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Autobiography and Memoirs edited by the Dowager Duchess of Argyll with Portraits and Illustrations in two volumes.
The Autobiography of the Duke of Argyll was begun in the year 1897, but, unhappily, it was left unfinished.
The time that had been devoted to it meant to the writer some pleasant hours, and he was working at it in his leisure moments to the very end. Life had been to him so spaoious, and all Nature so rich in interest and in beauty, that he had great pleasure in that form of literary art in which memory was invoked to bring back from the storehouse of the past all that had especially impressed him—matters of high consequence to great States, talks with famous men long since dead, how such a bird flew or dived on such a day, how some new truth was welcomed, or some vital belief was again confirmed. There was no bitterness in retrospect to one who could look back as fearlessly as he could on a long career of public service, of private duty, and of literary work; and set it down, having nothing equivocal to explain away, no change to justify or extenuate, no pronouncement of prinoiple to retract. The completion of the work was left by the Duke in the hands of his wife, at whose earnest
desire the Autobiography was undertaken, and who knew his thoughts and wishes concerning it. In taking up the broken thread of the narrative, the design has been to continue the history of his life, as far as possible, in the Duke’s own words, giving his thoughts and opinions through the medium of letters to friends, and quotations from his speeches and writings.
The Editor owes a debt of gratitude to all who have most kindly rendered important assistance in the carrying out of the work, by searching for letters from the Duke, often a laborious task when they were not of recent date, and especially when it so happened that these letters were amongst the still untouched papers of those who are gone. Permission has been kindly granted in many cases for the use and publication of valuable correspondence, and the kind and helpful sympathy shown in connection with the responsible work of editing these volumes has been deeply felt and appreciated.
Her Majesty Queen Victoria graciously granted permission to the Duke to publish in this work some of her letters, and those of the Prince Consort.
To the Earl of Mayo grateful thanks are due for his kindness in lending the correspondence of the Duke with the late Lord Mayo, who was Viceroy of India during a portion of the time when the Duke held the office of Secretary of State for India. The late Earl of Northbrook, who Succeeded Lord Mayo as Viceroy, also most kindly placed his correspondence with the Duke at the disposal of the Editor.
Grateful acknowledgment is due to the Duke of Devonshire; the Marquis of Salisbury; Mr. Henry Gladstone, with regard to the extensive correspondence with his father; Viscount Peel; Lord Tennyson; the Hon. Hollo Russell; Lord Stanmore; the Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava; Countess Granville; Lady Lilford; Miss Palgrave; the Earl of Halsbury; Earl Spencer; Mr. Bernard Mallet; the Hon. Evelyn Ashley; Mr. Charles Francis Adams; Lord Avebury; the Earl of Selbome; the Bight Hon. Joseph Chamberlain; Lord Playfair; Mr. John Bright; Mr. Cree; Mr. Bosworth Smith; Professor Mackintosh; Professor Knight; Professor Butcher; Mr. Foreman; Sir Arthur Mitchell; the Archbishop of Canterbury; the Bishop of Bipon; Canon MacColl; the Very Bev. Donald Macleod; Sir Edmond Vemey; the Bev. J. Howson; Herr Prelat von Schmidt; and to Lady Vernon Harcourt, for permission to publish the letters of her father, Mr. Motley.
With regard to scientific papers, special thanks are due to Mr. Fletcher, head of the mineralogical department of the British Museum; Sir George Darwin; Sir Leonard Lyell; Lord Kelvin; Sir John Murray; Mr. Harvie Brown; Lady Flower; Mrs. Tyndall; Mrs. Max Muller; to Mrs. Owen, in connection with the letters of Sir Richard Owen; and to the trustees of Mr. Herbert Spencer.
Only deep regret can be felt for the irreparable loss entailed by the Autobiography having been left unfinished; but the pages which follow may not be wholly unworthy of his memory, if they have been made to show even a vague image of that intrepid and magnanimous spirit which remains bo clear and so living to those who knew him.
INA ARGYLL.
