Page:Lectures on the French Revolution of John Acton.djvu/394



TIMES. "These volumes must be regarded, not as the support of an existing reputation, or as a bid for the establishment of posthumous renown, but as the record and memorial of a rare and attractive personality. The accurate, insatiable, and broad-minded student is revealed ; the generous champion of a noble cause which has suffered temporary defeat is seen on the field of his eager endeavour in controversy with Popes and Cardinals for the sake of freedom and truth ; and the principles which he brought to the study of history or elicited from his observation of men and affairs throughout the centuries are set forth for all to read. The resulting picture of the great student, the partisan striving for impartiality, is admirably put together in a sympathetic and lucid introduc- tion supplied by the editors."

ATHENÆUM. "We have said enough to indicate the varied attractions of this volume. It shows us, indeed, the great scholar at his best, in his wide knowledge, sound judgment, and intense but restrained moral fervour. It is a book which does more than add to our information : it strengthens and inspires."

SPECTATOR. "These thirty-seven lectures, essays, and reviews are but a small part, the editors tell us, of Lord Acton's literary ' output. ' Let us say at once that they are sufficient to convince us, if we had needed conviction, of the prodigious learning, the consummate literary ability, and the unfailing candour of the writer."

MR. OSCAR BROWNING in the CAMBRIDGE REVIEW. "The perusal of the volumes before us will confirm the opinion already formed by those who are best acquainted with Lord Acton, that he was one of the most distinguished men of his age, and that he claims to be placed in the first rank of English historians."

ACADEMY. "We can imagine no better mental training for any reader of history than a study of Lord Acton's methods of inquiry and criticisms as exemplified in these learned treatises. The teacher of history will find that these two volumes have a value as books of reference, which will aid his judg- ment on many constantly recurring historical problems a reference made easy by the admirable indexes, which in themselves are a testimony to the immense range of Lord Acton's erudition."

DAILY NEWS. "The present volumes, prefaced by an admirable editorial essay, contain a large number of the writings by which Acton won the reputation of the most learned Englishman of his time, together with addresses and unsigned articles that are little known. . . . The articles and reviews which he contributed to the pages of the English Historical Review are reprinted in these volumes, and contain the ripest and most valuable work of his life. There is, indeed, nothing like them in English historical literature."