several books of travel and poetry, among which are Views Afoot (1846), an account of his travels in Europe, and El Dorado (1850), which described the Californian gold-fields.  After some experience and some disappointments in the diplomatic sphere, he settled down to novel-writing, his first venture in which, Hannah Thurston (1863), was very successful, and was followed by John Godfrey’s Fortunes (1864), partly autobiographical, and The Story of Kenneth (1866).  His poetic works include Poems of the Orient (1854), Poet’s Journal (1862), Masque of the Gods (1872), Lars (1873), The Prophet (1874), a tragedy, Prince Deucalion, and Home Pastorals (1875).  In 1878 he was appointed to the German Embassy, and d. in Berlin in the following year.  His translation of Goethe’s Faust is perhaps his best work.  He was a man of untiring energy and great ability and versatility, but tried too many avenues to fame to advance very far in any of them.

TAYLOR, SIR HENRY (1800-1886).—­Dramatist, s. of a gentleman farmer in the county of Durham.  After being at sea for some months and in the Naval Stores Department, he became a clerk in the Colonial Office, and remained there for 48 years, during which he exercised considerable influence on the colonial policy of the Empire.  In 1872 he was made K.C.M.G.  He wrote four tragedies—­Isaac Comnenus (1827), Philip van Artevelde (1834), Edwin the Fair (1842), and St. Clement’s Eve (1862); also a romantic comedy, The Virgin Widow, which he renamed A Sicilian Summer, The Eve of the Conquest and other Poems (1847).  In prose he pub. The Statesman (1836), Notes from Life (1847), Notes from Books (1849), and an Autobiography.  Of all these Philip van Artevelde was perhaps the most successful.  T. was a man of great ability and distinction, but his dramas, with many of the qualities of good poetry, lack the final touch of genius.

TAYLOR, ISAAC (1787-1865).—­Philosophical and historical writer, artist, and inventor, was the most eminent member of a family known as the Taylors of Ongar, which has shown a remarkable persistence of ability in various departments, but especially in art and literature.  His grandfather and f., who bore the same name, were both eminent engravers, and the latter was the author of various books for children.  T. was brought up to the hereditary art of engraving, in which he displayed pre-eminent skill, his work gaining the admiration of D.G.  Rossetti.  He decided, however, to devote himself to literature, and for 40 years continued to produce works of originality and value, including Elements of Thought (1823), Natural History of Enthusiasm (1829), Spiritual Despotism (1831), Ancient Christianity (1839), Restoration of Belief (1855), The Physical Theory of Another Life,