BY THE RIGHT HON. W. E. GLADSTONE. "Blame not, before thou hast examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke."— Ecclesiasticus , ch. ii. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1868. The right of Translation is reserved. LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, DUKE STREET, STAMFORD STREET, AND CHARING CROSS....

At a time when the Established Church of Ireland is on her trial, it is not unfair that her assailants should be placed upon their trial too: most of all, if they have at one time been her sanguine defenders. But if not the matter of the indictment against them, at any rate that of their defence, should be kept apart, as far as they are concerned, from the public controversy, that it may not darken or perplex the greater issue. It is in the character of the author of a book called 'The State in