The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-28 00:00:00

t. 14

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1849.

Mr. MACAULAY has, according to his own acknow-
ledgmimt, permanently sunk the debater in the an-
nalist. He has forsaken the labours of administra-
tion for the toils of Literature. He has forgotten the
statesmanship of the senator in the statesmanship of
the historian. Addressing himself to the Lord Pro-
vost of Glasgow, on Friday last, in the presence
of four thousand citizens, the Right Honourable
Author made this brief but solemn declaration :
"My political life, my Lord, has closed." While the
tones of that announcement are yet resounding over
the land, echoed by the organs of public opinion from
city to city, and from town to town, throughout the
United Kingdom—before the BERANGER of Roman
Antiquity has closed his portals for ever against the
voice of the journalist—before the THUCYDIDES of
England has retired for ever into the seclusion of his
library—we would, with all the earnestness of grati-
tude, bid him farewell as a Politician, and with the
fervour of admiration utter our God speed to him as
an Historian.
During the whole of Mr. MAcArLAr's career as a
. Member of Parliament he has preserved a consis-
tency such as must afford him an exquisite gratifica-
tion in the retrospect, and such as must always entitle
him to the respectful recollection of his countrymen.
He has retained the natural serenity of his judgment
in the midst of the turmoils of party warfare. with
that eclectic apPreciatiOn of temperament which con-
stitutes the amulet of the biographer, he has compre-
hended and even 'eulogized the variable sympathies
and vacillating allegiance of the astute and accom-
plished HALIFAX, without possessing himself any
marks of resemblance whatever to that illustrious
Trimmer, beyond the moral and intellectual charac-
teristics of his eloquence and his generosity. 'Whatever
• may have been his 'conduct in other particulars, Mr.
MACAULAY has at least, the merit of remaining
true to that standard under the shadow of which he
first took part in the political conflicts at Westmin-
' sten His ambition, no doubt, was immense, :for it
was the ambition of performing great services for his
-country—but his consistency has been as conspicuous
.as his ambition. To have participated in any manner
in the glorious efforts which resulted in the reform
of Parliament would have satisfied that ambition.
.Tohave persevered in:the maintenance of the principles
'from which the memorable Act of 1832, had ema-
nated- would have proclaimed that consistency. The
English Historian is fortunate to have shared in the
exertions of the one, and to have passed through the
ordeal of the other, unsullied by the brand-mark of le-
gislative tergiversation. He has enabled himself to look
back without a blush over those years which are now
receding rapidly into the dim but ennobling atmo-
sphere of the Past. "My political life, my Lord,
has closed." How few men can articulate those
.words without experiencing at least some sensation
of regret ! How many on pronouncing them would
realise the emotions of remorse ! It is seldom
granted to a statesman to announce the period of
his withdrawal from the arena of the Legislature
3rotirr*Parithout some compunctious sentiments adding pig.
tancy to the sorrowful knowledge of his retirement.
it is the happy destiny of Mr. MACAULAY to make
that announcement, not only without that shame
for the time which has already ehipsed, but