distinguished soldier, and was appointed | the republic of Chili and the empire of commander-in-chief of the British forces Brazil. During his absence, public opinduring the seven years' war with Germany. ion had been gradually awakened to the He predeceased the duke nine years, and so never became a peer. fact that he had been unjustly treated, and, on his return, his naval rank was reNo better testimony to the continued stored to him. Another great naval comand vigorous existence of the military mander, and one upon whom good fortune spirit among the nobility of the present never turned her back, was Admiral Lord day could be found than that presented by Howe, among whose achievements may a recent military tournament. The com- be mentioned the relief of Gibraltar in petition in which the public took, perhaps, | 1782, effected against the combined fleets the chief interest, was the contest known of the enemy, and his brilliant victory as cleaving the Turk's head, or "heads and over the French when in command of posts." The competitors galloped down the Channel fleet in 1794. This century the length of the hall, and, in the course has seen some fifty peers in the navy. of their ride, had to strike at three Turks' Amongst them have been the 3rd Lord heads, and point at two rings and a large Carysfort, who distinguished himself on ball on a post, jumping, in the middle of the Nile and at Trafalgar, the 7th Lord the hall, a hedge of considerable height. Northesk, who was third in command at Of the fourteen competitors, five officers Trafalgar, and the 8th Lord Waldegrave. in the first run performed all the feats in Let us next take a brief survey of the dashing style, and were loudly applauded. achievements of peers in the field of poliOf these tive, two only - Captain the Earl | tics. In the last one hundred and thirty of Harrington of the Cheshire Yeomanry, years the peerage has contributed 15 and Major Lord Kilmarnock of the Royal prime ministers; the Duke of Newcastle, Horse Guards succeeded in repeating Lord Bute, Lord Rockingham, Lord Shelthe feat of obtaining the fullest possible burne, the Duke of Grafton, Lord Guildscore. So that in this test of horseman- ford (as Lord North), the Duke of Portland, ship, agility, and skill, a present peer and Lord Liverpool, Lord Goderich, Lord a future peer beat all the commoners who Grey, Lord Melbourne, Lord Derby, Lord' contended against them. It is more than | Aberdeen, Lord Palmerston - an Irish probable that, in any feat requiring manli- peer-and Lord Salisbury; also 45 secness and vigor, they would be able to give retaries and under secretaries for foreign a very good account of any number of the affairs, 9 presidents of the Board of Trade, detractors of their order who find amuse- and 4 chancellors of the exchequer. In ment in going about the country declaring the last hundred years 8 peers have been that the House of Lords is a pack of old first lords of the admiralty; and in this century 12 peers have been secretaries of state and under secretaries for war, II secretaries of state for the colonies, 7 sec women. and 9 postmasters-general. In the twentyseven years which have elapsed since the appointment of a secretary of state for India, the peerage has supplied 4 secretaries and 2 under secretaries, the present Duke of Argyll, and the present Lords Salisbury, Ripon, Derby, Kimberley, and Harris. Of the premierships, those of Lords Grey, Melbourne, and Palmerston are, perhaps, the most conspicuous_for services rendered to the country. Parliamentary Reform and the abolition of slavery were the greatest achievements of Lord Grey's ministry. Dulce et decorum est pro patriâ mori is a sentiment shared as fully by the nobility of these realms as by the common-retaries of state for the home department, alty. Long may it remain so. The navy offers, as compared with the army, few opportunities of distinction. England has produced few more daring and adventurous spirits than Thomas Cochrane, Ioth Lord Dundonald, the lustre of whose fame, so dimmed by his contemporaries, has, by posterity, been restored to the brightness which is its due. The chief cause of his disgrace is of particular interest at this time, when the administration and efficiency of the navy have been so loudly called in question. It was owing to Lord Cochrane's vigorous attack on the abuses of naval administration that he made himself so obnoxious to the government, by whom he was superseded and oppressed in every possible way. Driven by these persecutions from his country, he gave his services to foreign navies, and had a large share in the establishment of Lord Melbourne's great