many of the diversified epochs of English History, and exhibit the slow but progressive changes of public taste.

It may in truth be said, that the Men, whose lives are here pourtrayed, connect the times in which we live with the fierce struggles and strange excitement of the great civil war. Milton, with whom the series begins, was the Secretary of Cromwell's government: his contemporaries, Cowley, Denham, and especially Waller, lived amidst the riotous splendour of the court of Charles II. Pope saw the rejoicings for the victories of Marlborough, listened to the toasts of the Jacobites"To the King over the water"-and heard the bells ring in 1743, for the great victory at Dettingen: Burke and Fox saw the beginning of the American war, the outbreak of the French Revolution, and the rapid rise of our Indian Empire: Canning and Lord Grenville witnessed the termination of the great European struggle: and the Marquis Wellesley, the last name in the volume, extended the influence of England to the foot of the Himalayas and over the rivers of the Punjaub.

From the death of Milton, in 1674, to the decease of the Marquis Wellesley in 1842, was a period of onehundred and sixty-eight years. During this eventful era, a royal house had fallen in Britain, and three regal families successively occupied the throne: laws, customs,

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and manners were changed: poetry, eloquence, and philosophy retain, as indeed they ever must, their ancient spirit; but even they speak a somewhat changed language, and appear in a new form.

To illustrate and explain, in some degree, these changes in literary taste, it has been thought desirable to append to the life of each Poet a selection from his works, of such passages as would most correctly exhibit his peculiar characteristics. The majestic fullness and suggestive imagination of Milton can thus be contrasted with the elaborate polish of Cowley, with the smoothness of Denham, with the sprightly flow of Waller, and with the artistical verses of Pope.

The reader will note, even from the few specimens selected, the peculiarities of at least five schools of poetry. The union of extensive knowledge with religious earnestness and poetic grandeur appears in Milton: Cowley is the representative of a second school, the followers of the ingenious and surprising, rather than of the beautiful and the grand: Sir John Denham stands at the head of a third class, the merely pastoral poets, who describe with accuracy, and often with force, but without deep poetic feeling, the varied forms of a rich landscape: The poets of the Court own Waller for their chief, who, in an age of affected gallantry, was honoured,

because he flattered well: Pope represents the fifth class, partly pastoral, as in his Windsor Forest; but chiefly the painter of men and manners, the witty satirist, though superficial philosopher; whose style was the great model of the versifiers, until the time of Cowper.

In the Second Part of the Work, extracts from speeches, letters, and dispatches have been introduced, in connection with the events to which they refer: but the necessity of condensing as much as possible, in a volume containing ten Memoirs, has prevented the insertion of more passages from the numerous speeches delivered by the five Statesmen whose lives have been written. Enough however has, probably, been given, to exhibit the peculiarities of the different speakers. Some traces may be seen of the knowledge, imagination, and philosophy of Burke; of the fiery ardour and close logic of Fox; of the apt imagery and transparent style of Canning; of the earnestness and information of Lord Grenville; and of the comprehensive wisdom of the Marquis Wellesley.

The extraordinary character of the times in which the Statesmen of the last age bore their parts gave to their eloquence a peculiar force, and infused into it somewhat more of the impassioned than is usual in the political oratory of the English Senate. Wars in every quarter

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of the globe; a Revolution unparalleled in the history of the human race; England battling alone against a world in arms; political animosities of singular intensity divid ing parties; the constitution and the laws menaced by formidable confederacies in the heart of the land; exasperating and levelling doctrines flung, like fire-brands, into the midst of an ignorant population; libels of unprecedented audacity pointed with the sting of a most biting satire;-such were the irritating causes then operating on the minds of English politicians. It inevitably followed, that the oratory of public men should partake of the character of the period, and become heated by the fierce energies then destroying or remodelling the institutions of Europe.

Nor must it be forgotten, that, in the period between Burke and the Marquis Wellesley, the legislation of past times was reversed, and laws, once deemed the safeguard of the realm, were repealed. It was in the midst of the excitement produced by the discussion of such measures, that the Statesmen, whose lives are contained in this volume, employed their powers, and won their fame.

The various Illustrations of places memorable for great historical events, or remarkable for their connection with the lives and works of famous men, will, it is hoped,

bring before the reader many of the beautiful scenes and quiet landscapes, which enrich the country around Eton and Windsor.

The Busts of the four last Statesmen form part of the interesting gallery of famous Etonians which adorns the Upper School at Eton, and for permission to copy which, for the present volume, the Publisher feels bound to express his best acknowledgments to the Head-Master, the Rev. Dr. Goodford.

DATCHET,

August 1, 1856.

W. D.

NOTICE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

A Second Edition being required, it has been thought desirable to insert some additional incidents and notices, which will, it is hoped, render the several Memoirs more complete, and give to each character a more distinct developement.

The present Edition, being printed on a larger and more costly paper, and containing about forty additional pages, is issued at a somewhat increased price.