New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
LIFE OF LORD MACAULAY.

The most interesting portions of this volume re-
late TO tho private character of Macaulay which is
exhibited in far more attractive light than that In
which he has been usually represented as pubic
man and scholar. His purely intellectual lie mas,
TO great degree thrown into the shade the hner
qualities of his nature, but his moral and domestic
traits as here illustrated afford an example OF per-
sonai worth no less conspicuous than the
splendor of his mental endOwments. Macau-
lay was born on the 25th of October, 1900,
at Rothley Temple, in LeicestershTe. the house OF
Mr.. Thomas Darlington, whose wife was sister OF
Maeaulay's father, and who had invited her sister
in-law TO a temporary change of residence from the
narrow quarters of the new-marred couple in Lon
don to her own ample and airy domain In the coun-
try Soon after his birth, the family removed to
Chaplain, where the boy passed quiet and most
happy childhood He early displayed such pre-
cocious tenderness of feeling that his fond young
mother took it for sign of approaching death.
From the time that he three years ora ne reau
necessarily. He loved to lie on the rug before the
fire. with his book on the ground, and piece
of bread and butter in his hand. He dld
not care for toys, but was very fond OF
taking his walk when he would amIse ms
mother OF nurse who went with him. by telling long
stories ont of bis own head, or repeating what ne
had read, in language far above his years. Still
famous Chaplain Common was source OF perpetual
delight. He explored its recesses; composed and
almost believed its legends; and clothed its romance
and mystery in terms which still used by the
children of the neighborh00d to this day. No boy
ever crept more unwingly to school, He hated
the reguar lessons of the class they took him away
from more delightful occupations at home. Before
he was eight years old he took it into his head to
write universal history, and covered about quire
of paper with tOerably connected view OF the lead
ing events from the creation to that time. one day
he told his mother that he had been writing
q paper which was to be translated into NAL
abar in order to the people Of Travancore to
Christianity On reading it, she found that it con-
tanned very clear idea of the doctrines of that re-
ligion with some strong arguments for its adoption
He was so charmed with SCOTS Lay of the Last
Minstrel" and "Marmion," both of which he had
almost entirely by heart that he set about writing
poem himself in six cantos which he called the
"Battle of CheviOt." He completed about three of
the cantos of one hundred and twenty lines EACH in
couple of days, when he threw up the task for an
heroic poem after the manner of Virgil. 10
somewhat later period belongs vast pile of blank
verse entitled Finga a poem in Twelve Books"
In1sls. Macaulay entered Trinity College at Cam
bridge, where after three trials he was elected fell
low in 1924. His university life source of I'M
mingled happiness He wanted nothing beyond
what his college had to give He Tejoced III the
session of leisure and liberty in the command OF his
own time, and in the power of passing at choice
from the most perfect solitude to the most agreeable
company OF all his places of soourn during his pill
grimage through the world, Trinity alone had any
share In his affection and loyalty for his home TO
the last he regarded it ancient Greek or me-
deval Italian felt toward his native city. Even in
his latter days. the only dignity he known to
I1ot nxrif l,x hay
allowed him again to look through his window upon
the college grass plots, and to sleep within sound
of the splashing of the fountain. From the
door Of his rooms, along the wall of the
chapel, there runs tagged pathway, aiiordiDg an
agreeable relief from the rough pebbles that sur
round it. This the spot where IN his falling
years he especially loved to renew the fcengsof the
past Among his intimate friends were Derwent
aud Henry Nelson Coleridge, and other young men
to whom he strongly attached by sympathy OF
tastes and the powerful tie of common studies. The
day and the night together too short for this
companionship. So long door was open or
light burning, Macaulay was always in the mood for
conversation. He was never tired of recalling the
time when he supped at midnight on roast turkey
and milk punch, drank tea in floods when older men
were asleep, and made nothing of sitting over the
fire all night in order to friend OH By the early
coach. His intense enjoyment of social life no
doubt hindered him in the for university hon
ors But he utterly neglected the special study of
the place. and never could overcome his repugnance
to mathematics as a compulsory exercise.
Macaulay was called to the bar in 1926. Under
its social aspect he heartily enjoyed his legal career
He did not seriously look to the bar profession
No persuasion could induce him to return to his
chambers in the evening After the first two years
he gave up the pretense of reading law, and
boS,r ha IF hp of
Commons than in all the courts together. Ii was
said by one who knew him well, that throughout
life he never applied himself to any pursuit that
was against the grain." He got no business of I'M
portance either in London or on circuit. Meantime
he was active in fields better snted than the law to
his talents and temperament. He often took part
in public meetings. and evinccd not little aptitude
for political debate. In August 1925, his cele-
brated article Milton was published in the Ed
inburgh Review" The effect on bis reputation was
instantaneous. He at once found himself the
fashion; the family breakfast table
covered with cards Of invitation to dinner
from every quarter of London; and Mr..
Macaulay, senior groaned under the conviction that
henceforth bis son was lost to the law forever At
this period Macaulay is described, in the outward
maa as " short, manly figure, marvelonsy upright,
with bad neckcloth, and hand in his waist
coat pocket" OF regular beauty he had none, but
his face had an expression both Of power and good
humOr He had massive lead, and features of a
rugged cast. While cOnversng at table no one
thought him otherwise than good looking, but when
he rose he was to be short and stout. When lac
met Lady Lyndhurst Cor the first time. she rather
unceremoniOusly SAID to him: " Mr.. MacMay, you
are so different from what expected. / thought
you we're dark and thin, but you are fair, and
really, Mr.. Maeaulay, you are fat" lie dressed