Sir James Mackintosh writes from the Library of the House of Commons: "Macaulay and Stanley have made two of the finest speeches ever spoken in Parliament;" and a little further on he classes together the two young orators as "the chiefs of the next, or rather of this, generation." To gain and keep the position that Mackintosh assigned him Macaulay possessed the power, and in early days did not lack the will.

He was prominent on the Parliamentary stage, and active behind the scenes;--the soul of every honourable project which might promote the triumph of his principles, and the ascendency of his party.

One among many passages in his correspondence may be quoted without a very serious breach of ancient and time-worn confidences.

On the 17th of September, 1831, he writes to his sister Hannah: "I have been very busy since I wrote last, moving heaven and earth to render it certain that, if our ministers are so foolish as to resign in the event of a defeat in the Lords, the Commons may be firm and united; and I think that I have arranged a plan which will secure a bold and instant declaration on our part, if necessary.

Lord Ebrington is the man whom I have in my eye as our leader.