administrative abilities were developed during his tenure of the office of home secretary in Lord Grey's ministry during very critical times. He became prime minister in July, 1834, on Lord Grey's resignation, and though he gave place in December of that year to cal and administrative reforms; and that of Canning for the conspicuous ability, moderation, and firmness displayed during the great mutiny. Great and stirring are the associations and the memories which are gathered round such names as these, and rightly has there been extended to them the respect and the gratitude of a nation. Nor must we overlook the eminent services of the peerage in Ireland, often during periods of great difficulty and responsibility. The great popularity of such men as Lords Anglesey, Carlisle, and Eglinton, each of whom was twice appointed to the lord-lieutenancy, was sufficient proof of the success of their administrations. In more trying times, how valuable were the services of Lord Cornwallis, whose energy and firmness in dealing with the great rebellion were so tempered with justice and discretion, that he gained for himself the good-will of the people; and again of Lord Wellesley, whose wisdom and impartiality during the religious troubles of his administration were so conspicuous. Sir Robert Peel, on the latter's resigna- | and the successful termination of the destion in the following April he became perate wars which took place during his again premier. It was during this admin- viceroyalty, as well as for his great politiistration that her Majesty came to the throne, and the harmony of the relations which have since existed between the crown, the Parliament, and the people, and the unwavering attachment of her Majesty to constitutional principles afford no mean testimony to the ability and the integrity of the minister. Lord Palmerston's great services to his country began with his nearly twenty years tenure of the office of secretary of state for war, which commenced under the premiership of Mr. Perceval and continued during those of Lord Liverpool, Mr. Canning, Lord Goderich, and the Duke of Wellington. On the death of Canning, Lord Palmerston was recognized as the greatest master of foreign affairs. In 1830 he became foreign secretary, which position he retained until 1841 with the exception of the brief Peel administration already mentioned. This was the period of his greatest triumphs, his administration at the Foreign Office being marked by so comprehensive a grasp of the intricacies of diplomacy, and by such dignity and firmness as to win for his country the respect and admiration of foreign nations. The establish- Amongst peers of this century, who ment of the kingdom of Belgium, and the have held Indian and colonial governorquadruple alliance, owed much to Palmers- ships, are the 2nd Lord Belmore, governor ton. From 1846 to 1851 he was again at of Jamaica; the present lord, governor of the Foreign Office under Lord John Rus- New South Wales; the present Duke of sell, and had to deal with the Continental Buckingham, governor of Madras; the revolutions of 1848, and the wars of Italy 2nd Lord Canterbury, governor of Vicand Hungary. In February, 1855, he be- toria; the present Lord Carrington, gov. came prime minister, and successfully car-ernor of New South Wales; the present ried out the policy which resulted in the fall of Sebastopol in September of that year. In February, 1858, he resigned, but became again prime minister in June, 1859, and so remained until his death in October, 1865, fifty-eight years after entering upon official life. During his latter premiership, he directed our policy through the Italian war, the American war, and the Polish insurrection. He was prime minister for a greater number of years than any man in this century except Lord Liverpool and Mr. Gladstone, and during his long political career he attained an extraordinary popularity which never deserted him. Lord Dufferin, governor of Canada and viceroy of India; the 13th Lord Elphinstone, governor of Madras and of Bombay; the present Lord Falkland, governor of Bombay; the 2nd Lord Gosford, governor of Canada; the 3rd Lord Harris, governor of Madras; the 2nd Lord Mulgrave, governor of Jamaica; the present Lord Napier, governor of Madras; the present Lord Normanby, lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, and governor of New Zealand, Queensland, and Victoria; the present Lord Reay, governor of Bombay; the 4th Duke of Richmond, governor of Canada, where he died; the 3rd Lord Sligo, governor of Jamaica; the 7th Lord TorTurning to our great dependency of In-rington, governor of Ceylon; and the 8th