1838. His father died. Returned to England. Visited Italy.
1839. Elected to the Club. Member of Parliament for Edinburgh. Secretary at War.
1840. Essay on Lord Clive.
1841. Reëlected to Parliament for Edinburgh. Essay on Warren Hastings.
1842. Lays of Ancient Rome published.
1843. Essay on Madame d'Arblay. Essay on the Life and Writings of Addison.
1844. Essay on the Earl of Chatham. (The second essay on this subject, and his last contribution to the Edinburgh Review.)
1846. Paymaster-General of the Army. Defeated in Edinburgh election.
1848. First two volumes of his History of England.
1849. Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow.