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〃So was Troy；〃 replies his comforter。 〃My wife has eloped；〃 says another；
〃If it has happened to you once； it happened to Menelaus twice。〃 One
poor fellow is in great distress at having discovered that his wife's son is
none of his。 〃It is hard；〃 says he； 〃that I should have had the expense of
bringing up one who is indifferent to me。〃 〃You are a man；〃 returns his
monitor； quoting the famous line of Terence； 〃and nothing that belongs to
any other man ought to be indifferent to you。〃 The physical calamities of
life are not omitted； and there is in particular a disquisition on the
advantages of having the itch； which； if not convincing； is certainly very
amusing。
The invectives on an unfortunate physician； or rather upon the medical
science； have more spirit。 Petrarch was thoroughly in earnest on this
subject。 And the bitterness of his feelings occasionally produces； in the
midst of his classical and scholastic pedantry； a sentence worthy of the
second Philippic。 Swift himself might have envied the chapter on the
causes of the paleness of physicians。
Of his Latin works the Epistles are the most generally known and
admired。 As compositions they are certainly superior to his essays。 But
their excellence is only comparative。 From so large a collection of letters；
written by so eminent a man； during so varied and eventful a life； we
should have expected a complete and spirited view of the literature； the
manners； and the politics of the age。 A travellera poeta scholara
lovera courtiera reclusehe might have perpetuated； in an imperishable
record； the form and pressure of the age and body of the time。 Those
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
who read his correspondence； in the hope of finding such information as
this； will be utterly disappointed。 It contains nothing characteristic of the
period or of the individual。 It is a series； not of letters； but of themes； and；
as it is not generally known； might be very safely employed at public
schools as a magazine of commonplaces。 Whether he write on politics to
the Emperor and the Doge； or send advice and consolation to a private
friend； every line is crowded with examples and quotations； and sounds
big with Anaxagoras and Scipio。 Such was the interest excited by the
character of Petrarch； and such the admiration which was felt for his
epistolary style； that it was with difficulty that his letters reached the place
of their destination。 The poet describes； with pretended regret and real
complacency； the importunity of the curious； who often opened； and
sometimes stole； these favourite compositions。 It is a remarkable fact
that； of all his epistles； the least affected are those which are addressed to
the dead and the unborn。 Nothing can be more absurd than his whim of
composing grave letters of expostulation and commendation to Cicero and
Seneca； yet these strange performances are written in a far more natural
manner than his communications to his living correspondents。 But of all
his Latin works the preference must be given to the Epistle to Posterity； a
simple； noble； and pathetic composition； most honourable both to his taste
and his heart。 If we can make allowance for some of the affected
humility of an author； we shall perhaps think that no literary man has left a
more pleasing memorial of himself。
In conclusion； we may pronounce that the works of Petrarch were
below both his genius and his celebrity； and that the circumstances under
which he wrote were as adverse to the development of his powers as they
were favourable to the extension of his fame。
。。。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE
GREAT LAWSUIT BETWEEN THE
PARISHES OF ST DENNIS AND ST
GEORGE IN THE WATER。
（April 1824）
PART I。
The parish of St Dennis is one of the most pleasant parts of the county
in which it is situated。 It is fertile； well wooded； well watered； and of an
excellent air。 For many generations the manor had been holden in tail…
male by a worshipful family； who have always taken precedence of their
neighbours at the races and the sessions。
In ancient times the affairs of this parish were administered by a
Court…Baron； in which the freeholders were judges； and the rates were
levied by select vestries of the inhabitant householders。 But at length
these good customs fell into disuse。 The Lords of the Manor； indeed； still
held courts for form's sake； but they or their stewards had the whole
management of affairs。 They demanded services； duties； and customs to
which they had no just title。 Nay； they would often bring actions against
their neighbours for their own private advantage； and then send in the bill
to the parish。 No objection was made； during many years； to these
proceedings； so that the rates became heavier and heavier： nor was any
person exempted from these demands； except the footmen and
gamekeepers of the squire and the rector of the parish。 They indeed were
never checked in any excess。 They would come to an honest labourer's
cottage； eat his pancakes； tuck his fowls into their pockets； and cane the
poor man himself。 If he went up to the great house to complain； it was
hard to get the speech of Sir Lewis； and； indeed； his only chance of being
righted was to coax the squire's pretty housekeeper； who could do what
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
she pleased with her master。 If he ventured to intrude upon the Lord of
the Manor without this precaution； he gained nothing by his pains。 Sir
Lewis； indeed； would at first receive him with a civil face； for； to give him
his due； he could be a fine gentleman when he pleased。 〃Good day； my
friend；〃 he would say； 〃what situation have y