AN ORIGINAL LETTER OF MACAULAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12303, 22 June 1903, Page 5

AN ORIGINAL LETTER OF MACAULAY.

HIS TREATMENT OF THE PURITANS. [by. TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Saturday. Tub Rev. William Thomson, of Scots Church, Wellington, writing to the Times, states that while in Hawera lately he saw an original letter of Cord Macaulay, which was addressed to the Rev. John Campbell, who was minister of the Tabernacle, fields, London, and afterwards edi'itr of the British Banner. Dr. Campbell severely criticised Mucaulay's treatment of the Puritans, and hence his reply. The letter belongs to Air. Burton, solicitor, of Hawera, who is Dr. Campbell's grandson, and is interesting to students of Macaulay. In lite letter, which is published in the Times, Macaulay claims that he is impartial in his treatment of all the sicts. He continues "As to the bear baiting, 1 believe that th« sting of my word* lies in their truth. It is obvious that bear baiting and (similar sports may be prohibited on two perfectly different gtmmds One ground, in my opinion a good one, is that such sports are cruel. The other is in my opinion a bad one; it is that such sports are idle dissipations, unworthy of an immortal being.. Now which of these' two grounds did the Puritans •take V My belief is that they took the latter ground and that then realms against bear baiting were exactly the same wlih their reasons against archery, meetings, duices, Christmas games, bowls, and other amusements which I think innocent. If Jam wrong here, refute me; if not, you sure!;.' must admit that the distinction is important, and ought to be noted." The letter concludes "When the clamour which is now so loud has gone down, it will, I am convinced, be admitted cm all sides that I have been the flatterer of no family, of no patty, of no sect, and that I have spoken pleasing and impleasing truths all round with strict impartiality."