These Studies are, however, not to be regarded as biographies, even
in miniature. My aim has rather been to analyse the character and
powers of each of the persons described, and, as far as possible, to
convey the impression which each made in the daily converse of life.
All of them, except Lord Beaconsfield, were personally, and most of
them intimately, known to me.

In the six Studies which treat of politicians I have sought to set
aside political predilections, and have refrained from expressing
political opinions, though it has now and then been necessary to point
out instances in which the subsequent course of events has shown the
action of Lord Beaconsfield, Mr. Lowe, and Mr. Gladstone to have been
right or wrong (as the case may be) in the action they respectively
took.

The sketches of T. H. Green, E. A. Freeman, and J. R. Green were
originally written for English magazines, and most of the other
Studies have been published in the United States. All of those that
had already appeared in print have been enlarged and revised, some
indeed virtually rewritten. I have to thank the proprietors of the
_English Historical Review_, the _Contemporary Review_, and the _New
York Nation_, as also the Century Company of New York, for their
permission to use so much of the matter of the volume as had appeared
(in its original form) in the organs belonging to them respectively.

_March 6, 1903._

CONTENTS

Page
I. Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield 1804-1881 1
II. Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, Dean of
Westminster 1815-1881 69
III. Thomas Hill Green 1836-1882 85
IV. Archibald Campbell Tait, Archbishop of
Canterbury 1811-1882 100
V. Anthony Trollope 1815-1882 116
VI. John Richard Green 1837-1883 131
VII. Sir George Jessel 1824-1883 170
VIII. Hugh M'Calmont Cairns, Earl
Cairns 1819-1885 184
IX. James Fraser, Bishop of Manchester 1818-1885 196
X. Stafford Henry Northcote, Earl of
Iddesleigh 1818-1887 211
XI. Charles Stewart Parnell 1846-1891 227