In 1858, however, Gladstone appeared in a new light, and commanded immediate attention by the publication of his “Studies on Homer and the Homeric Age,”—­a remarkable work in three large octavo volumes, which called into the controversial field of Greek history a host of critics, like Mr. Freeman, who yet conceded to Mr. Gladstone wonderful classical learning, and the more wonderful as he was preoccupied with affairs of State, and without the supposed leisure for erudite studies.  This learned work entitled him to a high position in another sphere than that of politics.  Guizot wrote learned histories of modern political movements, but he could not have written so able a treatise as Gladstone’s on the Homeric age.  Some advanced German critics took exceptions to the author’s statements about early Greek history; yet it cannot be questioned that he has thrown a bright if not a new light on the actors of the siege of Troy and the age when they were supposed to live.  The illustrious author is no agnostic.  It is not for want of knowledge that in some things he is not up to the times, but for a conservative bent of mind which leads him to distrust destructive criticism.  Gladstone has been content to present the ancient world as revealed in the Homeric poems, whether Homer lived less than a hundred years from the heroic deeds described with such inimitable charm, or whether he did not live at all.  He wrote the book not merely to amuse his leisure hours, but to incite students to a closer study of the works attributed to him who alone is enrolled with the two other men now regarded as the greatest of immortal poets.  Gladstone’s admiration for Homer is as unbounded as that of German scholars for Dante and Shakspeare.  It is hardly to be supposed that this work on the heroic age was written during the author’s retirement from office; it was probably the result of his life-studies on Grecian literature, which he pursued with unusual and genuine enthusiasm.  Who among American statesmen or even scholars are competent to such an undertaking?

Two years after this, in 1860, Mr. Gladstone was elected Lord Rector of the University of Edinburgh in recognition of his scholarly attainments, and delivered a notable inaugural address on the work of universities.

The chief duty of Mr. Gladstone during his seven years connection with the new coalition party, headed by Lord Palmerston, was to prepare his annual budget, or financial statement, with a proposed scheme of taxation, as chancellor of the exchequer.  During these years his fame as a finance minister was confirmed.  As such no minister ever equalled him, except perhaps Sir Robert Peel.  My limits will not permit me to go into a minute detail of the taxes he increased and those he reduced.  The end he proposed in general was to remove such as were oppressive on the middle and lower classes, and to develop the industrial resources of the nation,—­to make it richer and more prosperous, while it felt the burden of supplying