The work which we have placed first on our list contains three essays. The first treats of the origin of the Irish Church and of the labours of Saints Palladius and Patrick; the second, of the Blessed Eucharist; the third, of the Blessed Virgin. The first essay is divided into three parts. Part I. treats of Saint Palladius and Saint Patrick, and is divided into four chapters respectively headed: Mission of Saint Palladius; general sketch of Saint Patrick's history; Saint Patrick's connection with Saint Germanus; Saint Patrick's mission from Rome. In Part II. various modern theories respecting Saint Patrick are reviewed and refuted. Chapter i. refutes Dr. Ledwich's theory that Saint Patrick never existed; chapter ii. refutes the statements of Sir William Betham, that Saint Patrick lived long before A.D. 432, and of Usher, that Ireland possessed a hierarchy long before Saint Patrick's time; chapter iii. examines Dean Murray's theory, that Saint Patrick had no mission from Rome; chapter iv. refutes the opinion of Dr. Lanigan, that Saint Patrick died A.D. 465, and then Dr. Petrie's conjecture, that our ancient writers have so blended together the acts of two Saint Patricks, that it is no longer possible to say which belongs to the Apostle Patrick; chapters v. vi. vii. deal with Dr. Todd's theory reduced to three heads:--1. that Saint Palladius was not a Roman deacon; 2. that Saint Patrick did not commence his apostolate until A.D. 440; 3. that Saint Patrick received no mission from Rome. Part III. sets before us the sentiments of the early Irish Church regarding Rome. Three classes of witnesses are called, in as many chapters, to testify that the ancient Irish acknowledged with filial reverence the divinely given authority of the Holy See. First come the ancient writers, next the canons which regulated the discipline of the Church, then the Irish saints who gave evidence of their sentiments by their pilgrimages to Rome, and by their appeals to the supreme power of Saint Peter's chair. The second essay treats of the teaching of the ancient Irish Church regarding the Blessed Eucharist. That Christ is really present and offered on our altars for the living and the dead, was held by our Christian fathers as tenaciously as by their Catholic children of to-day. The documents which illustrate this point are arranged by Dr. Moran under the following heads:--1. Liturgical treatises; 2. Penitentials and other records; 3. the words and practice of the early saints; 4. the ancient writers cited by Protestants as favourable to the reformed doctrine. The examination of these witnesses occupies four chapters. In the third essay Dr. Moran brings conclusive testimony to show that devotion to the Blessed Virgin was part of the primitive teaching. He alludes to the beautiful prayer of Saint Colgu which we have been enabled, at page 4, to present in full to our readers.