Essays. I 1836 udkom første Bind af hans History of England from the Peace of Utrecht to the Peace of Versailles, afsluttet i syv Bind i 1854. Af hans øvrige Værker kan nævnes hans History of the Rise of our Indian Empire (1858), og History of the Reign of Queen Anne (1870), et Supplement til hans Englands Historie. Han har ogsaa udgivet en Samling Historical Essays, Opsatser, som tidligere vare skrevne i Quarterly Review. - I 1872 blev han valgt til udenlandsk Medlem af det franske Institut.

Lord Mahons Hovedværk er hans Englands Historie, der kan betragtes som en Fortsættelse af Macaulays. Lord Mahon har ikke Macaulays blændende Stil, men Fremstillingen er ren, klar og roligt flydende. Man modtager overalt Indtrykket af en ædel, høisindet Karakter, og hans Værk hører til de lærerigste og, i det Hele, paalideligste, af Partifordomme mindst fordunklede Fremstillinger af Englands Historie.

FROM THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

I. The Battle of Preston Pans, 1745.

Early on the morning of the 20th of September, the Highlanders began their march in a single narrow column, and with joyous anticipations of victory. As Charles put himself at their head, he drew his sword, and said to them, >> Gentlemen, I have flung away the scabbard«, which was answered by loud cheers. Their cavalry scarcely amounted to fifty, being only some gentlemen and their retainers on horseback; but their numbers altogether were about 2500. They had but a single piece of artillery an iron gun, which was fired as the signal of march, but was useless for any other military purpose. Charles had expressed a wish to leave this encumbrance behind him; but to his surprise the Highland chiefs interposed, pleading the prejudices of their followers in favour of the »Musket's Mother«, as they termed any cannon; and accordingly it followed the march, drawn by a long string of Highland ponies. The DUNNIE WASSAILS, and the best men in each clan, were excellently armed; but even after the supply from Edinburgh, several of the inferior followers could only boast a single weapon - a sword, a dirk, a pistol, or even a scythe-blade set straight upon the handle. Besides the Royal Standard, each clan displayed its banner inscribed with its gathering words, such as those of Clanranald, DHANDEON CO HERIGHA (Gainsay who dares), of Mac Gregor, »E'en_do_and spare not«, or of Athol, >>Forth Fortune, and fill the Fetters<<. In this guise did the men march on, interrupted only by some straggling shots from the Castle, and soon disappearing beyond its reach.

I must now advert to Sir John Cope's proceedings. That general was landing his army at Dunbar on the same day that his enemy's entered Edinburgh: his disembarkation, how

ever, was not completed till the 18th. He had been re-inforced at Inverness by 200 of Lord Loudon's men, and was joined at Dunbar by the runaway dragoons, in number 600, so that his whole force was upwards of 2200 men. A very few gentlemen from the Lowlands also came to him as volunteers, but brought no accession of force; the principal of them, the Earl of Home, being attended only by two servants. Even so late as 1633, the Earl of Home of that day had come to greet Charles the First at the head of 600 well-mounted men, his relations and retainers. The change was, no doubt, mainly owing to the decline of feudal power; but it also, in some degree, denotes the state of popular feeling in Scotland, and the difference between raising men for or against the House of Stuart.

Sir John's own forces, besides being very nearly equal to the enemy's, were well equipped and in high spirits, the infantry seeming eager to augment, and the dragoons to retrieve, their reputation. He had six pieces of artillery, a most effective arm against Highlanders; and not only the country people, who flocked from all quarters to gaze on the array, but many of the Royal officers, were convinced that there would be no battle, but only a pursuit, as soon as their strength was seen and understood by their opponents.

The mists now rolling away before the rising_sun_revealed to each army the position of the other. But the Highlanders did not long stand at gaze. First, with uncovered heads, uttering a short prayer, they pulled their bonnets over their brows, and as the pipers blew the signal, they rushed forward, each clan a separate mass, and raising a war-cry that gradually rose into a terrific yell.

