186443 LESSONS FROM MY MASTERS CARLYLE, TENNYSON AND RUSKIN BY PETER BAYNE, M.A., LL.D. AUTHOR OF "THE CHIEF ACTORS IN THE PURITAN REVOLUTION" EXONTE GENERAL LIBRARY NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS FRANKLIN SQUARE PREFATORY NOTE. HEN I began a series of Studies of English Authors in the Literary World, of which the first three were devoted to Carlyle, Tennyson, and Ruskin, I stated that it was my intention not to sit in judgment upon them, not to rise from the pleasant place of listener and learner at their feet and assume that of critical censor, but to give such information as might be of use to persons less familiar with their books than myself, and to rehearse, in brief and simple terms, a few of the principal truths they had expounded, facts they had stated, lessons they had taught. In writing I found it practically impossible to divest myself of the critical function so completely as I had purposed. When I differed in opinion from the eminent men whose works I surveyed, I could not help saying so; and to say so without reason assigned would have seemed unjustifiable assumption. It will, however, I trust, be found that I have in no instance controverted an opinion of "my very noble and approved good masters" without its being evident that my respect and affection for them continued unimpaired. I may be permitted also to say that my own mature opinion upon many questions of the highest importance is necessarily expressed. The Studies of Carlyle and Tennyson have been carefully revised and considerably extended; that of Ruskin is almost entirely new. I tender my thanks to the Rev. J. Kirkman and other correspondents, who have kindly permitted me to avail myself of their remarks in foot notes. LONDON, June, 1879. |