TO THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF DERBY, K.G.,
&c. &c. &c.
My Lord,
Amid the unavoidable contentions of political life, it is to be hoped that an hour may be occasionally spared to notice the pursuits of those who are less excitingly, though not unusefully, employed—I mean the scholar and literary inquirer, such as the subject of the following sketch.
These hours indeed cannot be many. Through life, the position of an English Statesman is peculiar. He must be, if he hopes to retain his standing in the country, pre-eminently a man of labour. Even removal from power ensures little remission from work. In office, he must originate the policy that distinguishes his country. Out of it, he is called upon to examine or to control the measures introduced by others. But in either case, by the conscientious exertion of large powers, he may establish a name that will die only with his country.
