The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-27

From the London Telegraph.

Death of Lord Macaulay.
| From the London Telegraph.
1t is with feelings of deep regret that we
announce the death of the eminent essayist
and historian, Lord Macaulay, which melan-
choly event took place at eight O'Clock on
Wednesday evening, at the residence of the
noble lord, Holly lodge, Gampdenhill, Ken
sington. For many years past Lord Ma
caulay's health had been good; but in 1852
he had serious illness, consequent on dis.
ease of the heart, the circulation being ex-
tremely languid. The attack was subdued,
and his lordship's health continued to be
tolerably good up to a fortnight ago,
when he had second attack, from which,
however, he rallied to such an extent that
his medical men ceased to apprehend danger.
He continued to improve, and, on Friday
last, when seen by friend, be looked much
as usual. A relapse seems to have subse-
quently taken place, and his lordship expir-
ed suddenly. as we have said, on Wednesday
evening. Lord Macaulay never was mar
ried, and the title consequently dies with
him.
Lord Macaulay was born at Rothley Tem-
pie, Lecestershire, in the year 1900, and
was consequently only SO years of age. But
though be died comparatively young, his
life has been one of constant acquisition
and unfagging industry. The son Of Zach.
ary Macaulay-a man worthy to be named
along with Clarkson, Wilberforce and Ste-
phens, for his exertions and sacrifices to
promote the abolition of the slave trade
Mr.. Macaulay had, doubtless, an excellent
early training. He entered Trinity college,
Cambridge, in 1919, and was soon distin
guished in the university as youth of sim
gularly rare and varied attainments, as we'll
as remarkable mental powers. He carried
off prize after prize, and having, on leaving
the university, chosen the bar as his pro-
fessiOn, he selected the northern circuit as
the sphere Of his legal career.
About this time his celebrated article on
"Milton" appeared in the Edinburg Reuie,v
The publication Of that article was literary
event, and it was soon felt that new umin-
ary. was rising in the literary hemisphere.
Subsequent articles Of equal ability led to
Mr.. Macaulay's being made a bankruptcy
commissioner, and to his introduction to
parliament under the auspices of the mar
quis of Landsdowne, as member for Calne,
and to Office as secretary of the board of
control. This was in 1888, and the part
played by him during the exciting parlia-
mentary discussions on reform led to his
being named, along with the late Mr.. Mar
shall, jr., as liberal candidate for Leeds,
in the event of its being enfranchised. By
the free choice Of the inhabitants of so in.
ffuential borough as Leeds, with which he
had no local or personal ties, Mr. Macaulay's
political position was now made. 10 the
surprise, however, of his constituents, the
right honorable gentleman, before two years
had passed, accepted an appointment in the
supreme council of India. At the end of
two years and half Mr.. Macaulay returned
to England, having completed his proposed
penal code, which, however, has never yet
become law. To bis residence in India we
owe his essays on Cord Give and Warren
Hastings, two of his most brilliant produc-
tions. Mr.. Macaulay's subsequent political
career in England was somewhat less active
than that prdvidns TO his departure for the
East but be still Contributed member
of parliament for Edihburg, secretary at
war; and pay master Of. the forces Ito the
stores, ,os our. parliamentary. eloquenca >
The loss of his election for Edinburgh in
1847, owing to his views on the Maynooth
| question, induced him to retire from public
life and to devote his time to literary pur-
suits. Under ordinary circumstances, his
rejection would have been the subject of
lasting regret. But while his admirers were
deploring the fact of man known to fame
as poet, essayist, and orator, being thus
| displaced by a constituency so important
and intelligent, they derived no small conso-
lation from the rumor that he was to devote
his leisure to the grand project of writing
history of England. His peculiar qualif-
cations for the task, his parliamentary
career, his official knowledge, his social ex-
perience, his historical information, his
familiarity with ancient literature, and the
art he was known to possess of writing
what people like to read, as well as leading
skillfully with the less attractive parts of
subject, raised high expectations and when,
in 1848, an installment of two volumes
appeared, with the title of " The History of
England from the accession of James the
Second" they met with an enthusiastic re
ceptiOn, and ELECTED universal praise. In
the majestic sentences with which he intro.
duced his work to the public, Mr.. Macaulay
stated that he would cheerfully bear the
reproach of having descended below what
is called the dignity of history if be could
succeed in placing before the English of the
nineteenth century a true picture OF the life
of their ancestors. He made the sacrifice.
and accomplished his object. By judi
cious selection and arrangement of materials:
by retaining only what was interesting of
itself, or could be rendered so by the artifice
of style; and by adorning his pages with
biografcal sketches of the principal actors
in the scene he treated Of, Mr.. Macaulay
succeeded in producing a book which few
can peruse without qualification.