XV 



late in life, in a remarkable letter on the prospects and probable 

 destiny of the United States of America. 



Four years after he had been called to the bar, in 1830, Macaulay 

 was returned to Parliament for Calne. His public life had now 

 commenced. That public life it may be convenient briefly to survey 

 in its several phases, as Statesman, Orator, Poet, Essayist, Historian. 

 Such was his remarkable variety and versatility. Very few men in- 

 deed have achieved great things in such different kinds of excellence. 



In Parliament he had too much wisdom, too much self-respect, 

 too much respect for his auditory (an auditory just in the main but 

 severe, sometimes capricious in its justice, and jealous above all even 

 of merit, if obtrusive, importunate, or too self-confident), to thrust 

 himself forward at once into the foremost ranks. Till the Reform 

 Bill he was content to try his arms on rare occasions ; he would not 

 waste his power on desultory skirmishes and on trivial subjects. Upon 

 that momentous question, the Reform of 1832, he first put forth his 

 strength. But of his speecheshereafter. The reputation acquired during 

 these debates secured him a seat in Parliament, independent even 

 on generous and unexacting friendship ; he was returned, December 

 1832, for the wealthy and populous borough of Leeds, enfranchised 

 by the Reform Bill. In the year 1834, a great, and no doubt 

 unexpected change took place in his prospects, it might seem in his 

 destination. In 1832 he had accepted the office of Secretary to the 

 Board of Control. In his official capacity (in 1834) he made a 

 speech on the renewal of the Indian Charter, a speech which may 

 be read in no unfavourable comparison with Burke' s most splendid 

 orations. In breadth and comprehensiveness of view it may compete, 

 in fulness and accuracy surpass, in richness of diction rival the re- 

 nowned orator ; of course, as the occasion was so different, it had 

 nothing of the passion, the terrible picturesqueness, the vituperation ; 

 but it had calm statesmanship, and philosophical, or rather, perhaps, 

 historical thought. This speech of itself might seem to designate 

 him to the Government as a member of the New Council which was 

 to legislate for India. The offer was made. The vast field of India 

 was of itself likely to seize on his imagination ; he might aspire to be 

 the legislator, as Heber the religious missionary, of that wonderful 

 realm. He had many friends, the family of Grant especially (the pre- 

 sent Lord Glenelg was the President of the Board of Control), closely 



