Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-13
RICHMOND WHIG.
THE LAST VOLUME OF MACAULAY.

nAOI" " w hlSs
THE LAST VOLUME OF MACAULAY.
The Vth and last volume of Macaulays History Of Eng
land published in this country by Harper and Brothers,
has been laid table by A Morris of this city. We
have yet bad time for its perusal but notice Of it
from the pen of the literary editor of the Philadelphia
Press gives entertaining foretaste Of the pleasure in
store for all Who have yet turned its pages. When
Lord Macaulay's death was announced some fifteen
months ago the question from every las this reviewer
sAysl was, how far has be completed that Nagunr Op
his History The report from quarters claiming to be
well informed, that he had left only few fragments
in such a confused and dsjonted state that nothing
could be made Of them Mex. came an stirmlton that
considerable progress had been made in the h volume
which would be edited by Lady Trevelyan, Macauays
sister on her return from India in few years But her
husband who Governor of Madras received his re-
call from the British Government which brought her
home much earlier than was expected. She has been
occupied since her return in preparing this last volume
for the press.
Those who remember-and who that has read does
not.-that majestic op Mug chapter of the "HstOry of
England" scarcely forget what promise it held out
81 purpose Macaulay said, ito write the history Of
England from the accession Of King James The Second
doSn to a time which IS within the memory of men still
Gying"-in other words, to the commencement of the
French Revolution. How much Of this has he done p
The fourth volume Published in 1885, closed a. the date
Of December l6g7 with the return ofWiam the Third
TO Engand after the conclusion Of the Treaty of Rys
wick, which paced him firmly upon the throne which
James had lost The new volume closes and fifty closes
with the death Of the two riyals-James Stuart Yer
STILES in September, l7Ol and William of Orange at
Esnsirgton, in March, 1902. The only hiatus is the
short interval between the PrOrosatiOn of Parliament in
April 1900, and the death of James H. in September
I7u But this in fact Is the omission of all relating to
she passing Of the Ac, Of Settlement whose operation
.x,ge years later placed the Ese;or of Hanover upon
the throne Of Great Britain.
Lady Trcyelyan thus introduces the Fifth volume:
II have thought right publish that portion of the
continuation OF the History Of England which was far
ly Transcribed AMI revised by Lord Nacauay. IL is
given to the world precisely it was left; no connect
ING link has been added reference verified no au-
thory sought for or examined Il would, indeed, have
been posi- D. With the help might have obtained from
his friends to have supplied much that Is wanting ou;
ptderrtd and believe the public will prefer, that the
as Thoughts OF the great mind passed away from among
us should be preserved sacred from any touch but s
own Besides the revised manuscript, few pages con-
tari0C the first rough sketch of the last two months OF
Williams rtigu are an that is left. From this have
sith difficulty decphered tie account OF the death
OF William No attempt has been made to jon it on to
che preceding plrt or 10 supply the corrections when
would have been given by the improving haud OF the
author But imperfect as u mus. be-, believe it viii be
received With pleasure aud interest as rs conclusion to
the life OF his great hero.
~ viii only aid nv grearfI thanks for kind advice
and assistance given me by his most dear aud vau'
friends, Dean Mimau aud Nr. ellis
There are many brilliant passages in this volume gilt
tering with golden though, and hing gems ofanguase,
aad esque beauties OF expression The death OF James
H. Is relJed With a grave and touching dignity worthy
OF the solemn occasion The visit Of the Car, Peter the
Great TO England i, again in different style altogeth
cr it hr chat rarcuarty of detail which reminds one
OF o. pre- Raphael School Of printing OF the unhappy
speculation in 1899, of establishing Sco:ch Colony at
Dlrien, the account is also miauc, bu. in different
manner. Tae adventures OF Cap.sa Kidd, who actually
sailed u1ler "A R5y, Commission fom E1saui and was
s.u; over, Ly I7-d lamont prisoner from Ne" York,
forms another striki episode. Loui Maeaul'y, how
ever omitted 10 record Che fact that ia May, 1901, Kidd
vas banged pirate, the banks of the Thames, be
.ow London. As in the former yOlcm's we find nnme-
r5us peapo-trt, of the leains historical characters
whose action or thou ,bt whose honor or vice, helped to
make the history Of Williams reign.
We proceed to give a few extracts, which far better
thai ssrpton, mly convey an idea of This book.
Ata time ehyu our Public Treasury IS - ateuuatcd
by Pm, dercr- t may De uo, amiss give What sacaG-
Law SAYS of one Of this class Who douyisLed in the reign
| of william This was Chali.s Duu,Ombc banker, who
ad been Cashier Of the Excise. Joining in the Par
E,mentarv attack npon Charles Montague, who invent
Cd Ex,h,qu,r Bill. Duucombe was himself detected
"Th ,..-,;,.-s minister obtained both complete
aco4ttt aud signal revenge. Circumstances were DIS
covered which seemed TO indicate that Duncomoe him-
! s,ls WAS not bameless The cew followed; be was
severely cross examined h lost bis head made one un
guard admission after another aud was at length com
n Usd 20 1nss on the floor of the House. that he had
been guilty Of an infamous fraud which, Gut tor h- own
confession u would have been scarcely possible to bring
home 10 him He had been ordered by the Commission
r of the Excise 10 pay ten thousand pounds INTO the
ExchcQuer for the public service. He had in his hands
AZ Cashier more than double that sum in good mled
silver With soue OF this money be bought EScheqaer
Bus which we're then at considerable discounts he paid
/ those bills iu and he pocketed the discount. "hl-h
amounted 10 about hundred pounds. Nor was th.-
an In order 20 make appear that the deprecated pa
pr which he had lgduenty substituted for silver had
been received by bin in payment OF taxes, he had en-
Moved knavish Jew 70 forge endorsements OF names
some real and some imas suary this laious s:ory
Nrung out Of bis own lips, was heard by the opposition
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friends with viu1ctve exVation. was resolved, with
out auy division that he should be seat 10 the roge7
that he should be kept close prisoner there that hI
| should be expelled FROM the House,
Strange to any, though DanComnes fraud and iorger'
we're proven. ni oonascaurs tSO-tbi'ds OF his pror
er,y real aud personal which passed the Commons wal
rel c,ed BY the Lords aud be reired With his lgoer
gains.
In lt9S, Peter the Great visited England. From tn
accOun, of this incident We copy personal deception
Of great mer:,
"Slch was the Prince whom the populace OF LondoI
now crowed 20 behold His stately form, ais intellectual
forehead bis piercing eyes, bis Tar.ar nose ana mouth
his ggc,ous smile bis frown black with all the stormy
rage and hate Of barbarian tyrlrt and, above all,
strange nervous couvuon which sometimes transformed
his couuteuance during few moments, into an o9Icc
on which it was impossible TO look without terror the
immense Quantities Of meat which he devoured the pint
of brandy which he swallowed aud which, II Was saId
ne had carefully disiled With hi hands, she 100
who Abbered al his feet, the monkey which Srnned a
the back OF bis chair we're during some WetAs popuIa
topics Of conversation lie meanwhile shunneqth pup
lie gaze with naughty shyness which iuaned CURIOSITY
He vent to play but as he perceived ths p!'
boxes and galleries weTe staring, not ~ me sage ou'
him. be retired 10 Ulck bench, where be vas sc'en''
| from observation by bis attendants. he was desuou
20 see sitting Of the House Of Lords but as he vas Ge
ermned not to be SEEN he forced TO climb up TO h
leads. and 70 peep through a small window de b.
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