dia, what splendid services have been rendered there by peers! The name of Cornwallis will be ever memorable for the invasion of Mysore and the submission of Tippoo Sahib; that of his successor, Wellesley, for the siege of Seringapatam, Lord Tweeddale, governor of Madras. Among diplomatists of this century are Lord Auckland, the 2nd Lord Bloomfield, ambassador to the courts of Russia, Prussia, and Austria; the 10th Lord Cathcart, ambassador to Russia; Lord Churchill' 14th Lord Zouche, joint commissioner at the conference of Erzeroum. Amongst men of science are found several peers who, during this century, have won for themselves distinction, such as the 3rd Earl Stanhope, the 9th Earl Dundonald, the 3rd Earl Rosse, the great astronomer; the late and present Earls Crawford and Balcarres, and the present Lord Rayleigh. Noble pensioners and sinecurists are often accused of being more unscrupulous and rapacious than those of any other class, yet what more noble instance of selfdenial and patriotism could be found than that of Lord Camden, who for nearly thirty years resigned his income as teller of the exchequer to the total amount of over a quarter of a million of money? the 2nd Lord Clancarty, minister at the Hague; the 14th Lord Clanricarde, ambassador to Russia; the 3rd Lord Clanwilliam, minister at Berlin; Lord Dufferin, ambassador to St. Petersburg and to Constantinople, and special commissioner in Egypt; the 2nd Lord Cowley, who, during forty-three years of diplomatic service, was minister at Frankfort and to the Germanic Confederation, ambassador to the French republic, joint plenipotentiary with Lord Clarendon at the conference of Paris, when he signed the treaty of peace with Russia, plenipotentiary at Paris, where he signed the treaty of peace with Persia, and joint plenipotentiary with Cobden, with whom he signed at Paris the treaty of commerce between England and France; the 2nd Lord Dunfermline, min- There are, too, amongst living peers, ister at the Hague; the 7th Lord Elgin, many whose interest in the social and poambassador to Turkey; the 4th Lord Hol- litical problems of their time is appreland, minister in Turkey; the late Lord ciated by the country. Is no value atHoward de Walden, minister at Brussels; tached to the services of such a philanthe 2nd Lord Howden, who in 1827 was thropist as the late Lord Shaftesbury, and charged with a special mission to Egypt are the services of followers in his footto prevent the intervention of Mehemet steps, such as Lord Aberdeen and Lord Ali in the war between the Porte and Brabazon, unappreciated? Are the brilGreece, and, in the same year, with a mis- liant abilities of such men as the present sion to treat for the evacuation of the Mo- prime minister and the Duke of Argyll, the rea by the Egyptian troops, and was min- devotion to duty of such as Lords Spencer ister to the emperor of Brazil and to the and Carnarvon, the industry and public queen of Spain; Lord Kimberley, minis- spirit of such as Lord Granville, the Duke ter to the emperor of all the Russias; the of Richmond, Lord Kimberley, and Lord 3rd Lord Londonderry, ambassador at Vi- Northbrook are those of no service to enna; Lord Lothian, who was present the country? If ever the time arrives during the operations in Persia in 1857; when the public confidence in the peerthe late Lord Lyons, who, after several age, as a class, has ceased to exist, we years' service in Greece and Italy, signed may be sure that it will have been forfeited in 1862, as minister at Washington, the by a general selfishness and indolence, of treaty with the United States for the sup- which there are, at present, no signs. pression of the slave trade, was ambassa- There are, on the contrary, abundant dor to the Sublime Ottoman Porte, to the proofs that many are actuated by an earemperor of the French, and afterwards to nest desire to do their duty in life, and not the French republic; the 3rd Lord Mel- to be mere laudatores temporis acti bourne, minister at Vienna; the 2nd Lord men seeking to crown themselves with Mulgrave, ambassador to France; Lord the laurels which have been gained by othNapier, minister to the United States anders. the Hague, and ambassador at St. Petersburg and Berlin; Lord Northbrook, special commissioner in Egypt; the 2nd Lord Ponsonby, ambassador to Constantinople and Vienna; the 3rd Duke of Richmond, ambassador to France; the 3rd and the 4th Lords St. Germans, Lord Sheffield, Lord Stanley of Alderley, who was on the special mission to the Danubian provinces in 1856; the 6th Lord Strangford, minister to Portugal and Sweden, and ambassador to the Porte and Russia; Lord Thurlow, the 11th Lord Westmorland, minister to Prussia and ambassador to Austria during the Viennese conferences; and the A. BURNEY. From Macmillan's Magazine. THE LETTERS OF CHARLES LAMB.