(Vol. vii., p. 495.)
In reply to your correspondent's remarks (May 21) on my translation of
Hoveden, I beg to state that, in suggesting Cork, I did not allude to the
city of Cork, but the _territory_ of Desmond or Cork, which probably
extended to within a short distance of Waterford. Hoveden more than once,
in his foreign geography, confounds places with territories or kingdoms;
this fact, and the similarity of the names, _Croch_ and _Corch_, as the
kingdom of Cork is elsewhere called by him, led me to believe that a
landing in the territory of Cork was meant. "Crook," "Hook Point," or "The
Crook," is only _supposed_ to have been the place of landing on this
occasion. I confess that I was not aware that "Erupolis" was an alias of
the diocese of Ossory: I cannot find it mentioned as such in the
dictionaries at my command. My Note, however, was worded in such a way as
to give offence to no reasonable person: and, among the many hundreds,
perhaps thousands of suggestions, made in the notes (in a proper spirit, I
hope,) I should be greatly surprised to find that I had miscarried in none.
For your correspondent's information, I beg to state, that I am not an
Irishman either by birth or descent; and that I have never had the good
fortune to pay a visit to that country. Were I inclined to follow his
example in making remarks upon the "ominousness" of names, I might perhaps
retaliate upon him with interest.
Why I have forfeited all claim to be treated by this gentleman with
courtesy or common politeness, I am quite at a loss to conceive; but I beg
to remind him that vituperation does not carry conviction, and that
criticism is enfeebled by an alliance with abuse.