The thesis which he only partly set out for the night--that the misfortunes of Ireland are rather due to the congenital qualities of the race than to wrongs inflicted by their conquerors--will excite earnest and perhaps bitter controversy." This prediction was abundantly fulfilled, and the controversy spoiled the tour.

A friendly and sympathetic journalist questioned Froude's "wisdom in coming before our people with this course of lectures on Irish history ...

We do not care for the domestic troubles of other nations, and it is a piece of impertinence to thrust them upon our attention.

Mr.Froude knows perfectly well that England would resent, and rightfully, the least interference on our part with her Irish policy or her Irish subjects." In this criticism there is a large amount of common sense, and Froude would have done well to think of it before.

He was not, however, a man to be put down by clamour; he was sustained by the fervour of his convictions, and it was too late for remonstrance.
His lectures had all been carefully prepared, and he went steadily on with them.