with history." Indeed, the tables are completely reversed. It shows how England obtained in Europe the title of "Our Lady's Dowry," and how she lost it. Calmly and historically it proves that they are not Catholics, but Mr. Gladstone and others who have made "a violent breach with history" by their rejection of the love and worship of our Blessed Lady. It will be seen that "the deadly blows" were aimed not "in 1854 and 1870," but in 1536 and 1559, not by Catholics but by Protestants, "at the old historic, scientific, and moderate school." But, despite "deadly blows" and "acts of violence," the old historic and scientific thread of devotion to Our Lady and belief in her Immaculate Conception have been preserved to England—preserved by the very "school" which is now once more assailed for that religious constancy and love for Mary, in which, by God's grace, it will never fail.
In my judgment, "Our Lady's Dowry" is the most excellent, the most interesting, and the most original work of its kind and for its purpose that has been published in the English language. I strongly recommend it to the Clergy and to all educated Englishmen, whether Catholic or non-Catholic, who have any care to investigate the religious history of their country.
January 1, 1875.
