lder man, (whose
years were coming to a close in poverty which was the consequence of his
having always lived too much for others,) discussing quietly and gravely
how, and when, the younger was to take a step that in the opinion
of them both would be fatal to his career; and this with so little
consciousness that there was anything heroic in the course which they
were pursuing, that it appears never to have occurred to either of their
that any other line of conduct could possibly be adopted.

Having made up his mind as to what he should do, Macaulay set about it
with as good a grace as is compatible with the most trying position in
which a man, and especially a young man, can find himself. Carefully
avoiding the attitude of one who bargains or threatens, he had given
timely notice in the proper quarter of his intentions and his views. At
length the conjuncture arrived when decisive action could no longer
be postponed. On the 24th of July Mr. Thomas Fowell Buxton moved an
amendment in Committee, limiting the apprenticeship to the shortest
period necessary for establishing the system of free labour. Macaulay,
whose resignation was already in Lord Althorp's hands, made a speech
which produced all the more effect as being inornate, and, at times,
almost awkward. Even if deeper feelings had not restrained the range of
his fancy and the flow of his rhetoric, his judgment would have told
him that it was not the moment for an oratorical display. He began
by entreating the House to extend to him that indulgence which it had
accorded on occasions when he had addressed it "with more confidence
and with less harassed feelings." He then, at some length, exposed the
effects of the Government proposal. "In free countries the master has
a choice of labourers, and the labourer has a choice of masters; but
in slavery it is always necessary to give despotic power to the master.
This bill leaves it to the magistrate to keep peace between master and
slave. Every time that the slave takes twenty minutes to do that which
the master thinks he should do in fifteen, recourse must be had to
the magistrate. Society would day and night be in a constant state
of litigation, and all differences and difficulties must be solved by
judicial interference."

He did not share in Mr. Buxton's apprehension of gross cruelty as a
result of the apprenticeship. "The magistrate would be accountable to
the Colonial Office, and the Colonial Office to the House of