Memoir of William Roscoe, Esq. 209 



was, without ?iis concurrence, or that of his most intimate friends, 

 proposed as a candidate on that occasion, as well as in 1812, 

 when he was put in nomination in a similar manner at Leicester 

 without his consent, and polled a very considerable number of 

 votes. 



We have already noticed Mr Roscoe as the earnest advocate 

 of peace. In 1808, he published " Considerations on the 

 Causes and Consequences of the War with France,"" — a pamphlet 

 which excited much attention, and speedily went through eight 

 editions. It was followed in the same year by another pam- 

 phlet, entitled " Remarks on the Proposals made to Great Bri- 

 tain Jbr opening Negociations for Peace with France^ in which 

 be endeavoured to shew that the advances of France had not 

 been met with a sincere desire on the part of our Govern- 

 ment to put an end to the miseries of a ruinous and bloody con- 

 test. 



In 1810, Mr Roscoe published a Letter to the present Lord 

 Chancellor, then Mr Brougham, on the question of Parliamen- 

 tdry Reform, In that tract he advocates a more extensive Re- 

 form than the partial measures then in contemplation by the 

 Opposition ; and the coincidence, in many respects, between his 

 suggestions and a late measure, has, within the last few months, 

 caused a republication of Mr Roscoe's pamphlet. 



This letter brought him into more immediate correspondence 

 with Mr Brougham ; and when that gentleman was invited to 

 become a candidate for the representation of Liverpool in 1812, 

 Mr Roscoe not only entered warmly into the contest to support 

 Mr Brougham, but, on the return of Mr Canning, the rival 

 candidate, wrote a caustic review of the electioneering speeches 

 of that statesman, which the enthusiasm of his admirers had col- 

 lected into a bulky pamphlet. Such ephemeral specimens of 

 oratory should, on all sides, be permitted to remain in the less 

 ambitious pages of provincial newspapers. 



At every period of his life Mr Roscoe was much attached to 

 the study of Botany. As we have stated, the establishment of 

 our Botanic Garden was principally due to his suggestions. In 



VOL. XIII. NO. XXVI.— OCTOBER 1832. O 



