Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-09-25
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
w1I.M1NGroN, N. c., FRIDAY, SEPT. IS. 1857.
A Literary Lord.

The literary and political circles of England are con-
sderably interested in the recent announcement that L.
Darlington Macaulay is to be raised to peerage The
circumstance attracts the greater attention as beng
the first recognition of the kind bestowed upon
literature by the British government Scott, Bulwer
and Allison received the inferior honor Of baronetcy
and Sir Humphrey Davy, the great chemist and
natural philosopher had only the transitory honor of
knghthood.
Although Macauay is, perhaps, best known as an
author it is still questionable whether this distinction
is bestowed upon him in that capacity or whether it
can be regarded distinctive recognition of the claims
of genius at least of that class of genius with which it
is generally connected.
We find in the Philadelphia Press, long and very
interesting article evidently from the pen of DIR. McKen
ze, the accomplished literary editor of that paper Civ
ing sketch of Macaulays life from which learn that
he is now ftyseven years of age having been born in
Leicestershre, England, in 1900. His father Zachary
Macaulay, was a man of wealth, but whether much of
this descended to T. B. does not appear
In 1926 he was called to the bar, but does not APP
pear to have devoted himself to his profession to have
taken any rank in it. having early shown disposition
to turn his attention to literature and politics. He
commenced his contributions to the Ednburg Review,
and has since continued warm partizan of the most
liberal wing of the wing party
In 1848 he lost his seat in Parliament, having been
rejected by the electors of Ednburg because of his hav
ing voted for the Maynooth appropriations being
dowment for a Catholic College at Maynooth village
in Ireland not far from Dublin He again entered Par
lament in 1862 and made striking speeches on
Indian policy, when in 1853, the COmpanyS charter
was remodeled and renewed.
1t will be thus seen, that Mr. Macaulay has not been
simply an author. He has been a Cabinet Minister
and prominent politician, and his peerage is not a
distinctive compliment to the literary class
In 1880 he entered parliament where he took sides
warmly in favour of the Reform Bill" and on the
accession to power of the wings under the Grey admin
stration he was made Joint Secretary of the India
Board, with a salary of fifteen hundred pounds. In
1888 he was sent to India fifth member of the SUI
preme Council, with salary of ten thousand pounds
per annum and additional rank and pay legal advi
ser to the Council In 1889 he returned from India
with fortune of fifty thousand pounds. He again
entered parliament and was made Secretary at Wal
with a salary Of G248O per annnm, which he retained
until 1841. In 1876 he again became cabinet min
lister under the Russell administration holding the Office
of Paymaster of the Forces.
AS speaker and writer, his style is brilliant anC
beautiful, suited to the pages of review or magazine
or to the leading columns of the Times but wanting il
simplicity and quiet power. He has been maker Q
speeches-never debater.
His essays are his best productions His History c
England is a mistake He has issued some four Or fly
volumes and only covered space of nine to ten years
In 1848 the first volume appeared. He is now 81 an
in failing health, and his plans can never be carried out
The Lays of Ancient Rome !" :" The Battle O
Ivry, and the Lays of the Cavaliers give him SON
position as poet, though far from prominent one.