Above : Portrait Of Lord Cornwallis Pitt, when making his famous defence of the Union project in January 1799, had broadly hinted that, should success in this be achieved, the Catholic disabilities would probably soon be removed. That he really desired that this should be done, and done so quickly as to seem a direct result of the Union, there can be no doubt. He soon, however, realised that he had greatly underestimated the strength of the King's opposition and the difficulty, ... Read More

While the creation of new literature ceased during most of the nineteenth century a new interest, scholarly and historical rather than literary, was developed in the preservation and study of existing literature. It was an interest shared in only by an intellectual and cultured minority, but it resulted in the publication of a number of works which had lain in manuscript for many centuries The patriotism and learning of small groups of individuals who succeeded one another throughout the century rescued from ... Read More