ABSTRACT
The peculiarity of character gives to Thomas Babington Macaulay's writing one of its most curious characteristics. He throws over matters which are in their nature dry and dull,—transactions—budgets—bills,—the charm of fancy which a poetical mind employs to enhance and set forth the charm of what is beautiful. Only a buoyant fancy and an impassive temperament could produce a book so combining weight with levity. Something similar may be remarked of the writings of a still greater man—of Edmund Burke. The charm of exquisite narration has, in a great degree, in Mr. Macaulay's case, supplied the deficiency; but it may be perhaps remarked, that some trace of the same phenomenon has occurred again, from similar causes, and that his popularity, though great among both sexes, is in some sense more masculine than feminine. The absence of this charm of narration, to which accomplished women are, it would seem, peculiarly sensitive, is very characteristic of Burke.
