Francis Caldwell Holland

“ Like Macaulay he is at times too much inclined to accentuate his observations by the use of antithesis, and his generalisations, though interesting, are not always invulnerable when subjected to analysis, but, in the words of his friend, Sir Alfred Lyall, he has, in a style clear, level, and straight-forward, 'filled up, with distinguished merit and ability, large vacant spaces in the history of our country.' Though educated in a conservative atmosphere, he ultimately accepted a political philosophy which was more nearly that of Manchester than of other schools of thought. ”

“ This book, published in 1874, so pleased Lord Egmont, the head of the Perceval family, that he bequeathed 10,000l. to the author, and his speedy death brought Walpole into possession of this bequest. This turn of fortune enabled him to relinquish journalism and to devote himself to the chief achievement of his life—the ’History of England from 1815' — the first two volumes of which, appearing in 1878, quickly gave him rank as an historian. ”

“ He continued to hold the same position under Sotheran Estcourt, home secretary after the elder Walpole resigned in Jan. 1859. Estcourt on his retirement in the following June wrote to the head of the war office that almost his only regret in quitting office was that he lost Walpole as a companion of his work. Walpole resumed his duties at the war office until, on his father's return to the home office in 1866, he once more became his private secretary. Those were the years of the volunteer movement—the origin and significance of which Walpole afterwards described in his history. ”