xxiv OBITUARY NOTICES OF MEMBERS DECEASED. 



spare them from historical research and writing ? When shall we again 

 have the clear-eyed layman investigating snbjects left too generally 

 by custom to the churchman ? Where can we seek for the intel- 

 lectual courage that will extend its view over so many centuries, and 

 the industry that will prepare itself so thoroughly for the combat 

 with their difficulties ? What capacities scattered among many pos- 

 sessors will make up for the combination of powers in one person- 

 ality? What later travelers along the way of historical study will 

 see so widely, observe so keenly and record so well as this first and 

 greatest of American scientific historians? 



The President: 



The next speaker will be our fellow member, the Right Hon. 

 James Bryce, the British Ambassador — a conspicuous representative 

 of the culture of the old world as Mr. Lea was of the culture of 

 the new. 



The Right Honorable James Bryce: 



I am asked to speak to you about one of the greatest historians 

 of our time ; to do so is for me not only an honor, but also a duty, 

 because I was privileged during many years to enjoy his friendship, 

 first given to me as a friend and pupil of Mr. Goldwin Smith, and 

 because I am probably the only member of the British Academy, a 

 body of which he had been elected some time ago a foreign member, 

 who is now resident in this country. 



Of his public life as a citizen and of his character in its various 

 private relations, others here can speak with knowledge fuller than 

 mine ; yet I must not forget to dwell upon and gratefully acknowl- 

 edge the uniform kindness which he showed to us younger men 

 when we approached him, and which witnessed to the genial warmth 

 of his heart. What I have now to say will refer to him as a his- 

 torical scholar and author. 



Anyone asked to say wdiat are the qualities needed for the writing 

 of history might enumerate them as follows : diligence, patience, 

 accuracy, the power of critical discrimination, impartiality, penetra- 

 tion, judgment. All these are qualities which belong to the sub- 

 stance of historical writing. As regards its form, one would par- 

 ticularly specify the power of clear statement and the gift of putting 



