misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写)-第1章
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
THE
MISCELLANEOUS
WRITINGS AND
SPEECHES
VOLUME I。
LORD MACAULAY
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
PREFACE。
Lord Macaulay always looked forward to a publication of his
miscellaneous works； either by himself or by those who should represent
him after his death。 And latterly he expressly reserved； whenever the
arrangements as to copyright made it necessary； the right of such
publication。
The collection which is now published comprehends some of the
earliest and some of the latest works which he composed。 He was born
on 25th October； 1800； commenced residence at Trinity College；
Cambridge； in October； 1818； was elected Craven University Scholar in
1821； graduated as B。A。 in 1822； was elected fellow of the college in
October； 1824； was called to the bar in February； 1826； when he joined the
Northern Circuit； and was elected member for Calne in 1830。 After this
last event； he did not long continue to practise at the bar。 He went to
India in 1834； whence he returned in June； 1838。 He was elected
member for Edinburgh； in 1839； and lost this seat in July； 1847； and this
（though he was afterwards again elected for that city in July； 1852； without
being a candidate） may be considered as the last instance of his taking an
active part in the contests of public life。 These few dates are mentioned
for the purpose of enabling the reader to assign the articles； now and
previously published； to the principal periods into which the author's life
may be divided。
The admirers of his later works will probably be interested by
watching the gradual formation of his style； and will notice in his earlier
productions； vigorous and clear as their language always was； the
occurrence of faults against which he afterwards most anxiously guarded
himself。 A much greater interest will undoubtedly be felt in tracing the
date and development of his opinions。
The articles published in Knight's Quarterly Magazine were composed
during the author's residence at college； as B。A。 It may be remarked that
the first two of these exhibit the earnestness with which he already
endeavoured to represent to himself and to others the scenes and persons
of past times as in actual existence。 Of the Dialogue between Milton and
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
Cowley he spoke； many years after its publication； as that one of his works
which he remembered with most satisfaction。 The article on Mitford's
Greece he did not himself value so highly as others thought it deserved。
This article； at any rate； contains the first distinct enunciation of his views；
as to the office of an historian； views afterwards more fully set forth in his
Essay； upon History； in the Edinburgh Review。 From the protest； in the
last mentioned essay； against the conventional notions respecting the
majesty of history might perhaps have been anticipated something like the
third chapter of the History of England。 It may be amusing to notice that
in the article on Mitford； appears the first sketch of the New Zealander；
afterwards filled up in a passage in the review of Mrs Austin's translation
of Ranke； a passage which at one time was the subject of allusion； two or
three times a week； in speeches and leading articles。 In this； too； appear；
perhaps for the first time； the author's views on the representative system。
These he retained to the very last； they are brought forward repeatedly in
the articles published in this collection and elsewhere； and in his speeches
in parliament； and they coincide with the opinions expressed in the letter
to an American correspondent； which was so often cited in the late debate
on the Reform Bill。
Some explanation appears to be necessary as to the publication of the
three articles 〃Mill on Government；〃 〃Westminster Reviewer's Defence of
Mill〃 and 〃Utilitarian Theory of Government。〃
In 1828 Mr James Mill； the author of the History of British India；
reprinted some essays which he had contributed to the Supplement to the
Encyclopaedia Britannica； and among these was an Essay on Government。
The method of inquiry and reasoning adopted in this essay appeared to
Macaulay to be essentially wrong。 He entertained a very strong
conviction that the only sound foundation for a theory of Government
must be laid in careful and copious historical induction； and he believed
that Mr Mill's work rested upon a vicious reasoning a priori。 Upon this
point he felt the more earnestly； owing to his own passion for historical
research； and to his devout admiration of Bacon； whose works he was at
that time studying with intense attention。 There can； however； be little
doubt that he was also provoked by the pretensions of some members of a
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
sect which then commonly went by the name of Benthamites； or
Utilitarians。 This sect included many of his contemporaries； who had
quitted Cambridge at about the same time with him。 It had succeeded； in
some measure； to the sect of the Byronians； whom he has described in the
review of Moore's Life of Lord Byron； who discarded their neckcloths；
and fixed little models of skulls on the sand…glasses by which they
regulated the boiling of their eggs for breakfast。 The members of these
sects； and of many others that have succeeded； have probably long ago
learned to smile at the temporary humours。 But Macaulay； himself a
sincere admirer of Bentham； was irritated by what he considered the
unwarranted tone assumed by several of the class of Utilitarians。 〃We
apprehend；〃 he said； 〃that many of them are persons who； having read
little or nothing； are delighted to be rescued from the sense of their own
inferiority by some teacher who assures them that the studies which they
have neglected are of no value； puts five or six phrases into their mouths；
lends them an odd number of the Westminster Review； and in a month
transforms them into philosophers；〃 and he spoke of them as 〃smatterers；
whose attainments just suffice to elevate them from the insignificance of
dunces to the dignity of bores； and to spread dismay among their pious
aunts and grand mothers。〃 The sect； of course； like other sects；
comprehended some pretenders； and these the most arrogant and intolerant
among its members。 He； however； went so far as to apply the following
language to the majority：〃As to the greater part of the sect； it is； we
apprehend； of little consequence what they study or under whom。 It
would be more amusing； to be sure； and more reputable； if they would take
up the old republican cant and declaim about Brutus and Timoleon； the
duty of killing tyrants and the blessedness of dying for liberty。 But； on
the whole； they might have chosen worse。 They may as well be
Utilitarians as jockeys or dandies。 And； though quibbling about self…
interest and motives； and objects of desire； and the greatest happiness of
the greatest number； is but a poor employment for a grown man； it
certainly hurts the health less than hard drinking and the fortune less than
high play； it is not much more laughable than phrenology； and is
immeasurably more humane than cock…fighting。〃
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
Macaulay inserted in the Edinburgh Review of March； 1829； an article
upon Mr Mill's Essay。 He attacked the method with much vehemence；
and； to the end of his life； he never saw any ground for believing that in
this he had gone too far。 But before long he felt that he had not spoken of
the author of the Essay with the respect due to so eminent a man。 In
1833； he described Mr mill； during the debate on the India Bill of that year；
as a 〃gentleman extremely well acquainted with the affairs of our Eastern
Empire； a most valuable servant of the Company； and the author of a
history of India； which； though certainly not free from faults； is； I think； on
the whole； the greatest historical work which has appeared in our language
since that of Gibbon。〃
Almost immediately upon the appearance of the article in the
Edinburgh Review； an answer was published in the Westminster Review。
It was untruly attributed； in the newspapers of the day； to Mr Bentham
himself。 Macaulay's answer to this appeared in the Edinburgh Review；
June； 1829。 He wrote the answer under the belief that he was answering
Mr Bentham； and was undeceived in time only to add the postscript。 The
author of the article in the Westminster Review had not perceived that the
question raised was not as to the truth or falsehood of the result at which
Mr Mill had arrived； but as to the soundness or unsoundness of the method
which he pursued； a misunderstanding at which Macaulay； while he
supposed the article to be the work of Mr Bentham； expressed much
surprise。 The controversy soon became principally a dispute as to the
theory wh
