'Pert without fire, without experience sage.' But, like Canning and so many others, he had been converted by the French Revolution; and thenceforward to his death, at a comparatively early age, in 1815, he supported the war and the Tories. He had already written a history of the Dutch Revolution of 1785, and had compiled a poetical selection, 'Specimens of the Early English Poets,' which was often reprinted and long held the field. During the six years covered by his connexion with the Review he contributed no less than twenty-eight articles-some being written in collaboration with Canning; and he reviewed 'The Lady of the Lake,' 'Rokeby,' 'The Bridal of Triermain,' and 'The Lord of the Isles,' as well as Byron's 'Corsair.' He was a man of attractive character and distinguished literary taste, and was described by Scott, who was acquainted with all the talkers of his day, as 'the best converser I ever knew.' A more voluminous contributor than Ellis, and one whose connexion with the Review lasted far longer, was Sir John Barrow. Born in 1764, of humble parentage, near Ulverston, he got his education at the local grammarschool, and soon showed unusual talent for mathematics and mechanics. After obtaining a place in a Liverpool iron-foundry, he made his first voyage thence to Greenland. Subsequently he became a mathematical assistant at a school at Greenwich, where he taught the son of Sir G. Staunton, who introduced him to Lord Macartney. He accompanied Lord Macartney on his famous embassy to China, and afterwards on his mission to the Cape. These and other voyages, of which his 'Autobiography' gives a modest but very interesting account, with the knowledge of the sea and of distant lands that he acquired, stood him in good stead; for in 1804 Lord Melville, on becoming First Lord of the Admiralty, appointed him Second Secretary-a post which he held for some forty years. In this position he not only controlled the civil administration of the navy, but was able to promote the cause of Arctic discovery. Among other titles to distinction, he was practically the founder of the Royal Geographical Society. He published many 'Lives' and books of travels; and he is said never to have consulted a doctor till he was eighty. His connexion with the Quarterly' began with his introduction to Gifford by Canning in 1809. His name first appears in the list of contributors in the second number of the Review; and for the space of forty years, down to his death in 1848, he continued to contribute largely. He wrote 195 articles in all, his special province being books of travel and accounts of foreign countries. Of the regular contributors to the Review, none was more constant, none more prominent, than John Wilson Croker. Born in 1780 in Galway, of old Devonshire stock, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin, he joined the English Bar, helped Horace and James Smith to start 'The Cabinet' and 'The Picnic,' and made his first literary ventures, of a satirical nature, with some success. Elected to Parliament in 1807, he was placed in charge of Irish business in Parliament by his life-long friend, Sir Arthur Wellesley, then Chief Secretary. In 1809 he became Secretary to the Admiralty, a post which he retained for twenty-one years. In conjunction with Peel and Palmerston he wrote some clever satirical papers in the 'Courier,' republished in 1815 as The Whig Guide.' In 1816 he declined an offer from Lord Liverpool to make him a Privy Councillor; but twelve years later he accepted the honour at the hands of the Duke of Wellington. When the Duke resigned office in 1830, Croker, out of feeling for his chief, gave up his post at the Admiralty. Two years later, when the Duke was attempting to form a Ministry, he pressed Croker to accept a place in the Cabinet; but he declined the high distinction. That the Duke's attempt was hopeless, he probably perceived; but he had resolved to take no further part in public life, on the ground that the assembly to be elected under the Reform Act would lead to as complete a subversion of our ancient constitution as the Long Parliament.' In 1834, Sir Robert Peel offered him a place in the Ministry. What had happened in the interval might have somewhat reassured him; but, his resolution once taken, he was not to be moved, and he again refused office. These facts may suffice to show that Croker was no self-seeking politician. Nor was he, as is not unfrequently assumed, by any means a mere hide-bound Tory. So early as 1807 he supported Catholic Emancipation, and wrote a pamphlet in favour of that measure, which reached a twentieth edition. In 1819 he made an able |