Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 2.djvu/459

 and Sir Henry Maine's essay on 'Popular Government' — far shorter books, and, from this and their very onc-sidedncss, far more effective. 'Democracy and Liberty' is largely a treatise on contemporary politics. It provides a storehouso of atlmirablo, if somewhat disjointed, reflections, made, on the whole, from a distinctly conservative point of view, and without much hope for the future of democracy. It is largely a doubt, a protest, and a regret.

h regard to Irish university education, Lecky recognised the necessity of doing something for the Roman catholics, and favoured the establishment of a Roman catholic university, in which candidates for the priesthood should be educated along with laymen. On the financial question he held that Ireland was entitled to separate treatment ; but found a remedy not in abated taxation, but an equivalent grant. He had doubts about the Irish local government bill, and sought to amend it in several details. He opposed the grant of compulsory powers of purchase to the congested districts board, as well as the proposal to make that body more representative, but warmly supported the agricultural policy of Sir Horace Plunkett. He also opposed the introduction of old age pensions, preferring a reform of the poor law. He favoured international arbitration, but believed more in a great and gradual revolution in public sentiment. In these and many other questions he displayed his characteristic independence of thought and mental balance, and a genuine interest in the public welfare without a tinge of fanaticism.

In 1899 he issued a revised edition of 'Democracy and Liberty,' with a new introduction, containing what is probably the best summary and estimate of Glad stone's work and character which has yet appeared. In the autumn of the same year he brought out, under the title of 'The Map of Life,' a volume of reflections on life, character, and conduct, which achieved and still enjoys considerable popularity. It cannot be said that the reflections are very profound, nor are they eigrammatically expressed ; but there is a mellow wisdom, a good sense, a hopeful trust in the force of resolution, a mingled gentleness and firmness, which give the book a certain charm. It would be profitable reading for the young, but has probably found more readers among the old. In the spring of 1903 a finally revised edition (the third) of his 'Leaders' appeared. The life of Swift was now omitted, being included (in an enlarged form) in Bell's edition of Swift's works, with an introductory chapter on the parliament in the eighteenth oentury, the author narrates the lives of Flood, Grattan, and Daniel O'Connell, the last of which occupies the whole of the second volume, while that of Grattan occupies two-thirds of the first. The book had gradually won its way to public acceptance, and taken its place as a highly important con to Irish history. A volume of 'Historical and Political Essays' was posthumously published by his widow in 1908. In making this collection Mrs. Lecky was fulfilling an intention of the author which he had not lived to carry out. The essays are partly biographical sketches of Carlyle, Madame de Staël, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Derby, Henry Reeve, Dean Milman, Queen Victoria, and his solitary chapter of autobiography 'Formative Influences' — partly discussions on historical and political topics. An address on 'The Empire, its Value and Growth,' displays his genuine warmth of patriotic feeling and a tempered imperialism. But perhaps the most interesting are two essays entitled 'Thoughts on History' and 'The Political Value of History.' The latter, while holding that history cannot predict, proves the value of historical study to the statesman, but concludes that 'its most precious lessons are moral ones.'

Many honours were conferred on Lecky. He was lion. LL.D. of Dublin (1879) and of St. Andrews ( 1885). In 1897, at Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, he was made a privy councillor. When the British Academy was founded in 1902, he became one of its original members. In the same year he received the high distinction of the Order of Merit, being one of the first twelve recipients of that honour. He also now became a full member of the French Institute, of which he had been a corresponding member since 1893. Meanwhile his health, which during the greater part of his life had been good, began to fail. In the spring of 1901 an attack of influenza led to dUatation of the heart, from which he never entirely recovered. Hi-health compelled him in December 1902 to resign his seat in parliament. He gradually grew weaker, and on 22 Oct. 1903 he died quietly and suddenly in his own study, among his books. His body was cremated, and the remains, after a service at St. Patrick's, were buried in Mount Jerome cemetery, Dublin. His wife Elizabeth, eldest daughter