote all his brilliant talents-fortified by his superior intelligence, his refined and elegant Bowery manners-to the protection of the widow and orphan from all other animals of the shark species!

Some may imagine that all this exultation at the supposed discontinuance of our attentions to the "good, bad and indifferent among insurers has displeased us. Such is by no means the case, however; and the best evidence of the fact is that we are at this moment as ready as ever to recommend the commodities of the exultants. Thus, for example, we inform all whom it may concern that, although the promises and pretensions of Batterson as an insurer are very much like those of a quack doctor, yet he gets up some very handsome tombstones. If we never had much faith in Winston's devotion to the widow and the orphan, it is not the less true that we regard the tracts, which he aids so well in sending to the heathen, are very excellent things, and might possibly do good to certain parties much nearer home than Africa. If we cannot recommend the non-forfeitable policies of Freeman's brood of companies as of any great service to either widows or

VOL. XXV.-NO. L.

13

orphans, we are willing to recommend them to those to whom they would be very useful, namely, our trunk manufacturers and retail grocers. If we fear that the "annuities" of Griswold & Co. would not prove very regular in their payment, or likely to continue for a very long period, most cheerfully do we admit that his twenty-five cent calico is a genuine article-not "shoddy," but honest cottonjust as honest, though not quite so elegant or so aristocratic as Batterson's tombstones.

We feel that we have all the more reason to be thus good-humored towards those who exult in our affliction when we bear in mind that none of those underwriters whose character is above reproach, entertain, or have ever entertained, any such feeling in regard to us, but always the reverse. It is no idle boast that, among underwriters as well as among politicians, statesmen, educators, authors, etc., the best men are our friends. Never yet have we assailed un upright, honorable man in any sphere of life; and never have we been assailed by one pretending to be honorable who has not proved, in due time, to have fully deserved the brand we had set upon him. But before we indulge in any contrasts, by way of illustration, let us turn our attention for a moment to the pamphlet before us.

It is a great satisfaction, at least to the Insurance community, if not to the general public, to receive the Annual Report of the Insur ance Commissioner of Massachusetts-Hon. Julius L. Clarke. This gentleman is known in the insurance world as an honest, intelligent official, who is laboring with his utmost zeal to purify his State from insolvent corporations, to the end that the public good may be subserved, and private interests, whether in life, fire, or marine insurance, be properly protected.

The Massachusetts' Life Report for 1872, which gives the standing and ratios of the various companies transacting business in that State, January 1, is a volume, the contents of which will compare favorably with, and in most respects will be found to be superior to, the reports of other State officials upon the same subject. The great objection to this and all other reports on life assurance, is that they exhibit on the part of their authors, a great desire to be considered authority upon a subject about which, in general, they know but little or nothing. The duty of an insurance commissioner, it seems to us, is plain; it is to call for and collate facts under the laws regulating life, fire and ma rine insurance, and not to discuss the principles of insurance, its necessity or its value, or take sides for or against any particular mode of