Note 14 — Chapter IV

I quote the following passage from The Continuation of the History of England from Sir James Mackintosh, in Lardner’s Cabinet Cyclopædia, for the purpose of showing how unqualified the continuator is for the task which he has undertaken: “Search was accordingly made, and the powder was found concealed under billets of wood, and fagots: but all was left in the same state as before, to lull the conspirators into security.” Such is the way in which this gentleman writes history. It will be seen from the narrative, that at the search to which this writer refers, the gunpowder was not discovered. The parties returned to the council, and having made their report, it was debated whether the search should be carried further. What dependance can be placed on the statements of a writer who confounds two circumstances with each other, or rather is not aware, of more than one search, or attempt at a search having been made!