The 'many' compositions of which St.Luke speaks in his preface were still in circulation, and were only gradually dying out.

One important step had been taken in the regular reading of the 'Memoirs of the Apostles' at the Christian assemblies.

We have not indeed proof that these were confined to the Canonical Gospels.

Probably as yet they were not.

But it should be remembered that Irenaeus was now a boy, and that by the time he had reached manhood the Canon of the Gospels had received its definite form.
Taking all these points into consideration I think we shall find the various indications converge upon very much the same conclusion as that at which we have already arrived.