It was therefore peculiarly incumbent on him not to flatter English pride by wounding Irish self-respect.
While Froude was writing his English in Ireland he received an invitation to give a series of lectures in the United States.

"The Yankees," he says to Skelton,+ "have written to me about going over to lecture to them.

I am strongly tempted; but I could not tell the truth about Ireland without reflecting in a good many ways on my own country.

I don't fancy doing that, however justly, to amuse Jonathan." These words certainly do not show implacable bitterness against Ireland.

Brought face to face with responsibility, Froude always felt the weight of it, and he was never consciously unfair.