In England it was at once admitted, says Froude, that a splendid addition had been made to the national literature. 'The book contained, if nothing else, a gallery of historical figures executed with a skill which placed Carlyle at the head of literary portrait painters.... No critic, after the completion of _Frederick_, challenged Carlyle's right to a place beside the greatest of English authors, past or present.' The work was translated instantly into German, calling forth the warmest appreciation. FOOTNOTES: [18] Froude's 'Life in London,' vol. i. p. 115. [19] Froude's "Life in London," vol. i. pp. 161-62. [20] Froude's 'Life in London,' vol. i. p. 420. [21] Froude's 'Life in London,' vol. i. pp. 433-4. [22] Froude's 'Life in London,' vol. i. p. 441. [23] Ibid., vol. i. p. 451. [24] Froude's 'Life in London,' vol. i. p. 456. [25] Froude's 'Life in London,' vol. ii. p. 26. [26] Ibid., vol. ii. p. 36. [27] Froude's 'Life in London,' vol. ii. p. 43. [28] Froude's 'Life in London,' vol. ii. pp. 142-45. [29] Froude's 'Life in London,' vol. ii. pp. 156-7. [30] Froude's 'Life in London,' vol. ii. p. 245. CHAPTER VI RECTORIAL ADDRESS--DEATH OF MRS CARLYLE After a round of holiday visits, including one to Annandale, the Carlyles settled down once more at Cheyne Row in the summer of 1865. 'The great outward event of Carlyle's own life,' observes Froude, 'Scotland's public recognition of him, was now lying close ahead. This his wife was to live to witness as her final happiness in this world.' Here is an eloquent passage from the same pen: 'I had been at Edinburgh,' writes Froude, 'and had heard Gladstone make his great oration on Homer there, on retiring from office as Rector. It was a grand display. I never recognised before what oratory could do; the audience being kept for three hours in a state of electric tension, bursting every moment into applause. Nothing was said which seemed of moment when read deliberately afterwards; but the voice was like enchantment, and the street, when we left the building, was ringing with a prolongation of cheers. Perhaps in all Britain there was not a man whose views on all subjects, in heaven and earth, less resembled Gladstone's than those of the man whom this same applauding multitude elected to take his place. The students too, perhaps, were ignorant how wide the contradiction was; but if they had been aware of it they need not have acted differently. Carlyle had been one of themselves. He had risen from among them--not by birth or favour, not on the ladder of any established profession, but only by the internal force that was in him--to the highest place as a modern man of letters. In _Frederick_ he had given the finish to his reputation; he stood now at the summit of his fame; and the Edinburgh students desired to mark their admiration in some signal way. He had been mentioned before, but he had declined to be nominated, for a party only were then in his favour. On this occasion,