The first reached was the Royal Artillery, which was not served by regular gunners, but by some seamen whom Cope had hastily collected from the fleet. The Camerons and Stuarts, running straight on the muzzles of the cannon, took them by storm, while the scared artillerymen dispersed in all directions. Colonel Gardiner now commanded a charge upon the advancing enemy, encouraging both by voice and example his dragoons. But these receiving a heavy rolling fire from the Highlanders, and seeing them come on with their drawn broad-swords, wavered and gave way struck with a panic, galloped off in all directions. On the right, at nearly the same time, and nearly the same manner, did the Macdonalds scatter Hamilton's regiment before them. The English infantry now remained uncovered at both flanks, but yet undismayed, and poured upon the Highland centre

a steady and well-directed fire, before which several of their best men fell. Amongst these was James Mac Gregor, a son of the well-known Rob Roy, who, though struck by five wounds, still continued from the ground to call out and animate his men. But on coming to close quarters, the Highlanders parried with their targets the soldiers' bayonets, and the separate masses of the clans broke through on several points the extended line of the King's army; by which means the whole of the latter was thrown into confusion, while the enclosures and park wall of Preston impeded their retreat. So rapid was this Highland onset, that in five or sex minutes the whole brunt of the battle was over.

No sooner was the victory decided, than most of the victors disbanded for plunder. The standards and other trophies, and the military chest, containing about 2500l., were brought to the Prince, but all other spoils were reserved by the captors for themselves. Unaccustomed to luxuries, the rude mountaineers looked half in scorn and half in wonder on the refinements of civilised life. A quantity of chocolate taken was afterwards cried in the streets of Perth under the name of Johnnie Cope's salve! << One man, who had got a watch, very soon sold it for a trifle, observing, with great glee, that he was glad to be rid of the creature, for she lived no time after he caught her« — the machinery having in fact stopped for want of winding up! Another man exchanged a horse for a horse-pistol! Uncouth old Highlanders were seen strutting about in the officers' fine clothes; others appeared hurrying away with a large military saddle upon their backs; and a great number immediately set off, without leave or notice, to their mountains on purpose to secure their spoil.

This battle, called of Preston, or sometimes of Preston Pans, by the well-affected party, received the name of Gladsmuir from the insurgents, out of respect, as it would seem, to certain ancient predictions. >> On Gladsmuir shall the battle be«, says a Book of Prophecies printed at Edinburgh in 1615; but Gladsmuir lies a full a large open heath mile to the east of the actual scene of conflict.

2. State of Affairs in England at the Outbreak of the Insurrection, 1745.

At the news of the growing insurrection, King George had set out from Hanover, and on the 31st of August arrived in London. He found that the Regency in his absence had

not neglected any measure of precaution; even on the mere apprehension of the troubles a warrant (though, as we have seen, in vain) was issued against the Duke of Perth; and with better success were Sir Hector Maclean and two or three others brought prisoners to England. A requisition had been sent to the Dutch for the 6000 auxiliaries they were bound to furnish; a resolution taken to recall some of the English regiments from Flanders. Marshal Wade had likewise been directed to collect as many troops as he could at Newcastle, and the militia of several counties was called out. But the spirit of the people in no degree responded to the efforts of the government; they remained cold lookers on, not indeed apparently favouring the rebellion, but as little disposed to strive against it. A member of the administration, and a man of no desponding temper, Henry Fox, in his confidential letters at this period, admits and deplores the passive state of public feeling: »England, Wade says, and I believe, is for the first comer; and if you can tell whether the 6000 Dutch and the ten battalions of English, or 5000 French or Spaniards, will be here first, you know our fate.

The French are not come, God be thanked! But had 5000 landed in any part of this island a week ago, I verily believe the entire conquest would not have cost them a battle«.

On the King's return, moreover, the factions of the Court aggravated the difficulties of the country. His Majesty's

whole confidence was centered on the fallen minister Granville, who awaited only some favourable opening to drive the Pelhams from power, and who, from rivalry to them, continued till the battle of Preston to make light of the rebellion. According to Horace Walpole, »Lord Granville and his faction persist in persuading the King that it is an affair of no consequence; and for the Duke of Newcastle, he is glad when the rebels make any progress, in order to confute Lord Granville's assertions! << It was amidst such feuds and jealousies that the ministry had to make their preparations for retrieving the lost battle, and for meeting the Parliament which was summoned for the 17th of October.

Prince Charles's first wish and design upon his victory was to march immediately towards London, at the head of his little army. On the very next morning he despatched an agent into Northumberland, with instructions to stir up the country and prepare the way for his coming. Had Charles really been able to push onwards with a body of two or three thousand men, there is strong reason to believe, from the state of things I have described in England the pre