From a commentary on Macaulay

Reginald Reynolds has this in a footnote:

"Macaulay was in the long line of British statesmen who found in the administration of India a cure for their financial difficulties.   "No doubt prudential motives", wrote H. H. Milman, " and those of no ungenerous prudence, influenced his determination.   By a few years of economy, careful but not illiberal, he might make a provision for his future life." (Milman's biographical note to Macaulay's History of England.)  He had formerly earned only £200 a year and went to India on account of his father's failure in business.