This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1844. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... PRIVATE SECRETARY. The situation of Private Secretary to the Sovereign, which is one of a peculiar nature, resembling very much the original office of King's Secretary, has been made the subject of discussion in the House of Commons. It appears that the first Sovereign (at least, since the Revolution) who employed a Private Secretary was King George III, to whom a confidential person in that capacity was rendered absolutely necessary, upon his Majesty becoming afflicted with the loss of sight. When the late George IV. became Regent, and Colonel MacMahon, a Privy Councillor, was appointed his Private Secretary, with a salary of 2000/. per annum, the subject was brought before the House of Commons on the 14th April 1812, and caused an animated and important debate. It was contended that such an office was dangerous and unconstitutional, as it must inevitably render the person holding it a secret adviser of the King, with a degree of influence over the royal mind inconsistent with the forms of government in this country, and destructive of a fundamental principle of the Constitution, namely, that no one can use the name of the Sovereign, offer him advice, or convey his commands, except he be one of the responsible Ministers of the Crown, answerable to Parliament for his conduct. But it was said, on the other hand, that the office was not one of responsibility, but was precisely like that of any other Private Secretary in any other office of the State, differing only in the rank of the person under whom it was held; that it was only an instrument for carrying on the business of the country; that if the appointment was not divested of all responsibility, there would be nothing to justify it in the view of Parliament; and it was particularly stated by Lord Castlereagh...

Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, William John Thoms (1803 85) pursued literary and bibliographical interests and conversed with the likes of Thomas Macaulay and Charles Dickens. Most notably, he coined the term 'folklore' in 1846 and founded the scholarly periodical Notes and Queries in 1849. Having been published separately, these three essays on Shakespeare were brought together in this 1865 work. 'Shakespeare in Germany' (1840) spells out how German drama was influenced by English playwrights and by English actors performing plays in Germany from the late sixteenth century onwards. 'The Folk-Lore of Shakespeare' (1847) considers fairy lore and names, with particular attention paid to the characters of Puck and Queen Mab. In 'Was Shakespeare Ever a Soldier?' (1859), Thoms acknowledges that little is known for sure about Shakespeare's life, but careful scrutiny of the evidence has made him 'morally certain' that the dramatist had seen military service."