xviii 



insight beyond his time. He early claimed for gothic architecture 

 the place it now holds in popular estimation. Years ago he sug- 

 gested that principle in design, since enforced by Mr. Ruskin, that 

 in the physical world the curve is the token of life or organized 

 matter, as the straight line indicates death or inorganized matter. 

 His article on the "Fine Arts in Florence " (Quarterly Review, June 

 1840) is a fine example of his range of mind, and contains passages 

 eloquent with picturesque description, and stored with sound histo- 

 rical and artistic knowledge. 



Few living men have equalled Palgrave in the extent of his reading, 

 still fewer have surpassed him in sincere and independent inquiry. 

 His language was vigorous and often pointedly descriptive. He was 

 capable of vivid biographical portraiture, and of tracing acutely the 

 original development and meaning of laws and titles. Still he lacked 

 some qualifications towards a great historian. His habit of mind 

 was rather that of an advocate than a judge, which diverted him 

 from that perfect judgment which characterizes Hallam and Thirl- 

 wall. His feeling for the importance of the laws and social institu- 

 tions that influenced the daily life of the people prevented him in 

 some degree from grasping the history of the nation as a whole. 

 The habit of dictating his writings tempted him to a diffuseness and 

 redundancy of style ; and, not unlike Southey, he has left passages 

 in his writings which are fanciful rather than humorous, and hardly 

 worthy of his powers or of history. This estimate of Palgrave's 

 literary position has been mainly adopted from a criticism on his last 

 volume in the Edinburgh Review of April 1859. Notwithstanding 

 failings such as these, the writer assigns to him a place among the 

 highest rank of historical inquirers, and states that the new light which 

 he has thrown upon the ancient institutions of our land, and his 

 share in enabling us to realize the grand picture of mediaeval Europe, 

 should secure to him the deep gratitude of every historical student. 



He passed, like Scott and Southey, a life of unremitting in- 

 dustry. As his years were continued from occupation to occu- 

 pation, without the chasm of a single day, so his hours led him 

 on from work to work the page of history before breakfast, the 

 office in mid- day, his library and books in the evening. Though 

 he could not rest content save in a round of unremitting activity, 

 friendship and home love were still the salt that made life precious 



