Edward Augustus Freeman 267 



cal studies were characterized on the one hand by 

 philosophical breadth of view, and on the other 

 hand by extreme accuracy of statement, and such 

 loving minuteness of detail as is apt to mark the 

 local antiquary whose life has been spent in study- 

 ing only one thing. It was to the combination of 

 these two characteristics that the preeminent great- 

 ness of his historical work was due. We see the 

 combination already prefigured, and to some extent 

 realized, in his first book, " A History of Architec- 

 ture," published in 1849, although this can hardly 

 be called such a work of original research as the 

 books of his maturer years. Two years afterward 

 appeared the learned " Essay on the Origin and De- 

 velopment of Window Tracery in England," a work 

 which I do not feel able to criticise, but which I 

 am sure is very charming to read. I believe that 

 this book was followed by at least three others in 

 the same department, " Architectural Antiquities of 

 Gower," "The Antiquities of St. David's," and 

 "The Architecture of Llandaff Cathedral," but I 

 have never seen them. In the preface to the essay on 

 window tracery Mr. Freeman alludes to Rev. G. W. 

 Cox as his " friend and coadjutor in many under- 

 takings," and I have heard of a volume of poems 

 " by G. W. C. and E. A. F." published in those days, 

 but I know no more about it. It is to be hoped that 



