Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-02-21

vet certain systems OF religion though H., NAV
.hsrac'edy be ndefensble beause has
come to that point Ia which, In either human religious
government he bear that which IL best II give the
Athenian- said Soon mot the laws but the best
.sey can bear Mr. Maeaulay has never feared To apply
the intellectual test 10 any institution There
better proof OF his fine manly Independents, than that
exhibited 10y his refusal urgent ard unanimous request
OF his co suuent 20 abstain from voting tor the grant of
the Roman Catholic College Of Maynooih lie kn. W the
penalty. The loss OF his and the consequent
.hieh IN Parliamentary life in England that entails-of
the high political position to which he had won his ~ay
And he bore sooner than record a vote which hi. con.
science forbade In 1917 he defeated by large una.
Joy py ss'rong AnCatholic dssenter Mr. Charles Co.
wan, large paper manufacturer in Eiinbury To tina
defeat and the retirement to which drove Mscausy We
owe the history of England in it, nobies period With
the return OF popular feeling which will always 6l,v Tho
true and Just maa-ior the heart of IN. p,onc ,hon,h
often in momenary impulse wrong il ALWAYS In IN. main
true-Macsulay restored to his old place agains, his
viii and without the necessity OF his n, has
however, rarely down OF late the House of Com,
mons or taken part in party struggles save ON division
4" large national Importance. lie has but once spoken
upon the India Reform Bi-and though il ON MORN
ing sitting when the attendance usually thin the Iousc
was crowded as nights of fierce party fight and the
were 1cs'esed with masses to listen his
voice 10 us the specch.wa failure. IL had all the
iaus OF Mscaulsys delivery with scarcely one OF those
glowing metaphors which used rise ia spleudor from
his BRAIN and moved gorgeous away
cc upon tue pathway OF his argument illuminating
line of light
Mr. Macaulay sdelivery I've past verb As he has
ceased TO mnge in politics. though still member of the
House, always awkward and his appearance singulary
strange Usually dressed in green frockcoat light waist.
coat ana dark trowscrs, he seemed he entered the
House, unmindti OF all around and made STRAIGHT or an
peared To struggle unconcouy to his seat
Lord John Russell and Mr. Iabouchere Their, with hi
arms uniodcd and Puritan determination OF look he sat
Wrapped IN abstraction When lie spoke which was rare.
~ II VAS gcncra-uuGkc the other D, ointment men who
never rise until !ate hour night-eary in the evening
oe'ore dinner, with the object preserving his memory
fresh aud his brain uncoued lie generally boted straight
to the table, and without any cxorum plunged into iii.
mus. OF ms argument, pouring forth and illus.
trsons aud images fancngine working inside and
throwing them up IN profusion from huge aborato
ry His voice shrill, rather hard exhibiting no
passion or feeling. and his ntonation monotonous rushing
on IKE the sound of rapid stream His conversation has
the same fault lie has winnngnes. of manner and no
graceful ease OF direction Difference to Others b,t nor
ou' sentence upon sentence until you gorged and sick
ened with their riches. His conversation a, Rr,ol.,
every evening ut o'clock essay not cony.rs,,o,,
Men gathered round 10 listen they do here To .ctn,,
ana those not present always asked the evening wel
what did Aacaulay speak about to-day" As Sidney
smith wittiy remarked How charming Macaulay would
! be II he had but few brilliant flashes of silence"
Though retired from politics he still holds the charac
ter oil seer to whose wisdom Wings diiutes ever Nv
for counsel In discussion last session when sbarpl,
'ed ox Mr. Disrael for deserving his party and joining
with the Peeltes Lord John Russell who IA very sens
1--WE 10 the slightest touch OF party honor replied That h.,
had been himself averse such junction but that he
had advised with Mr. Macauay, who told him that h,
declined, he would incur fearful responsibility -
This was To the Wings triumphant answer The seer
had said Il.
While thus endeavoring picture Mr. Macaulay let il
a
hs grave faults historian They may be almost sum
med up ina sentence lie appears hs birth TO have
been wrapped up in the buff and the blue Whig cover
the EdnbuG Rcrer and since have got or seen
outside it. To him all men Wings or Tories
II the great principles OF humanity ever found a home
IN the brains or affections OF Macauay he has certanl,
ueat VII" them as mariners often do with precious good,
In time OF storms-throw them overheard IN order to
bnng his little wing clipper safely uto port Generally
men VINO are blessed with humane thought and feeling
not over anxious throw them away even TO please the
Duke OF Bedford or Lord Lonsdowne. We NAV there
lore pretty safely conclude that whatever NAV be the 9th
er glorious Attributes of Macauay-an they are Legion
feeling Tor humanity numbered among the in
venory Of the rich gifts he received from the hand of Ma
turc.
