FOSTER'S LIVES OF EMINENT BRITISH STATESMEN.
THE second volume of this biographical series contains the lives of ELIOT and STRAFFORD: The plan of the writer is to handfe his subjects at large, so as to include in the biographies of the leading actors in the " Old English Revolution, the histories of minor contemporaries, and indeed the history of the age itself." Although not strictly biography, and therefore open to the charge of incon- graity, we know not that there would have been any objcetion to this bad it been skilfully done: but Mr. POSTER, unluckily, has not the literary power e&etively to accomplish the task he has un- dertaken. He rather goes round about a subject than brings it out; his most ambitious efforts are fine instead of being rich; and his legal training has been of no service in his present attempt. In controverted or doubtful matters, he rather gives us heads of evi- dence than its results.
These are faults of manner: the matter is very valuable. Mr. FOSTER has collected his materials with industry ; considered them with discrimination; and, although a free and honest advocate of the great founders of English freedom, he decides with fairness and impartiality. On such well-beaten ground it would have seemed that much new matter could not have been discovered : but the author's researches amongst various manuscript collec- tions have enabled him in some cases to fill up gaps, and in others to throw a different light upon received transactions. In the case of ELIOT, he successfully defends the patriot from the charges Mr. D'IsaftEui brings against his private life, and his alleged subservience and ingratitude towards BUCKINGHAM. In that of STRAFFORD, he acutely maintains that he has been wrongly charged with apostacy to the popular cause; as he could scarcely desert what he never cared for. He was naturally despotic; and in love With arbitrary power. His first opposition to the Court was only to be courted ; for this grand instrument of the tyranny of CHARLES was too proud to solicit favours. We have also a fuller view of STRAFFORD'S public designs, by means of the numerous extracts from his despatches ; a nearer view of his private life, through quotations from his private correspondence and that of his friends ; as well as a sound and reasonable defence of the impeachment. But perhaps the best constitutional justification of that is expressed in the words which PYM used with such tre- mendous force in his reply to STRAFFORD,—" Neither will this be a new way to blood. There are marks enough to trace this law to the very original of this kingdom; and if it hath not been put in execution, as he allegeth, this two hundred and forty years, it was Dot for want of a law, but that all that time had not bred a man bold enough to commit such crimes as these."
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