I, or any one else, would have had him. If a faithful picture of
MACAULAY could not have been produced without injury to his
memory, I should have left the task of drawing that picture to
others; but, having once undertaken the work, I had no choice but
to ask myself, with regard to each feature of the portrait, not
whether it was attractive, but whether it was characteristic. We
who had the best opportunity of knowing him have always been
convinced that his character would stand the test of an exact,
and even a minute, delineation; and we humbly believe that our
confidence was not misplaced, and that the reading world has now
extended to the man the approbation which it has long conceded to
his hooks.

G. O. T.

December 1876.




PREFACE

TO

THE FIRST EDITION,

THIS work has been undertaken principally from a conviction that
it is the performance of a duty which, to the best of my ability,
it is incumbent on me to fulfil. Though even on this ground I
cannot appeal to the forbearance of my readers, I may venture to