27 JULY 1895, Page 25

fact is that this volume is a political pamphlet. Mr.

Lucy wields a facile and skilful pen, and he can, when he pleases, be, or at least appear, impartial. Neither faculty appears here to great advantage. To write a biography of Mr. Gladstone without a serious attempt to explain that incident of his career which most needs explanation, his change of attitude on the Irish question, is absurd. To the Liberal Unionists he is conspicuously unfair. After all, whether their views are right or wrong, they deserve the respect due to those who have remained consistent in their opinions, and have made great sacriaces to maintain that con-

sistency. There is naturally a demand for biographies of Mr. Gladstone. If they must be supplied, let it be by men who are not militant partisans.