Item 41 - Letter from Macvey Napier to George Henry Ellis

2 folded sheets.

Richmond. - Is willing to abide by Sir Charles Trevelyan's wish and to pledge not to print or circulate any of the letters [from Lord Macaulay to his father] 'till the Life of Lord Macaulay is in the hands of the public'. Supposes that there will be nothing in the 'Life' affecting his father 'which would be likely to call from public notice' from him; however, expects the work 'will be the subject of criticism in all newspapers and periodicals, and remarks may be made on my Father's relations with Lord Macaulay, or on his conduct as editor of the Edinburgh Review, which it might be absolutely necessary to answer'. Macaulay's letters might afford 'the only means of vindication'. Feels it is necessary for him to reserve the power to 'use them according to circumstances', which Trevelyan's terms would not allow.

If this is insisted on he will feel hard done by, since he made available to Trevelyan 'Without imposing a single restriction... a collection of letters without which he has himself said the Life of Lord Macaulay would be imperfect and by which his biographer will benefit not only in a literary but also in a pecuniary way'.