Some of his antipathies have stamped themselves indelibly upon literary history.

He attributed to the Right Honourable John Wilson Croker, Secretary to the Admiralty during the twenty years preceding 1830, qualities which excited his disapprobation beyond control, and possibly beyond measure.

His judgment has been confirmed by the public voice, which identifies Croker with the character of Rigby in Mr.Disraeli's Coningsby.
Macaulay was the more formidable as an opponent because he could be angry without losing his command of the situation.

His first onset was terrific; but in the fiercest excitement of the melee he knew when to call a halt.

A certain member of Parliament named Michael Thomas Sadler had fallen foul of Malthus, and very foul indeed of Macaulay, who in two short and telling articles took revenge enough for both.