Fair Albion comes into the story with “Lion-Hearted” Richard, the incomparable knight-errant; Edward I., unequaled in his century as warrior and ruler; Edward III., who befriended literature and art, and espoused the cause of progress; his son, the Black Prince, “most glorious star of chivalry;” Henry VIII., a foe to papacy, and for a time the most popular monarch in English history; “Ye Merrie King Charles;” Duke of Marlborough, the brilliant and successful general; Arthur Wellesley, “The Iron Duke,” venerated and beloved; Horatio Nelson, of magnificent exploits and stupendous victories, who said: “Where anything great is to be done, there Providence is sure to direct my steps;” unrivaled was he in daring resource and skill; Sir Charles Napier, conqueror of Sinde and the “acknowledged hero of a family of heroes;” Dan Chaucer, “that first sweet warbler” of English verse, philosopher, politician and poet; Marlowe, the mightiest of Shakespeare’s pioneers; Shakespeare, himself, “sweet swan of Avon,” myriad-minded and wondrous; “rare” Ben Jonson; Raleigh, a universal genius--“the glass of fashion and mould of form;” Surrey, polished and chivalric; John Dryden, of whom Dr. Johnson said: “As Augustus was to Rome, so was Dryden to English literature. He found it brick and left it marble;” Dr. Tobias Smollett, who wrote “Humphrey Clinker;” Fielding, the frank and manly author of “Tom Jones;” sweet Oliver Goldsmith, in letters perspicuous, vivacious, and graceful; Halifax,
“Jotham of piercing wit and pregnant truth, Endued by nature and by learning taught To move assemblies;”
the first Marquis of Anglesey, high-spirited and impetuous, a dashing general of cavalry; that best of Irish Viceroys, Frederic Howard, Earl of Carlisle; Lord Bolingbroke, accomplished and eloquent; Shaftesbury, the incorruptible statesman, upright judge and friend of religious freedom; Horace Walpole, of whom Macaulay said, that his writings “were among the delicacies of intellectual epicures;” Dr. Dodd, divine, author, editor and chaplain of the king; George Selwin, the celebrated conversational wit; Sir Philip Francis, immortal as “Junius,” and a “friend of the people;” the artistic Farquhar; courtly Waller; elegant Dorset; charming Sedley; and scholarly Congreve; jolly Dick Steele, a master of classical prose; Charles James Fox, of whom James Mackintosh said: “He is the most Demosthenian speaker since Demosthenes;” Sheridan, “capable of the grandest triumphs in oratory,” and noted for his sparkling wit and exquisite songs; Wilberforce, who dedicated his life to a struggle for the abolition of the slave-trade; Edward Gibbon, the historian, splendid, imposing and luminous; Ponsonby, once speaker of the Irish House of Commons; Dr. Colton, author of “Lacon;” William Pitt, of dauntless spirit and unimpeachable integrity; and Lord Byron, a poet famed for his passionate eloquence and pathetic gloom.