At the same time, Mr. Gladstone warned students in one
department of thought from suddenly plunging into another, especially Judges, or historianst.or clergymen from dashing. into politics, remarking that in sudden transitions of that kind we sometimes find instances of the worst abuse of that literary preparation on the value of which he had been enlarging. This was, we suppose, a warning intended for a few English and Irish Judges, one or two eminent living historians, and a few eminent divines who have launched out against his Irish policy. Even in their case, we do not see why study should increase instead of diminishing the magnitude of the mistakes to which the rash adventurer in a new field is liable. An ignorant Judge would, we suppose, make more unfortunate excursions into politics than an accomplished Judge, and a half-educated clergyman than a learned clergy- man ; so that we do not quite see the appropriateness of Mr. Gladstone's warning, to his special subject,—the importance of wide reading. Perhaps he meant to say that a politician should choose his principles before he studies the past, and go to the past only to confirm himself in them. The " masses," as distinguished from the " classes," are a little disposed to adopt that method.
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