"(we Prom Ministers or Barra, 1721.—1921.—By the Hon. Clive Bigham, c.s1, c., c.s.e.—John Murray, Qi]- net. 370 pp.
The Genius of History has habit of stoping short about a century back, and looking across the intervening generations through mist of half-forgotten memories and half-digested prejudices. It is a distinct advantage for a book of this kind to come to the rescue for the sketches of our 36 Prime Ministers provide a track through our modern history which the author has laid with an admirable sense of proportion. Had there been 36 separata sketches with a Prime Ministe* for the hero of each chapter we should no doubt: have found the book a boredom of dessicated history. Instead of that Mr. Bigham has grouped his men in 16 chapters, labelling Lords Bute and North as "The King's Men," Grey and Russell as "The Whig Reformers," Disraeli ad Salisbury as The Conservatives" and so on. This is surely the way to go, for history is an art of selection like every other art, and a good deal of modern work is destined for the shelf for want. of seeing that. Some of the turning points are the accession of George TIT in 1760, the passing of the Reform Bill in 1832, the enlargement of the Franchise in 1869 and in 1905 the arrival of the rank and file in the seats of the mighty. Mr. Bigham ventures no judgement on the four living representatives of the Premier's office, leaving their achievements to the verdict of histor: But a comparison in-! stinctively arises in the mind be-} tween William Pitt and David Lloyd George, both being provided with the problem of an European imbroglio. It is interesting to read the estimate of Erskine May on the former and seo how far it fits: the latter. Pitt had been born and educated a Whig. He hadj striven to confine the influence of the Crown, and enlarge the liberties of the people. But he found; himself the leader of a Tory party,! whose doctrines he never accepted or avowed" (p. 95). Mr. Bigham! adds on the following page: Three-! quarters of his (Pitt's) time in office were spent in striving to resist the Revolution in France, the rebellion in Ireland and the ruin of Europe." It is remarkable how nearly the terms ara applicable to the present day. And another thing to be observed is that however powerful a man's personality may be, and however prominent:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.