The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-04-11 00:00:00

LORD MACAULAY.

It is not too much to say that the world did not know
until within the last few days how extraordinary a genius
was loot to it sixteen years ago, when Lord Macaoly died.
Sion of a Scotsman, of a fervent but, as we should say,
narrow type, young Thomas Babington Macaulay in his
early youth had his precocity repressed ; yet it could not
he hidden; the shoot was too vigorous not to grow. Ile
began to read at the age of three, and seemed never to
stop. "A very clever woman who then lived in the house
as parlour maid told how he used to sit in his nankin
frock, perched on the table by her as she was cleaning
and expounding to her out of a volume as big as himself
His memory retained without effort the phraseology of
the book which he had been last engaged on, and he
talked, as the maid said, 'quite printed words."' At
eight the reader began to write. He commenced a com-
pendium of universe history, and did not fail altogther to
put his views upon paper. Then he flew off to poetry ;
and after reading Scott's "lay of the Last Minstrel" he
produced himself three cantos of • poem intended to be in
six, and to be called "The Battle of Cheviot," The future
historian and the post were in the child. At Cambridge
Tom was known better for his physical vigour and his
good companionship than for his earnest attention to
hooks; but, of course, he won honours. The strange thing,
however, is that he was not given • fellowship until he
had three times essayed. "for the amazing reason," as
Mr. Trevelyan who has just etitten his life states, " that
his translations from cuisines, were rendered into English
that was ungracefully bold and inornate." This is almoirt
beyond belief. Having come to London, Macaulay studied
for the bar, such being his father's desire; but it is easy
to see that his heart was never to the work, though he
was called in 18110. Politics attracted him more than law,
literature more than pleading. He cared little for the
courts, but would sit for Hours in the House of Commons,
and would write in • magazine with all the zest of which
he was poniessor. His father, however, put an end to his
contribution to Knight, Quarterly, and for a time the
young man was without an aim. But he was soon laid
hold of by Jeffrey, and in 11158 produced his essay on
Milton. It had an amazing success. The style was so
original that Jeffrey could not understand how it had
been acquired. In troth, it was of the man. But
his success did not by any means imply fortune. His
ntruggles were still to come, and for years he must have
had hard work to live decently and honestly on his slender
income; especially as his father, failing, came down upon
him for help. But he was presently Laid hold of, given •
Commissionership in Bankruptcy, well paid by the
Sdiaburpk, and in receipt of the salary of his fellowship.
From this time he rose, entered Parliament just before the
Refor,n Bill 11830. spoke for the first time oa Jewish dis-
abilities, and made his mark But he had, even as he
was rising, some hard times of it, and began to despair of
the life he had chosen. At last day broke. "By the new
India Bill it is provided (he writes to a friend) that one
of the members of the Supreme Council which is togovern
our Eastern Empire is to be chosen from among
who are not servants of the Company. It is probable—
indeed, e—
indeed, nearly certain, that the situation will be offered
to ins. The advantages are very great It is a post of the
highest dignity and consideration. The salary is £lO,OOO
uyear. I may hope to return to England at only thirty-
nine, in the full vigour of life, with • fortune of £30,000.
A larger fortune I never desired." This was his first slice
of good luck. More than 20 years later, after the publica-
tion of the first volume of his History, an befell him.
Here Man announcement in his journal under date March
7, 113.18 :—" Longman came with • very pleasant announce-
ment He and his partners find that they are overflowing
with money, and think that they cannot invest it better
than by advancing to me, on the usual terms of coarse,
part of what will be due to me in December. We agreed
that they shall pay .C 20.000 into William's Bank next
week. What a sum to be gained by one edition of • book!
I may say gained in one day, hut that was harvest-day.
The work had been near seven years in hand." As •
politican Mr. Trevelyan thinks that Lora Macaulay has
been underrated. He especially praises the work he did
in India. More interesting to the public will be the way
of his life. In his" poor days" he lived very hardli,
sometimes supping on bread and cheese for weeks together,
and getting a good dinner only when he clime from home,
which was very frequently indeed. In the days of success
he was kindly and happy, There is hardly an unkind
word in the hos*, oe pt of Lord Brougham, and even he
Is treated justly. The peerage Oven to the historian was
unsolicited, and came as a susprise. He did not enjoy it
long. With the Cornaill Magazine, open at Thackeray's
" Dennis Duval," before him, the great man died sitting
in his chair. As his literary style is • model of grace, ease,
dignity, directness, and force, no was his life. He was
nerwr moan, o„or immodest, never self-seeking yet withal
courageous and self-reliant.

At Cambridge mime a farmer named cOMSADI hrown
was sentenced to penal serritudo for Ag yeaM for setting
firs to some farm premise; v,ntil seciintly 000upied by him.
Errs's COCOA.—GAItiPOL AND CONVORTINO.—. By a
thorough loccoefiodge of the natural laws which govern the
opmatlons of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful
aD-
iicat4on of the line properim of well-selected cocoa, Mr.
Epps has provided our breakfast tables with • delicately
flavoured bowman which may save us many heavy
doctors, bills. It is by tles judicious use of such articles of
thot that a constitution my be gradually built up unti
streaedasoongh to resist every tendency to disease.
Hu of subtle maladies are floating around us ready
to attack wherever there is • weak point. We mar escape
many • fatal shaft by keeping eureeleee well fortified with
v=ood and apreparty zialuishipd frame."—Oiett Sonia