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Extraordinary ingenuity is shown in piling up a lofty fabric； but
the foundation is of sand； and the edifice has hardly a solid wall
or beam in it。 A clever conjecture is treated as a fact； an
inference possible but represented as probable is drawn from this
conjecture； a second inference is based upon the first； we are made
to forget that the probability of this second is at most only half
the probability of the first； the process is continued in the same
way； and when the whole superstructure is complete； the reader is
provoked to perceive how much dialectical skill has been wasted upon
a series of hypotheses which a breath of common…sense criticism
dissipates。 If one is asked to explain the weakness in this
particular department of so otherwise strong a mind； the answer
would seem to be that the element of fancifulness in Mr。 Gladstone's
intellect； and his tendency to mistake mere argumentation for
verification； were checked in practical politics by constant
intercourse with friends and colleagues as well as by the need of
convincing visible audiences； while in theological or historical
inquiries his ingenuity roamed with a dangerous freedom over wide
plains where no obstacles checked its course。 Something may also be
due to the fact that his philosophical and historical education was
received at a time when the modern critical spirit and the canons it
recognizes had scarcely begun to assert themselves at Oxford。
Similar defects may be discerned in other eminent writers of his own
and preceding generations of Oxford men； defects which persons of
equal or even inferior power in later generations would not display。
In some of these； and particularly in Cardinal Newman； the contrast
between dialectical acumen； coupled with surpassing rhetorical
skill； and the vitiation of the argument by a want of the critical
faculty； is even more striking than in Mr。 Gladstone's case； and the
example of that illustrious man suggests that the dominance of the
theological view of literary and historical problems； a dominance
evident in Mr。 Gladstone； counts for something in producing the
phenomenon noted。
With these deficiencies； Mr。 Gladstone's Homeric work had the great
merit of being based on a full and thorough knowledge of the Homeric
text。 He had seen that Homer is not only a poet； but an 〃historical
source〃 of the highest value； a treasure…house of data for the study
of early Greek life and thought； an authority all the more
trustworthy because an unconscious authority； addressing not
posterity but his own contemporaries。 With this thorough knowledge
of the matter contained in the poems； Mr。 Gladstone was able to
present many interesting and permanently valuable pictures of the
political and social life of Homeric Greece； while the interspersed
literary criticisms are often subtle and suggestive； erring； when
they do err； chiefly through what may be called the over…earnestness
of his mind。 He sometimes takes the poet too seriously； he is apt
to read an ethical purpose into descriptive or dramatic touches
which are merely descriptive or dramatic。 But he has for his author
not only that intense sympathy which is the best basis for
criticism； but a real justness of poetic taste which the learned and
painstaking German commentator frequently wants。 That he was a
sound and accurate scholar in that somewhat narrow sense of the word
which denotes a grammatical and literary mastery of Greek and Latin；
goes without saying。 Men of his generation were more apt to keep up
their familiarity with the ancient classics than is the present
generation； and his habit of reading Greek for the sake of his
Homeric studies； and Latin for the sake of his theological； made
this familiarity more than usually thorough。 Like most Etonians； he
loved and knew the poets by preference。 Theology claimed a place
beside poetry； history came next； and was always a favorite branch
of study。 It seemed odd that the constitutional history of England
was by no means one of his strong subjects； but the fact is that
this was preeminently a Whig subject； and Mr。 Gladstone never was a
Whig； never learned to think upon the lines of the great Whigs of
former days。 His knowledge was not； perhaps； very wide； but it was
generally exact； indeed； the accuracy with which he grasped facts
that belonged to the realm of history proper was sometimes in
strange contrast to the fanciful way in which he reasoned from them；
or to the wildness of his conjectures in the prehistoric region。
For metaphysics strictly so called he had apparently little turn
his reading did not go far beyond those companions of his youth；
Aristotle and Bishop Butler； and philosophical speculation
interested him only so far as it bore on Christian doctrine。
Neither； in spite of his eminence as a financier and an advocate of
free trade； did he show much taste for economic studies。 On
practical topics； such as the working of protective tariffs； the
abuse of charitable endowments； the development of fruit…culture in
England； the duty of liberal giving by the rich； the utility of
thrift among the poor； his remarks were always full of point；
clearness； and good sense； but he seldom launched out into the wider
sea of economic theory。 He must have possessed mathematical talent；
for he took a first class in mathematics at Oxford； at the same time
as his first in classics； but it was a subject he soon dropped。
Regarding the sciences of nature； the sciences of experiment and
observation； he seemed to feel as little curiosity as any educated
man who notes the enormous part they play in the modern world can
feel。 Sayings of his have been quoted which show that he
imperfectly comprehended the character of the evidence they rely
upon and of the methods they employ。 On one occasion he astonished
a dinner…table of younger friends by refusing to accept some of the
most certain conclusions of modern geology。 No doubt he belonged
（as the famous Lord Derby once said of himself） to a pre…scientific
age； still； it was hard to avoid thinking that he was unconsciously
influenced by a belief that such sciences as geology and biology；
for instance； were being worked in a sense hostile to revealed
religion； and were therefore influences threatening the moral
welfare of mankind。
CHAPTER VIII： RELIGIOUS CHARACTER
Of all the things with which men are concerned； religion was that
which had the strongest hold upon his thoughts and feelings。 He had
desired； when quitting the university； to become a clergyman； and it
was only his father's opposition that made him abandon the idea。
Never thereafter did he cease to take the warmest and most constant
interest in all the ecclesiastical controversies that distracted the
Established Church。 He was turned out of his seat for Oxford
University by the country clergy； who form the bulk of the voters。
He incurred the bitter displeasure of four fifths of the Anglican
communion by disestablishing the Protestant Episcopal Church in
Ireland； and from 1868 to the end of his life found nearly all the
clerical force of the English establishment arrayed against him；
while his warmest