Glasgow weekly times., 1860-02-09
Family and characteristics Maeaulay.

particulars respecting the late Lord Macau-
lay and his family, and his unfinished hlstO-
ry of England:
at was very Characteristic Of the Mac
aulay family that the tidings of Lord Mae
aulay's death should have reached tbs pub
lie ears so slowly and circuitously. All
couriing of publicity, ell craving for public
expression of admiration, all trading upon
fame and name, was peculiarly from the
character Of the deceased noblenaD, as well
as from those Of his surviving brother,
Charles Zachary Macaulay, Secretary The
Board Of Audit, and his sister, Lady Trev-
elyan. The brothers and sisters were link
ed By strong affection, and unmlngled with
pride on either side. They were proud Of
their brothers unparalleled popularity as
writer; lie was proud OF his brother Charles
rising respute as most valuable and con-
scientisus public servant; of Lady Treve-
lyan's intelligence and usefulness as the
helpmate of Sir Charles TreveIyan, whose
labors in the public service Lord Macarlay
keenly sympathized with, and approyingly
watched and cheered.
"AIacauIy's conversation, more than that
Of any man ever met, impressed nle with
the notion of a memory Of peerless accuracy,
the stores of which were used with en- IN
failing and disciplined energy Of mind, man
iiested especially in the force and finish Of
the speakers language. All Macaulay's
conversation would admit Of being put in
print just as it was spoken. There was
nothing unfinished, slipshod, hesita'ingly,
or hall expressed. The sentence was flung
before you with en- irrerressible buoyancy
and forceiulness CT utteranes, complete,
clean cut, well rounded, and well liked to
each other. And yet there was nothing in
Johnsonian, nothing pompous, cesquipedaii-
an or pendaaio il the phrsseOlogy. And as
The manner SO was the mattcr-pleasant, in
teresiing, amusing, but never prosy, boring
or over ambitious Gor the company or the
time.
Never were pleasanter, more uRre-
strained, or mere genial breakfasts than
those of Lord Mncaulay, at his rooms in the
Albany-while he was sill liver in chan,
bers, before he removed TO Holly Lodge, al
Canpden Hill, which he has not occupied
for three years-iG my memory be exact
Mscaulay aOnologi2ed, only because he had
so much ready 10 flow forth On most sub,
jscts, that il took long time TO pump Of
even his surface water. Bat, in company
with people who had somsthing to say and
could say it, Mocaulay did not habitually
take up more than his fair share Of the con-
versation. Sidney Smith used 10 plain
Of Macaulay, because he was rival, and q
worse monopolist. and could not bear TO see
the attention of the table distracted from his
own rampant and Rabe!aisian fun. Hc,.b by
his allusion to 'Macaulay's brilliant flashes
Of silence, gave cclor 20 tha impu:atiOn Of
burdensOme IOquacily, often urged against
the deceased historian. But I believe 10
ono who sew much Of Macau!ay in socisiy
wi! be found 10 inlorse that charge.
Among the most honorable charaoteris-
lie @! Lord Maeou!ay-of which l am glad
TO see such general recoSnilion-sh should be
mentioned, his rare freedom from all tainl
Of self-serving relatives, connections, OF de-
pendents, he systematically abstained frem
all exercises Of his influence on their be-
half; and this, thousha warm friend, an al
,ached kinsman, and a most sffectioaate
brother. When he was last in office, lis
brether-who was at the bar, but who was
at once well fitted and inclined for the pub
lie service-was without any public employ
ment. Indeed, Lord Macaulay may be
thought by many 10 have carried this ebne-
cation OF influence TO an excess; for this
brother has in ell his subsequent employ
ments proved himss one Of the most eff
cisnt and popular Of civil servants. l may
also mention-what in Lord Macaulsy' g
lifetims the public never learned from him
or by his wish-that Lord Macaulay was
unwearied and most liberal in his charities,
especially TO all needy literary brethren.-
The amount distributed by him in this way
would, l am satisfied, astonish the public;
but it will never be known. Careful as he
was in his business matters, in his charities
at least his right hand nsver knew what his
left hand was doing.
although when Lerd Macaulay begun his
history he hoped 10 bring 1t down to the
lieits Of living memory, he had long ago
abandoned this hope. LatterIy the utmost
range he gave himself was down TO the &C.
csssion Of the House of Hanover, and this
he had hoped to accomplish in five, if net in
four volumes. DO not think he would ey-
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