Critical and Historical Essays, Volume III (of 3)

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Gutenberg ID

28046

Title

Critical and Historical Essays, Volume III (of 3)

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Lord Macaulay's third volume of critical and historical essays offers incisive analyses of major historical figures and movements. Featuring essays on Ranke's history of the Popes, Warren Hastings, Frederic the Great, and the Girondist Barère, this collection blends rigorous scholarship with Macaulay's characteristic wit, moral judgment, and vivid narrative style.

Summary up to 500 words

In Volume III of *Critical and Historical Essays*, Lord Macaulay presents a collection of distinguished examinations into pivotal moments of European and colonial history. The volume opens with a review of Professor Ranke's *History of the Popes*, which Macaulay praises as an excellent translation that illuminates the enduring resilience of the Catholic Church. Macaulay argues that unlike the natural sciences, which follow a progressive law of discovery, theology does not advance in the same manner. He contends that ancient theological questions remain as perplexing to modern philosophers as they were to ancients, noting that the evidence for design in the universe and the nature of the soul after death have not changed significantly over three thousand years. Consequently, he suggests that the doctrine of transubstantiation, defended by figures like Sir Thomas More, may still stand against modern intellectual challenges. The text then shifts to a scathing critique of Jean-Baptiste Barère during the French Revolution. Macaulay depicts Barère as a base, fickle opportunist who lacked principle, shifting allegiance from the Girondists to the Jacobins solely to save his own skin. He details Barère's descent into infamy, including his role in the condemnation of Girondist deputies and his enthusiastic participation in the execution of Marie Antoinette. Macaulay contrasts Barère's cowardly opportunism with the more consistent, albeit tyrannical, nature of Robespierre. While the Jacobin leaders pardoned Barère for his utility, they forced him to take a prominent part in murdering his former friends, a terrible sacrament that sealed his infamy. Macaulay describes Barère's transformation from a hesitant accuser to a virulent advocate for bloodshed, noting that he even dined with Robespierre after the Queen's execution. Throughout the collection, Macaulay employs sharp satire and historical irony to dissect the nature of political power and the corruption of virtue. He explores the tragic consequences of revolutionary fervor, illustrating how the decay of ancient eloquence and institutions gave way to new, often savage, fashions of speech and superstition. By examining the character of Barère and the persistence of the Papacy, Macaulay offers a profound reflection on the limits of human reason in theology and the moral complexities of political survival in times of upheaval.

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Categories

• History
• Essays