“Much information is given which is both curious and interesting; and the comments and suggestions put forward by the author are full of sound sense and high toned morality.”—City Press.
BRITISH SENATORS;
or,
POLITICAL SKETCHES, PAST AND PRESENT.
CONTENTS.
Inside the House.—The Right Hon. Benjamin Disraeli, Lord Stanley Sir John Pakington, the Right Hon. S. H. Walpole, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, the Right Hon. R. Lowe, the Right Hon. J. Stansfeld, Mr. Layard, the Right Hon. E. Cardwell, the Right Hon. G. J. Goschen, Sir R. Peel, C. Gilpin, Esq., the Right Hon. H. Brand, the Right Hon. J. Bright, Jacob Bright, Esq., P. Taylor, Esq., J. White, Esq., G. Melly, Esq., T. Hughes, Esq., A. S. Ayrton, Esq., E. Baines, Esq., H. S. P. Winterbotham, Esq., J. Cowen, Esq., Mr. Alderman Lusk, Sir F. Crossley, Mr. Newdegate, G. H. Whalley, Esq., C. Reed, Esq., S. Morley, Esq., H. Richard, Esq., W. M‘Arthur, Esq., Milner Gibson, J. A. Roebuck, B. Osborne, Edward Miall, the Right Hon. J. Whiteside, J. S. Mill, Lord J. Russell, Lord Lytton, Viscount Palmerston, Sir J. Graham, W. J. Fox, R. Cobden; T. S. Duncombe, H. Drummond, Sir C. Napier, Sir C. Lewis, Lord Herbert.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
“A critic, whether clever or otherwise, may be allowed to congratulate Mr. Ewing-Ritchie on the sparkling and intelligent volume which he has been able to put together out of a number of personal sketches written at various dates within the last few years. It is difficult to write personal sketches of living celebrities with entire good taste; but we think the author of this book has gone near to mastering the difficulty. The characteristics of public men are struck off with real felicity. Mr. Ewing-Ritchie writes in a pointed, perspicuous, somewhat staccato manner, and is never too long. His volume is one thoroughly well adapted for its purpose.”—Pall Mall Gazette.
“Mr. Ritchie seems to have hit the happy medium in simply outlining the characters of the men whom he touches at all. . . . Yet, Mr. Ritchie never fails to produce a characteristic likeness, though his view of a man seems to be always taken on the wing in the heat of action and excitement. This of itself is a merit that adds much spirit to the current of his criticisms. . . . In the main, his sketches are as clear as they are brief. . . . A good feature of this book is its general fairness.”—London Review.
“We can bear testimony to the fidelity of Mr. Ritchie’s representations, the spirit of impartiality shown in his estimates of character, the breadth and liberality of his sentiments, and the very interesting character of his book.”—Literary World.
“His lively style and his avoidance of anything subtle or disputative, though he never conceals his political sympathies, united with his ample resources of Parliamentary and political knowledge, fit him admirably for this modest undertaking. Mr. Ritchie has seen and remembered and described many Parliamentary incidents, and those who want to know what the House of Commons is like, how its principal men have gained their positions, and how they comported themselves therein, will find him a pleasant guide.”—Morning Star.