And yet i'll estimation, in this age can be
qualified Tor the task OF historian who has been treated
ia this respect uugenerousy by Providence as Mr. NJ,
ciGlay Some may consider this ideal of historian too
HIGH aud our Judgment, consequently, too severe. Yet
al ell the various agents for the diffusion of knowledge
e expansion OF ideas the overthrow OF errors and the an
utilization OF prludice-n word OF the progress of
clNi<aton-thcrc rome who stand lgh-nour whose
responsibilities are more wcighy than those of the man
Who undertakes cnlghten his co,cmnorries about the
dongs, the savings and the character o their
To til him Tor this task hr should have large ovc OF hi,
kind Without this he remains Indifferent to all that con.
uiGteS to Their happiness Or promotes their uuhappiuc>s
without this he does picture the men and thiu- of tile
past ~ reference to the benefit evil they have brought
on the largest number Of people living Without such
large, earnest icrvcnt Humanitarian love- lac lacks the
primary requisite for his task What ha, been what !.
ani what will ever be the great object governments and
secure human happiness and human uulnppincss
II so many governments degenerate into despoti,n, and
30 many people INTO plupeism, aud many churches
INTO muiHerles II l. owing 10 the absence OF that spirit of
love and 1limhmciug humanity. In the same measure
Is governments are imprc ae with this spirit Of love in
mo same measure are causes of unhdppuc>s removed
AMI fresh avenues OF happiness opened. 80 is
II with historians imprrguItcd with a spirit OF
humanity They enable the minds of the present genera
ton by showing up the doings Of those that past in
the light OF justice aud truth Without it history only
the reflex OF individual brnn-vod of soul OF heart OF
anything which might show that man is born for higher
purposes Than to eat and drink Tor noblcr object
imam To dress and breed and governments aud partic,
other ends than to shuttle in ard shuttle out Bu, Maca-
Law with all the brilliant panopy OF his gorgeous pcturc
".' scholarly achievement, thorough mental culture and
enthusiastic love OF dlspuon ui character and event by
no MEANS man OF strong spiritual vitality lie has little
sympathy with the first principles of humanity a. with
the ist principles oianythng else intellectually speak
ing hc i an outsider Read his essays on Milton Bacon
and Machavel aud his specifically will at once become
transparent IL l. the with his histories Organcal.
F disabled to search the human soul aud draw forth the
motives that actued rocking with lie and saturated
with reality, his Judgment OF character often lacks dcpth
without the requisite spiritual grandeur deal with first
principles aud causes he is compelled to draw his neren.
irpn inferior principles aud effects. But he does il
Win such marvellous beauty. In the remarkable gift
OF coioiing erroneous ideas with glowing imagination
anu o bringing out those coors surrounded with the
hc drApciy oi insnagc,and OF ornamenng this drhpc
with the most exquisite fancy etting OF classical aud
historical aiusOnin this remarkable gift lies his power
lih' what i the real material presented the mind
I
wear IN Mr. Macaulay's estimate and that estimate
- coored by hs peculiar nature and nircqucnty his
peculiar prejudice lie il Of those remarkable midi
'dualtie everywhere hut nowhere scarscr than
ia Enslhnd with tho glowing Imagination OF the Span
lard, and graceful elegance OF tho Frcnchman his mental
nature presents all the hard features of the
Ensi-hman most strangely Ovcia! with thought by the
bucig atmosphere Of Scotland Ills emotional nature
beiuE sgutrly poor his mental is ovcrchat ged
win electricity Hence he il constantly lost IN thought
AMI seemingly overwhelmed by the torrent Of facts aud
incidents tat rush ccasccsy through hs crowded brain
There Is no soft whispering Of affection; ecc
city OF soul no disposition 10 love- affection absorb
him;-a Is cold, drcdry aud dismal IN the Scotch heart
but the head Is all on FIRE All the fuel which would have
been consumed to light up his aIcctonal have been Gun
ployc to swell the fires Of his intellectual naure-and
with furnace heat IL goWs and CLOVIS. Such strength at
ire! Fancy -uc man, who has boud Of love link
him personally to other men, and TO whom woman gisrs
no delight, drvoug all the vitality Of his nature the
service O his brain No lover has ever placed himself
more enthusiastically and aabsoi the disposal o
his beloved one than Nncauay his whole being NJ the dis