To-morrow Wilberforce is to be buried.  His sons acceded, with great eagerness, to the application made to them by a considerable number of the members of both Houses that the funeral should be public.  We meet to-morrow at twelve at the House of Commons, and we shall attend the coffin into the Abbey.  The Duke of Wellington, Lord Eldon, and Sir R. Peel have put down their names, as well as the Ministers and the Abolitionists.

My father urges me to pay some tribute to Wilberforce in the House of Commons.  If any debate should take place on the third reading of the West India Bill in which I might take part, I should certainly embrace the opportunity of doing honour to his memory.  But I do not expect that such an occasion will arise.  The House seems inclined to pass the Bill without more contest; and my father must be aware that anything like theatrical display,—­ anything like a set funeral oration not springing naturally out of the discussion of a question,—­is extremely distasteful to the House of Commons.

I have been clearing off a great mass of business, which had accumulated at our office while we were conducting our Bill through Parliament.  Today I had the satisfaction of seeing the green boxes, which a week ago were piled up with papers three or four feet high, perfectly empty.  Admire my superhuman industry.  This I will say for myself, that, when I do sit down to work, I work harder and faster than any person that I ever knew.

Ever yours

T. B. M.

The next letter, in terms too clear to require comment, introduces the mention of what proved to be the most important circumstance in Macaulay’s life.

To Hannah M. Macaulay.

London:  August 17, 1833.

My dear Sister,—­I am about to write to you on a subject which to you and Margaret will be one of the most agitating interest; and which, on that account chiefly, is so to me.

By the new India bill it is provided that one of the members of the Supreme Council, which is to govern our Eastern Empire, is to be chosen from among persons who are not servants of the Company.  It is probable, indeed nearly certain, that the situation will be offered to me.

The advantages are very great.  It is a post of the highest dignity and consideration.  The salary is ten thousand pounds a year.  I am assured by persons who know Calcutta intimately, and who have themselves mixed in the highest circles and held the highest offices at that Presidency, that I may live in splendour there for five thousand a year, and may save the rest of the salary with the accruing interest.  I may therefore hope to return to England at only thirty-nine, in the full vigour of life, with a fortune of thirty thousand pounds.  A larger fortune I never desired.