In preparing this—the fourth volume of Representative British Orations—a work which, in its three-volume form, has met with a large acceptance from the public, the editor has been embarrassed by fulness rather than lack of material. Indeed, in its former shape, the book fairly justified its title: it was representative rather than exhaustive of the subject. From the rich field of possible material the editor has selected specimens of oratory diverse enough in style and occasion, but each, it is hoped, typical of the general trend of the period covered (1813–1898),—of the change from the passionate, partisan forensics of O’Connell to the calm emphasis of Lord Rosebery.

Helps to the study of this period have naturally been many; but the editor must not fail to acknowledge his constant indebtedness to the brilliant and invaluable “History of Our Own Times” of Mr. Justin McCarthy, and in a lesser degree to Mr. Fyffe’s “Modern Europe.” To Charles Gorham Marrett, Esq., he wishes to record his personal obligations.

J. A.

Portland, Me.
October, 1899.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
Daniel O’Connell[1]
Daniel O’Connell[9]
In Defence of John Magee: Court of King’s Bench, Dublin, July 27, 1813.
Lord Palmerston[117]
Lord Palmerston[125]
On the Case of Don Pacifico: House of Commons, June 25, 1850.
Robert Lowe, Viscount Sherbrooke[225]
Robert Lowe, Viscount Sherbrooke[232]
Against the Reform Act: House of Commons, May 31, 1866.
The Right Honorable Joseph Chamberlain, M.P.[285]
Joseph Chamberlain[292]
Splendid Isolation.
Joseph Chamberlain[303]
The True Conception of Empire.
Lord Rosebery[313]
Lord Rosebery[318]
The Duty of Public Service.
Illustrative Notes[347]

DANIEL O’CONNELL.

From the somewhat picturesque assemblage of Irish political agitators emerges the figure of one in many ways the most picturesque, and, in most, the greatest of them. The period (1775–1847) of O’Connell’s activities discloses him as one of the generation that came in with Scott and Wordsworth—children of the overlapping centuries, whom shortly the French Revolution was to stir to many things strange to the world of 1775.