* FOUR hundred and seventeen letters of Charles Lamb's, some of them never before published, in two well-printed but handy volumes, edited with notes illustrative, explanatory, and biographical, by Letters of Charles Lamb. Newly arranged, with duction and Notes, by the Rev. Alfred Ainger, M.A., additions; and a New Portrait. Edited, with IntroCanon of Bristol. 2 vols. London, 1888. Canon Ainger, and supplied with an ad- Thus begins the celebrated essay on mirable index, are surely things to be "The Old Benchers of the Inner Temthankful for and to be desired. No doubt | ple." As a humble member of that honthe price is prohibitory. They will cost orable society I rejoice that its reader you in cash, these two volumes, full as should be the man who has, as a labor of they are from title-page to colophon with love and by virtue of qualifications which the sweetness and nobility, the mirth and cannot be questioned, placed upon the the melancholy, of their author's life, library shelf so complete and choice an touched as every page of them is with edition of the works of one whose memory traces of a hard fate bravely borne, seven is perhaps the pleasantest thing about the shillings and sixpence. None but Ameri- whole place. can millionaires and foolish book collectors can bear such a strain upon their purses. It is the cab-fare to and from a couple of dull dinner-parties. But Mudie is in our midst, ever ready to supply our very modest intellectual wants at so much a quarter, and ward off the catastrophe so dreaded by all dust-hating housewives, the accumulation of those "nasty books,' for which indeed but slender accommodation is provided in our upholstered households. Yet these volumes, however acquired, whether by purchase, and therefore destined to remain by your side ready to be handled whenever the mood seizes you, or borrowed from a library to be returned at the week's end along with the last new novel people are painfully talking about, cannot fail to excite the interest and stir the emotions of all lovers of sound literature and true men. But first of all Canon Ainger is to be congratulated on the completion of his task. He told us he was going to edit Lamb's works and letters, and naturally one believed him; but in this world there is nothing so satisfactory as performance. To see a good work, well planned, well executed, and entirely finished by the same hand that penned, and the same mind that conceived, the original scheme, has something about it which is surprisingly gratifying to the soul of man, accustomed as he is to the wreckage of projects and the failure of hopes. Canon Ainger's edition of "Lamb's Works and Letters" stands complete in six volumes. Were one in search of sentiment one might perhaps find it in the intimate association existing between the editor and the old church by the side of which Lamb was born, and which he ever loved and accounted peculiarly his own. Elia was born a Templar. I was born and passed the first seven years of my life in the Temple. Its church, its halls, its gardens, its fountain, its river, I had almost said-for in those young years, what was this king of rivers to me but a stream that watered our pleasant places?-these are of my oldest recollections. So far as these two volumes of letters are concerned the course adopted by the editor has been, if I may make bold to say so, the right one. He has simply edited them carefully and added notes and an index. He has not attempted to tell Lamb's life between times. He has already told the story of that life in a separate volume. I wish the practice could be revived of giving us a man's correspondence all by itself in consecutive volumes as we have the letters of Horace Walpole, of Burke, of Richardson, of Alexander Knox, and many others. It is astonishing what interesting and varied reading such volumes make. They never bore you. You do not stop to be bored. Something is always turning up sure to interest somebody. Some reference to a place you have visited; to a house you have stayed at; to a book you have read; to a man or woman you wish to hear about. As compared with the measured malice of a set biography, where you feel yourself in the iron grasp, not of the man whose life is being professedly written, but of the man (whom naturally you dislike) who has taken upon himself to write the life, these volumes of correspondence have all the ease and grace and truthfulness of nature. There is about as much resemblance between