Autobiography of Edward Gibbon : as originally edited by Lord Sheffield / with an introduction by J.B. Bury.

  • Edward Gibbon
Date:
[1935]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Autobiography of Edward Gibbon : as originally edited by Lord Sheffield / with an introduction by J.B. Bury. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Decline and Fall the author sometimes refers to his writings, and almost always for the purpose of a hit. We cannot look with much complacency on Gibbon’s career as a politician. He was a silent member of the House of Commons during the years in which England was engaged in the war with her American colonies, and he cast the weight of his votes for the disastrous policy of Lord North. ‘ I took my seat,’ he says, ‘ at the beginning of the memorable contest between Great Britain and America, and supported with many a sincere and silent vote, the rights, though not, perhaps, the interest, of the mother country.’ He was, no doubt, sincerely convinced of the abstract justice of the English cause, but he certainly came to disbelieve in the policy of the measures which he supported. He reveals this frankly in his Correspondence. ‘ Upon the whole I find it much easier to defend the justice than the policy of our measures, but there are certain cases where whatever is repugnant to sound policy ceases to be just.’ And later on he condemns North strongly and unequivocally : ‘ I still repeat that in my opinion Lord N. does not deserve pardon for the past, applause for the present, or confidence for the future.’ He knew that the war would result in failure and was exhausting the country. But he sacrificed his real opinions to loyalty to his leader and party, and was rewarded by a sinecure worth £750 a year (1780). Gibbon had never to struggle with poverty ; he had always a com¬ petence ; but his ideas of ease and luxury prevented him from being satisfied with his means. On an income, however, which had to be husbanded in London, he found himself able to live handsomely when he retired to Lausanne on the termination of his parliamentary career ; and he looked forward to 4 the deaths of aged ladies ’, whose inheritances would secure him affluence and enable him to return to London and live at his ease. One of these ladies, Mrs. Gibbon, his stepmother, proved to have a better life than his own. Gibbon’s wisdom in choosing what he calls his