Have now started on this book which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/argyll/argyllndx.htm
Alastair
The Autobiography of the Duke of Argyll was begun in the year 1897, but, unhappily, it was left unfinished.
The time that had been devoted to it meant to the writer some pleasant hours, and he was working at it in his leisure moments to the very end. Life had been to him so spaoious, and all Nature so rich in interest and in beauty, that he had great pleasure in that form of literary art in which memory was invoked to bring back from the storehouse of the past all that had especially impressed him—matters of high consequence to great States, talks with famous men long since dead, how such a bird flew or dived on such a day, how some new truth was welcomed, or some vital belief was again confirmed. There was no bitterness in retrospect to one who could look back as fearlessly as he could on a long career of public service, of private duty, and of literary work; and set it down, having nothing equivocal to explain away, no change to justify or extenuate, no pronouncement of prinoiple to retract. The completion of the work was left by the Duke in the hands of his wife, at whose earnest
desire the Autobiography was undertaken, and who knew his thoughts and wishes concerning it. In taking up the broken thread of the narrative, the design has been to continue the history of his life, as far as possible, in the Duke’s own words, giving his thoughts and opinions through the medium of letters to friends, and quotations from his speeches and writings.
The Editor owes a debt of gratitude to all who have most kindly rendered important assistance in the carrying out of the work, by searching for letters from the Duke, often a laborious task when they were not of recent date, and especially when it so happened that these letters were amongst the still untouched papers of those who are gone. Permission has been kindly granted in many cases for the use and publication of valuable correspondence, and the kind and helpful sympathy shown in connection with the responsible work of editing these volumes has been deeply felt and appreciated.
Her Majesty Queen Victoria graciously granted permission to the Duke to publish in this work some of her letters, and those of the Prince Consort.
To the Earl of Mayo grateful thanks are due for his kindness in lending the correspondence of the Duke with the late Lord Mayo, who was Viceroy of India during a portion of the time when the Duke held the office of Secretary of State for India. The late Earl of Northbrook, who Succeeded Lord Mayo as Viceroy, also most kindly placed his correspondence with the Duke at the disposal of the Editor.
Grateful acknowledgment is due to the Duke of Devonshire; the Marquis of Salisbury; Mr. Henry Gladstone, with regard to the extensive correspondence with his father; Viscount Peel; Lord Tennyson; the Hon. Hollo Russell; Lord Stanmore; the Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava; Countess Granville; Lady Lilford; Miss Palgrave; the Earl of Halsbury; Earl Spencer; Mr. Bernard Mallet; the Hon. Evelyn Ashley; Mr. Charles Francis Adams; Lord Avebury; the Earl of Selbome; the Bight Hon. Joseph Chamberlain; Lord Playfair; Mr. John Bright; Mr. Cree; Mr. Bosworth Smith; Professor Mackintosh; Professor Knight; Professor Butcher; Mr. Foreman; Sir Arthur Mitchell; the Archbishop of Canterbury; the Bishop of Bipon; Canon MacColl; the Very Bev. Donald Macleod; Sir Edmond Vemey; the Bev. J. Howson; Herr Prelat von Schmidt; and to Lady Vernon Harcourt, for permission to publish the letters of her father, Mr. Motley.
With regard to scientific papers, special thanks are due to Mr. Fletcher, head of the mineralogical department of the British Museum; Sir George Darwin; Sir Leonard Lyell; Lord Kelvin; Sir John Murray; Mr. Harvie Brown; Lady Flower; Mrs. Tyndall; Mrs. Max Muller; to Mrs. Owen, in connection with the letters of Sir Richard Owen; and to the trustees of Mr. Herbert Spencer.
Only deep regret can be felt for the irreparable loss entailed by the Autobiography having been left unfinished; but the pages which follow may not be wholly unworthy of his memory, if they have been made to show even a vague image of that intrepid and magnanimous spirit which remains bo clear and so living to those who knew him.
INA ARGYLL.
Have now started on this book which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/argyll/argyllndx.htm
Alastair