Perhaps after all I am ascribing to system what is mere accident.  Be assured, at all events, that what I have said is said in perfect good humour, and indicates no mutinous disposition.

The Jews are about to petition Parliament for relief from the absurd restrictions which lie on them,—­the last relique of the old system of intolerance.  I have been applied to by some of them in the name of the managers of the scheme to write for them in the Edinburgh Review.  I would gladly further a cause so good, and you, I think, could have no objection.

Ever yours truly

T. B. Macaulay.

Bowood:  February 20, 1830.

My dear Father,—­I am here in a very nice room, with perfect liberty, and a splendid library at my command.  It seems to be thought desirable that I should stay in the neighbourhood, and pay my compliments to my future constituents every other day.

The house is splendid and elegant, yet more remarkable for comfort than for either elegance or splendour.  I never saw any great place so thoroughly desirable for a residence.  Lord Kerry tells me that his uncle left everything in ruin,—­trees cut down, and rooms unfurnished,—­and sold the library, which was extremely fine.  Every book and picture in Bowood has been bought by the present Lord, and certainly the collection does him great honour.

I am glad that I stayed here.  A burgess of some influence, who, at the last election, attempted to get up an opposition to the Lansdowne interest, has just arrived.  I called on him this morning, and, though he was a little ungracious at first, succeeded in obtaining his promise.  Without him, indeed, my return would have been secure; but both from motives of interest and from a sense of gratitude I think it best to leave nothing undone which may tend to keep Lord Lansdowne’s influence here unimpaired against future elections.

Lord Kerry seems to me to be going on well.  He has been in very good condition, he says, this week; and hopes to be at the election, and at the subsequent dinner.  I do not know when I have taken so much to so young a man.  In general my intimacies have been with my seniors; but Lord Kerry is really quite a favourite of mine,—­kind, lively, intelligent, modest, with the gentle manners which indicate a long intimacy with the best society, and yet without the least affectation.  We have oceans of beer, and mountains of potatoes, for dinner.  Indeed, Lady Lansdowne drank beer most heartily on the only day which she passed with us, and, when I told her laughing that she set me at ease on a point which had given me much trouble, she said that she would never suffer any dandy novelist to rob her of her beer or her cheese.

The question between law and politics is a momentous one.  As far as I am myself concerned, I should not hesitate; but the interest of my family is also to be considered.  We shall see, however, before long what my chance of success as a public man may prove to be.  At present it would clearly be wrong in me to show any disposition to quit my profession.