§1. Burnet’s Historical and Political Writings during his residence in Scotland. VII. Historical and Political Writers. Vol. 9. From Steele and Addison to Pope and Swift. The Cambridge History of English and American Literature: An Encyclopedia in Eighteen Volumes. 1907

The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (1907–21).
Volume IX. From Steele and Addison to Pope and Swift.

VII. Historical and Political Writers.

§ 1. Burnet’s Historical and Political Writings during his residence in Scotland.

THE historical writers of the period covered by this volume may be grouped round two who, in the greater part of their literary activity, belong respectively to two different ages of English history. But Burnet survived the accomplishment of the Hanoverian succession, and Bolingbroke’s most important literary activity connects itself with the early Georgian age.

Among the already numerous writings of Gilbert Burnet, 1 while he was still resident in Scotland and wholly occupied with the affairs—more especially, of course, the ecclesiastical affairs—of that kingdom, the following seem to call for special mention. In 1665 was printed anonymously A Discourse on the Memory of that rare and truly virtuous Person Sir Robert Fletcher of Saltoun, written by a gentleman of his acquaintance, 2 which is, in fact, only the reproduction of an inflated funeral sermon.

Note 1. Concerning Burnet as a divine, see Vol. VIII, Chap. XI. [ back ]

Note 2. It appears to contain little or nothing about either Sir Robert or, of course, his more celebrated son, Burnet’s pupil, who, at the time, was about twelve years of age. [ back ]