In 1821 John Galt published a massive work – Pictures Historical and Biographical drawn from English, Scottish and Irish History. Volume I has 539 pages and Volume II has 564 pages. They cover historical events from ancient Greece (taking the view of Geoffrey of Monmouth that after the fall of Troy, Brutus led his people to an island which they called Britain) the second volume ends with the reign of George III. The book had many illustrations and was published in 1821.
In his preface to the massive work Galt writes –
“The object
of this Work is to present a descriptive view of the most remarkable incidents
in the annals of these kingdoms. The
selection consists of those transactions, which, either from their extraordinary
nature, or the celebrity of the characters concerned in them, make the deepest
impression on the memory.”
One event that certainly left a lasting impression on Britain is covered in Volume II - the 1605 Gunpowder Plot when Guy Fawkes and his fellow Catholic conspirators attempted to blow up Parliament. The plot was discovered on 5 November and to this day the phrase “remember, remember the 5th of November” is still used and bonfires are lit around Britain.
John Galt tells of the plot in great detail and writes about the aftermath of the discovery of the barrels of gunpowder that had been hidden in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament –
“After this
discovery, Fawkes being searched, there was found upon him a dark lantern, a
tinder-box, and three matches. The villain,
instead of being dismayed, boldly told them, that if he had been taken within
the cellar he would have blown up himself and them together. He confessed the design was to blow up the
king and parliament.”
The two volumes show the breadth of Galt's interest in history and his commitment to large scale projects.
