The Political History of England (Volume 7) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907. Excerpt: ... Miscellany, edited by T. Park (ten volumes, 1808-13), and the Somers A PP. Tracts, edited by Sir Walter Scott (thirteen volumes, 1809-15), in which pamphlets of this period may be found. The Select Tracts Relating to the Civil Wars, edited by F. Maseres (two volumes, 1815), are not for the most part pamphlets in our sense, but short autobiographies, etc. Of this immense pamphlet literature, the only writings that remain well known are Milton's, but their influence at the time may easily be overrated. Newspapers were multiplied after the meeting of the long parliament, and still more after the outbreak of the civil war. About 170 were set on foot between 1642 and 1649 (see nst given by Nicholls, Literary Anecdotes, iv., 33 et seq.), but many had a brief career. Among the most notable were Mercurius Aulicus and its successor Mercurius Academicus, royalist organs, edited by P. Heylyn abovementioned and John Birkenhead; Mercurius Britannicus, Mercurius Pragmaticus and Mercurius Politicus, all edited by Marchmont Needham, the first taking the side of the parliament, the second that of the king, and the third an official paper of the commonwealth; the Moderate Intelligencer, an organ of the independents, and the Moderate, an organ of the levellers. After the establishment of the commonwealth the freedom of the press was curtailed and newspapers dwindled, until under the protector only two official journals survived. See A. Andrews, History of British Journalism (two volumes, 1855), and H. R. Fox Bourne, English Newspapers (two volumes, 1887). Foreign Affairs.--In the original authorities information on foreign affairs is for the most part mixed with other matters. Some diplomatists (see above) have left accounts of their own labours, and in a few cases their le...