FROM THE RIGHT HON. JOHN BRIGHT'S SPEECH AT BIRMINGHAM : "It is a great misfortune that the history of our country that is nearest our own times young men are least acquainted with. It is not written in histories that were read at school, and they are not old enough, as I am old enough, to remember almost every political fact since the great Reform Bill of 1832. I wish young men would read some history of this period. A neighbour and a friend of mine, a most intelligent and accomplished clergyman-Mr. Molesworth-has published a work, being a political history of England from the year 1830—that is, from the first Reform Bill-until within the last two or three years: a book honestly written, in which facts are plainly-and I believe truly-stated, and a work which would give great information to all the young men of the country, if they could be prevailed upon to read it." |