had 'Clarissa' with me: and,
as soon as they began to read, the whole station was in a passion of
excitement about Miss Harlowe and her misfortunes, and her scoundrelly
Lovelace! The Governor's wife seized the book, and the Secretary waited
for it, and the Chief Justice could not read it for tears!" He acted the
whole scene: he paced up and down the "Athenaeum" library: I dare say he
could have spoken pages of the book--of that book, and of what countless
piles of others!

In this little paper let us keep to the text of nil nisi bonum. One
paper I have read regarding Lord Macaulay says "he had no heart." Why,
a man's books may not always speak the truth, but they speak his mind in
spite of himself: and it seems to me this man's heart is beating through
every page he penned. He is always in a storm of revolt and indignation
against wrong, craft, tyranny. How he cheers heroic resistance; how
he backs and applauds freedom struggling for its own; how he hates
scoundrels, ever so victorious and successful; how he recognizes genius,
though selfish villains possess it! The critic who says Macaulay had no
heart, might say that Johnson had none: and two men more generous, and
more loving, and more hating, and more partial, and more noble, do not
live in our history. Those who knew Lord Macaulay knew how admirably
tender and generous,* and affectionate he was. It was not his business
to bring his family before the theatre footlights, and call for bouquets
from the gallery as he wept over them.

* Since the above was written, I have been informed that it
has been found, on examining Lord Macaulay's papers, that he
was in the habit of giving away MORE THAN A FOURTH PART of
his annual income.

If any young man of letters reads this little sermon--and to him,
indeed, it is addressed--I would say to him, "Bear Scott's words in your
mind, and 'be good, my dear.'" Here are two literary men gone to their
account, and, laus Deo, as far as we know, it is fair, and open, and
clean. Here is no need of apologies for shortcomings, or explanations of
vices which would have been virtues but for unavoidable &c. Here are two
examples of men most differently gifted: each pursuing his calling; each
speaking his truth as God bade him; each honest in his life; just and
irreproachable in his dealings; dear to his friends; honored by his
country; beloved at his fireside. It has been the fortunate lot of both
to give incalculable