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Preface. vii no less than would have been approved by Lord Acton himself, had he been able to complete his task. In the arrangement of the first volume of this work, which was already fairly advanced at the time of Lord Acton's resignation, and in the distribution of its chapters, the changes made, though by no means inconsiderable, were comparatively few ; in the present volume they have naturally been more numerous and larger. It is needless to enter into detail ; but it seems well to state that, of the thirteen authors con- tributing to it, only five were appointed by Lord Acton ; and that two or three chapters have been added to the list as planned by him. With regard to the actual work of editing, it should be stated that not all the chapters of the first volume were seen by him, and of the seventh volume at most five or six ; while none of the chapters in either volume received the benefit of his revision. Of the other volumes only a chapter or two had been prepared at the time of his death. In the volumes which are to follow, the lamented deaths of Lord Acton himself, of Dr Gardiner, and of other authors who had undertaken to contribute, have necessitated a large re-allotment of the work. The chronological tables, and the separate indexes appended to each volume, are additions not contem- plated by Lord Acton. With regard to this volume, the editors desire gratefully to ac- knowledge their obligations to the Right Hon. James Bryce, M.P. ; Sir Frederick Pollock, Bart. ; President Eliot ; Professor A. B. Hart ; Mr J. F. Rhodes ; and especially to Professor J. Franklin Jameson, whose advice, kindly and promptly given, has been invaluable. The death of Mr J. G. Nicolay prevented him from revising the chapters to which his name is attached. The editors desire to thank Miss Nicolay and Mr H. W. Wilson for their assistance in the revision of these chapters, and in the compilation of the bibliographies appended to them. Professor Wendell having been prevented by absence abroad from drawing up the bibliography bearing on his chapter, the duty of compiling it was kindly undertaken by Mr Chester N. Greenough, of Harvard. A. W. W. G. W. P. S. L. CAMBRIDGE, May 1903.