Contemporary inscription of two names on the cover with an address "39 Park St & City" as well as another contemporary inscription on the inside of one of the names on the cover as well as a different address, "58 George Street City"
Secretary at War between 1839 and 1841


Lays of Ancient Rome is a collection of narrative poems, or lays, by Thomas Babington Macaulay composed while he was on government service in India. Four of these recount heroic episodes from early Roman history with strong dramatic and tragic themes, giving the collection its name. Macaulay also included two poems inspired by recent history: "Ivry" (1824) and "The Armada" (1832). The Lays were first published by Longman in 1842, hey became immensely popular, and were a regular subject of recitation, then a common pastime. The Lays were standard reading in British public schools for more than a century. Winston Churchill memorised them while at Harrow School, in order to show that he was capable of mental prodigies, notwithstanding his lackluster academic performance.

Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay PC (25 October 1800 – 28 December 1859) was a British historian and Whig politician. He wrote extensively as an essayist and reviewer; his books on British history were hailed as literary masterpieces. He held political office as Secretary at War between 1839 and 1841 and Paymaster-General between 1846 and 1848. He played a major role in introducing English and western concepts to education in India. He supported the replacement of Persian by English as the official language, the use of English as the medium of instruction in all schools, and the training of English-speaking Indians as teachers. In his thought Macaulay divided the world into civilized nation and barbarism, with Britain representing the high point of civilization. He was wedded to the "Idea of Progress, especially in terms of the liberal freedoms. He opposed radicalism while idealizing historic British culture and traditions.
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