Harris against Seringapatam. The leading Commissioner was Colonel
Wellesley, and to the end of General Macaulay's life the great
Duke corresponded with him on terms of intimacy, and (so the
family flattered themselves) even of friendship. Soon after the
commencement of the century Colin Macaulay was appointed Resident
at the important native state of Travancore. While on this
employment he happened to light upon a valuable collection of
books, and rapidly made himself master of the principal European
languages, which he spoke and wrote with a facility surprising in
one who had acquired them within a few leagues of Cape Comorin.

There was another son of John Macaulay, who in force and
elevation of character stood out among his brothers, and who was
destined to make for himself no ordinary career. The path which
Zachary Macaulay chose to tread did not lead to wealth, or
worldly success, or indeed to much worldly happiness. Born in
1768, he was sent out at the age of sixteen by a Scotch house of
business as bookkeeper to an estate in Jamaica, of which he soon
rose to be sole manager. His position brought him into the
closest possible contact with negro slavery. His mind was not
prepossessed against the system of society which he found in the
West Indies. His personal interests spoke strongly in its favour,
while his father, whom he justly respected, could see nothing to
condemn in an institution recognised by Scripture. Indeed, the
religious world still allowed the maintenance of slavery to
continue an open question. John Newton, the real founder of that
school in the Church of England of which in after years Zachary
Macaulay was a devoted member, contrived to reconcile the
business of a slave trader with the duties of a Christian, and to
the end of his days gave scandal to some of his disciples, (who