The Life and Letters of Edward A. Freeman, D. C. L., LL. D.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX. Broken Health. History Of The Reign Of William Rufus. The General Election Of 1880. Tours In France And Italy And Visit To Dalmatia. Publication Of HistoRical Geography. Placed On Royal Commission Of Inquiry Into Ecclesiastical Courts. Visit To America. Correspondence. A.d. 1879-1882. The principal literary works upon which Freeman was engaged during 1879, in addition to the letters and articles which he wrote on the Eastern Question, were Historical Geography, the History of the Reign of William Rufus, and an article on the Goths for the Encyclopaedia Britannica. But it was a year in which he was much hindered by broken health. His nights were often so much disturbed by violent fits of coughing and attacks of gout, that he was exhausted in the morning and drowsy during the day. 'Stayed in doors for gasping,' 'walked little, coughed much,' 'slept little, coughed much,' 'puffed and gasped,' are frequent entries in his diary about this time. 'I hobble mightily,' he says in one of his letters written in April, 1879, 'and sometimes yell withal. I am done something to with bran. I am sure I am like the griffin who had the gout in his left claw. I was taken out this morning to bask in the sun as a cat.' Nevertheless, he read and wrote on an average seven hours a day, and from time to time he made journeys to places which he wanted to see in connexion with his History of William Rufus. It was mainly for this purpose that he travelled in Normandy in June and July, 1879, accompanied by the Rev. T. Fowler and Mr. James Parker and his son. In the course of this tour he visited Argentan, Alencon, S6ez, Le Mans, Mortagne, Dreux, Evreux, Lisieux, Jumiege, Joinville, and Duclair. His unflagging interest in everything that he wanted to see, and his determinat...