New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-24

had been ailins tor some time.
William Edward Hartpole Lecky was born at
Newton Park, near Dublin March 2s. tSsa He
was the son OF John Hartpole Lecky. esq. OF Long
ford Terrace. Dublin. and descendant of a family
which has owned land in Ireland for two hundred
years Young Lecky was sent to Cheltenham Col
lege. From Cheltenham he went back to Dublin,
Where' at trinity College. he completed his educa-
ton, being graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1859. and
Master of Arts in 1859. 1t intended that he
should become clergyman of the Protestant
thurch OF ireland. and to that end he attended
oiVnlty classes at the university. The choice or
profession was not dictated merely by family
convenience, but indicated the real bent OF the
young students mind. is shown by a small
anonymous book religion. published as early
1856 But changes OF opinion came with mental
growth. and it was probably these changes that
led to the abandonment of the idea of the clerical
profession.
In his undergraduate days ne was an eager and
active member of the College Historical Society.
and not many years passed before he proved how
wide and deep his reading had been. In 1855 the
history OF The Rise and Influence of Ratonslism
in Europe published II was remarkable
book for a man under thirty. not only for the
of reading necessary. but quite much for the
maturity and sobriety of thought il displayed.
His mind developed early, and it's fun Characters
tics were already present in early manhood In
later years he gained Of course In wealth OF knowl
edge and in fertility of illustration, but all the
mental tastes and habits and all the essential
mental powers. displayed in Democracy and Lib
erty'' were already present in "Rationasnn in
Europe" The latter work showed that Mr.. Lecky
be historian. and a learned and la borious
one, but one interested more in the philosophy OF
history than in details and isolated facts '"The
History of European Morals from Augustus to
Charlemagne.'' published in 1859 was A subject
OF the same kind. and IL the great History OF
England in the Eighteenth Century which ap-
peared from 1878 TO 1880. seemed TO take him into
a different sphere, the Of treatment showed
the same mental habits and predictions 1t was
published in 1892. in twelve volumes tine last
five. being devoted to Irish affairs.
His next great book Democracy and Lib
erty, which appeared in 1850
sentation of the University Of Dublin through the
elevation Of Mr. Piunkett TO the peerage. Mr.
claims upon any university constituency would
have been strong; upon that of the University OF
ing ran high. although he was elected by a ma
{GT of rd he t9 9 % paee in The
was the author of a small volume of poems. pub
n PbI h bni6n in which, ap5eaFed
anonymously in 1851. was repubished over his own
translated into foreign languages and most OF them
have passed through many editions in England and
Life" which appeared in 1899.
of laws from the University of Dublin. and also
from the universities of St. Andrews and Glasgow,
versity of Oxford and that of doctor literature
from Cambridge. He was honorary member OF
the Royal Academy, and trustee Of the Ma
tional Portrait Gallery. In 1894 he was elected
member of the Institute Of France. He was mar
ried in 1871 Elizabeth Baroness de Dedem. whose
father lieutenant general In the Dutch ser
vice. -
writer upon his few years ago said
Of this great historian:
MIR. Lecky's is a great record or work. Few
men living. and not many men of former days. haNe
Even fewer have filed their books with human
interest And in Mr.. Lecky'S case this interest IS
not that of literary elegance and tact His style
is adequate and sound. but II is rarely eloquent;
what we look to him for is rather calm Judgment.
the patient unfolding Of cause and effect, sklitut
AFFAIRS Not the least interesting characteristic or
his work is a note Of austerity. tone as OF per-
sonaI remuneration In IL. 1t appears to be n rec
ord OF struggles past. the result OF the unshrlnk-
ing pursuit OF the high white star OF truth Ger
tain lines in his Poems. beginning. He found his
work 20 indicate sense that for the ehaTac,
ter concentrated life which would have Deen
easier had il been only possible would also have
led TO results in some respects higher. The lines
have been applied TO Mr.. Lecky himself