valuable, he was appointed one of the Commissioners of the Board of
Control. This Board represented the King in the Government's relations
with the East India Company. Macaulay, being the strongest man on the
Board, was naturally chosen its secretary, just as the best man in a jury
is chosen foreman. Here was a man who was not content to be a mere
figurehead in office, trusting to paid clerks and underlings to secure him
information and do the work--not he. Macaulay set himself the task of
thoroughly acquainting himself with Indian affairs. He read every book of
importance bearing on the subject; and studied the record and history of
every man of consequence who was or had been connected with India. His
intensely practical, businesslike mind sifted every detail, intuitively
separating the relevant from the inconsequential, so that within a few
months older heads were going to him for information, just as in a store
or shop there is always one man who knows where things are, and in times
of doubt he is the man who is sought out. To the many it is so much easier
to ask some one else than to find out for themselves; and it also shifts
the responsibility, and gives one a chance, if necessary, to prove a
halibi--goodness gracious!

One feature of the Reform Bill provided that one of the members of the
Supreme Council of India should be chosen from among persons not connected
in any way with the East India Company.

This membership of the Supreme Council was a most important office, and
carried with it the modest salary of ten thousand pounds a year--fifty
thousand dollars--double what the President of the United States then
received.

Macaulay had had no hand in creating this office, and indeed, at the time
the Reform Bill was being gotten into shape, his interest in Indian