reading them and your ordinary biography as between a turn on the treadmill and a saunter into Hertfordshire in search of Mackery End. I hope when we get hold of the biographies of Lord Beaconsfield, Lord Iddesleigh, and Dean Stanley, we shall not find ourselves defrauded of our dues. But it is of the essence of letters that we should have the whole of each. I think it is wrong even to omit the merely formal parts. They all hang together. The method employed in the biography of George Eliot was, in my opinion I can but state it - a vicious method. To serve up letters in solid slabs cut out of longer letters is distressing. Every letter a man or woman writes is an incriminating document. It tells a tale about him. Let the whole be read or none. Canon Ainger has adopted the right | but I still retain at bottom a conviction of the course. He has indeed omitted a few truth and a certainty of the usefulness of relioaths on the principle that "damns gion. have had their day." For my part I think I should have been disposed to leave them alone. The rough bur-thistle spreading wide And spared the symbol dear. The fact, I suspect, was that the strain of religious thoughts was proving too great for a brain which had once suc cumbed to madness. Religion sits very lightly on some minds. She could not have done so on Lamb's. He took refuge in trivialities seriously, and played the fool in order to remain sane. 'These letters are of the same material This But But this is not a question to discuss with a dignitary of the Church. Leaving out as the "Essays of Elia." The germs, nay, the oaths and, it may perhaps be, here and the very phrases, of the latter are frethere a passage where the reckless humor quently to be found in the former. of the writer led him to transcend the lim- does not offend in his case, though as a its of becoming mirth, and mere notelets, rule a good letter ought not forcibly to we have in these two volumes Lamb's let- remind us of a good essay by the same ters just as they were written, save in an hand. Admirable as are Thackeray's instance or two where the originals have lately published letters, the parts I like been partially destroyed. The first is to best are those which remind me least of a Coleridge, and is dated May 27th, 1796, "Roundabout Paper." The author seems the last is to Mrs. Dyer, and was written to steal in, and the author is the very last on December 22nd, 1834. Who, I won-person you wish to see in a letter. der, ever managed to squeeze into a corre- as you read Lamb's letters you never spondence of forty years truer humor, think of the author; his personality carries madder nonsense, sounder sense, or more you over everything. He manages - I tender sympathy! They do not indeed will not say skilfully, for it was the natu(these letters) prate about first principles, ral result of his delightful character but they contain many things conducive always to address his letter to his correto a good life here below. spondent to make it a thing which, The earlier letters strike the more sol-apart from the correspondent, his habits emn notes. As a young man Lamb was and idiosyncrasies, could not possibly deeply religious, and for a time the ap- have existed in the shape it does. One palling tragedy of his life, the death of sometimes comes across things called lethis mother by his sister's hand, deepened ters which might have been addressed to these feelings. His letters to Coleridge anybody. But these things are not let in September and October, 1796, might ters; they are extracts from journals or very well appear in the early chapters of circulars, and are usually either offensive a saint's life. They exhibit the rare union of a colossal strength, entire truthfulness, no single emotion being ever exaggerated, with the tenderest and most refined feeling. Some of his sentences remind one of Johnson, others of Rousseau. How people reading these letters can ever have the impudence to introduce into the tones of their voices when they are referring to Lamb the faintest suspicion of condescension, as if they were speaking of one weaker than themselves, must always re main one of the unsolved problems of human conceit. Lamb's religiousness wore off. He refers to this in a letter written in 1801 to Walter Wilson, and printed on page 171 of Canon Ainger's first volume: I have had a time of seriousness and I have known the importance and reality of a religious belief. Latterly, I acknowledge, much of my seriousness has gone off, whether from new company or some other new associations, or dull. Lamb's letters are not indeed model " Di letters like Cowper's. Though natural to |