The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-19
Of Parliamentary Reform. and the Repeal

/
| thropist. and the author OF various re-
| ligious books one Of which. published
| after his death. contains PREDATORY
| notice OF him by lis closo f,fend, Dean
| Stanley. who had q cordial appreciation
| of Mr.. Greg's labors In behalf OF anne
Iiorating the condition Of the mill opera
tiyes ard the working classes generally.
All three Of these brothers were grad
| yates of the University Of Edinburgh.
But though Percy Greg came naturally
| by his love OF letters. never was there
stronger antagonism between father ana
son than that which existed tctwten MIN
end his distinguished father In all mat
tiers OF political and religious belief.
The father was Radical In politics;
the son q Tory as vehement and violent
as any country squire Of the October
Club" In religion the father was an
urbane secularist--the son spirftuaiist.'
It Is true that in early life Percy Greg
rejected all forms Of belief. rather fnclin-
irg, 80 far as can judge, to materialism.
but finally he found his rest In the doc
trine Of spiritualism
His career was that OF journalist
during the best part Of his life.
He was first employed as a leader
writer on the Manchester Guardian, one
Of the most powerful papers In the King
dom, and afterwards went up to London.
where he Joined the regular staff of the
Standard and Saturday Review. Later on
he and the Saturday Review people quar-
relied and separated; why never knew.
AS both the Standard and Saturday Re-
view were staunch supporters Of the Con-
federate cause, Ii was, doubtless, his work
for their columns which led him eventu-
ally to undertake his history. and to tell
the story of our great conflict from the
Southern point of view. have in my
library a complete set Of the Saturday
Review from its commencement In 1856 TO
the present time and while it's brilliant
and caustic criticisms of men. Of public
measures and Of books has caused II to
be known among reading folk in England
as 1.-THE Reviler" must confess that the
volumes covering the period from 1861
to 1865 are to this day very pleasant read
ing to a Southern man whose heart was
In the Confederate cause.
Mr.. Greg also contributed articles OF
great brilliancy and vigor to the leading
reviews, end his article Din 1887, think In
the Quarterly, defending Lord Salisbury,
who was personal as well as political
friend. carried that special number of the
review rapidly through four editions
But, besides being a professional journal
list, Mr.. Greg was author OF very con-
siderable number of books These he
sent me from time to time. but they were
all Out one) unfortunately burned in
fire which destroyed many valuable vol
umes in my library year ago.
In nearly every one Of them his devo-
ton to the South and admiration Of the
old Southern civilization are the chief
note.
AS the books. do not doubt, may still
be had in England, give the titles from
my library catalogue for the benefit OF
adj NJ
They are:
The DEVILS Advocate. a series OF es-
says political and religious QSS).
without God; Negative Science and
Negative Ethics.
Across the Zodiac, novel displaying
extraordinary Imagination and scientific
ingenuity. 1t describes life in the planet
Mars, and some of the scenes are worthy
the pen Of the author Of Vathek QsSO),
Then came the novels Errant QSSO).
IVY. Cousin and Bride QSSD, Sanguelac
QSS3), In all of which his enthusiastic
admiration of Southern chivalry finds
vent, and finally one with the strangely
ominous title. The Verge Of Night 0SS5).
Pc 'cy Greg always struck me as dis
appointed man in so far as what he most
cared for In life was concerned. His
ability was almost universally recognized,
but his vehement fearlessness and ag-
RreSS1VeneSS naturally piONOhcu hdi 81
criticism In return and his books never
obtained more than a success q estime.
1t Is not easy for us here to estimate
the power to make or mar the fortunes
of a book that a reviewer on the stan
of the great literary journals like the
Saturday, or the Spectator or the Athe-
naeum. holds in his hands. And this
power is often. nay very generally used
to the uttermost, for the jealousies OF
xyir
in the reign of Victoria, as they ever
were in the days of good Queen Anne"
His History of the United States, which
you are to discuss here tonight. If ever
give you chance. appeared Ia 1887 and
fell still boin, and until very recently the
two handsome volumes coul1 be pur-
chased for a mere song. am not here
to express any opinion Of the book. but
/ may be allowed TO say that the reason
for the pubic indifference to II Is not far
to seek.
The war in America has long slice
ceased to interest the majority of Eng
lshmen. Besides, the Liberal reviewers
sneered at 1t as "a huge political pam
phlet," because Of It's pronounced ostlity
TO the United States, with which country
all Englishmen now desire to be at peace.
Then another set-inheritors or the most
extreme views Of what was once known
as "the Exeter Hall apostles absolutely
refused to believe Mr.. Gregs account OF
the humaner aspect Of slavery as IL
existed in many of the States.
II would, indeed, have been proud day
for Percy Greg. could he have lived TO see
the interest and admiration that have been
excited by his history within the past wear
In the capital Of that Confederacy, which
he so passionately loved. Mr.. Greg. In
the Versatility of his genius. was also
poet Of no mean sweep. His early poems
were published under the nom de plume
of Lionel Hoidreth, and in 1875 appeared
his 'Interleaves," which he was specially
anxious to find a circulation in the South
as he stated to me in a letter. which ac-
companied the volume sent to me in that
year.
With vour permission. and with many
apologies for these hastily written
"reminiscences. which / hurriedly threw
together last night In the pauses OF that
most delightful occupation known to my
craft as correcting exercises" l will
close this paper by reading from this last
volume ('Interleaves) his poem, com
memorating the surrender at Appomattox
Courthouse, entitled 1.-THE Ninth OF April,
1866" This stirring poem we have already
published.