XXV 



of great fame and high pretensions. As to Maryborough, we are 

 content to place Mr. Hallam's even more condemnatory verdict by 

 the side of Macaulay's ; and Macaulay had not reached the brighter 

 part of Marlborough's career ; in the last volume that great man is 

 already shaking off the slough of his baser life. Penn's double and 

 conflicting character (assuredly no rare occurrence in history) must 

 be viewed on all sides. In Pennsylvania, the wise, Christian legis- 

 lator, worthy of all praise, he was, in England, a vain busy man, 

 proud^of his influence with the king, who found it his interest to 

 flatter him, and unable to keep himself out of the miserable intrigues 

 of that miserable court. 



A few sentences on Macaulay's conversational powers, on his 

 private life still fewer. There is a common impression that in society 

 he was engrossing and overpowering. Every one has heard the 

 witty saying of his old friend (no two men could appreciate each 

 other more highly or more justly) about " flashes of silence." But 

 in the quiet intercourse with the single friend, no great talker 

 was more free, easy and genial, than Macaulay. There was the 

 most equable interchange of thought; he listened with as much 

 courtesy, as he spoke with gentle and pleasant persuasiveness. 

 In a larger circle, such as he delighted to meet and assemble around 

 him to the close of his life, a few chosen intimates, some accom- 

 plished ladies, foreigners of the highest distinction, who were 

 eager to make his acquaintance, his manners were frank and open. 

 In conversation in such a circle, a commanding voice, high ani- 

 mal spirits, unrivalled quickness of apprehension, a flow of lan- 

 guage as rapid as inexhaustible, gave him perhaps a larger share, 

 but a share which few were not delighted to yield up to him. His 

 thoughts were like lightning, and clothed themselves at once in 

 words. While other men were thinking what they should say, and how 

 they should say it, Macaulay had said it all, and a great deal more. 

 And the stores which his memory had at instantaneous command ! A 

 wide range of Greek and Latin history and literature, English, French, 

 Italian, Spanish; of German he had not so full a stock, but he knew 

 the best works of the best authors ; Dutch he learned for the purpose 

 of his History. With these came anecdote, touches of character, 

 drollery, fun, excellent stories excellently told. The hearer often 

 longed for Macaulay's memory to carry off what he heard in a single 



