ssible.

Ever yours truly

T. B. MACAULAY.

It cannot be denied that there was some ground for the imputation of
systematic puffing which Macaulay urges with a freedom that a modern
editor would hardly permit to the most valued contributor. Brougham had
made a speech on Slavery in the House of Commons; but time was wanting
to get the Corrected Report published soon enough for him to obtain his
tribute of praise in the body of the Review. The unhappy Mr. Napier was
actually reduced to append a notice to the July number regretting that
"this powerful speech, which, as we are well informed, produced an
impression on those who heard it not likely to be forgotten, or to
remain barren of effects, should have reached us at a moment when it was
no longer possible for us to notice its contents at any length.... On
the eve of a general election to the first Parliament of a new reign, we
could have wished to be able to contribute our aid towards the diffusion
of the facts and arguments here so strikingly and commandingly stated
and enforced, among those who are about to exercise the elective
franchise.... We trust that means will be taken to give the widest
possible circulation to the Corrected Report. Unfortunately, we can,
at present, do nothing more than lay before our readers its glowing
peroration--so worthy of this great orator, this unwearied friend of
liberty and humanity."

To Macvey Napier, Esq.

Paris: September 16, 1830.

My dear Sir,--I have just received your letter, and I cannot deny that
I am much vexed at what has happened. It is not very agreeable to find
that I have thrown away the labour, the not unsuccessful labour as I
thought, of a month; particularly as I have not many months of perfect
leisure. This would not have happened if Brougham had notified his
intentions to you earlier, as he ought in courtesy to you, and to
everybody connected with the Review, to have done. He must have known
that this French question was one on which many people would be desirous
to write.

I ought to tell you that I had scarcely reached Paris when I received
a letter containing a very urgent application from a very respectable
quarter. I was desired to write a sketch, in one volume, of the late
Revolution here. Now, I really hesitated whether I should not make
my excuses to you, and accept this proposal,--not on account of the
pecuniary terms, for about these I have never much troubled myself--but
because I should have