But in raising it Froude was a pioneer, and, though a man of letters, saw more plainly than practical politicians what were the questions they would have to solve.

He despised local jealousies, and took large views.

Many men, perhaps most men, contract their horizon with advancing years.
Froude's vision seemed to widen.

Through the storms and mists of passion and prejudice which blinded the eyes of Liberals and Conservatives fighting each other at Westminster, he looked to the ultimate union of all British subjects in an England conterminous with the sovereignty of the Crown.

It was that England of which he wrote the history.