gave him birth, was son of Robert Pitt, esq. of Boconnock in Cornwall. This family was originally of Dorsetshire, where it had long been respectably estab

lished;

but no ancestors could reflect additional lustre on a man so truly great.

Eton, which has produced so many illustrious names, had the honour of his classical education. Thence he was removed to Trinity college, Oxford, which may well be proud of such a pupil :

-Nor thou refuse

This humble present of no partial muse,

From that calm bower which nursed thy thoughtful youth
In the pure precepts of Athenian truth;

When first the form of British Liberty
Beam'd in full radiance on thy musing eye.

WHARTON.

Mr. Pitt has left some testimonies of his homage to the muses: and that he possessed a poetic imagination, the fervid pathos and imagery of his eloquence will place beyond a doubt. General literature, however, absorbed his principal attention: and by a singular connexion of causes and effects, what seemed the greatest misfortune of his life, very probably led to its most exalted splendour. Scarcely had he reached the sixteenth year of his age, when he became a martyr to an hereditary gout. A delicacy of constitution, and the restraints which it imposes, are generally propitious to study and reflection. Pitt had neither taste nor strength of frame to engage deep in dissipation; and his genius soared above the vulgar alJurements of vicious pleasure. He devoted the leisure and confinement of indisposition to the acquirement of a vast fund of premature and useful knowledge; which in due time be brought forward, at once to astonish and confound.

After receiving a liberal education, he procured a commission as cornet in a regiment of horse: but the senate, not the camp, was the scene where he was best

qualified to shine.

His friends, among whom Sarah duchess of Marlborough was the most zealous, forming a due estimate of his talents, accordingly brought him into parliament for the borough of Old Sarum, in the year 1735; and he early distinguished himself in the ranks of opposition.

The minister, sir Robert Walpole, was alarmed at the very sound of his voice, and the lightning of his eye; but when he witnessed the impetuous torrent of his eloquence, he is said to have told his friends that he should be glad "to muzzle that terrible cornet of horse at any rate." Pitt, however, had chosen his conduct, and knew his powers. Being enamoured of virtue and public spirit, no military prospects, nor ministerial honours, could divert him from the cause which he deemed honourable; and when he lost his commission in consequence of his spirited behavior in parliament, Lyttelton paid him the following elegant compliment, which at the same time conveys a bitter ironical sarcasm on the minister:

Long had thy virtue mark'd thee out for fame,
Far, far superior to a cornet's name.

This generous Walpole saw and griev'd to find
So mean a post disgrace that noble mind;
The servile standard from thy free-born hand
He took, and bade thee lead the patriot band.

To particularize every instance of the nervous dazzling eloquence of Pitt, even during his noviciate, would be to write the parliamentary history of several years. In the debate on the bill for registering seamen, which Mr. Pitt represented as arbitrary and unjust, Mr. Horatio Walpole, having sarcastically remarked on his youth and animated gesture, met with a cutting retort, which if transcribed at full length would afford a specimen of that glowing and impassioned language which was characteristic of the speaker: "I will not undertake," said he, "to determine whether youth can justly be imputed to any man as a

reproach; but I will affirm that the wretch, who, after having seen the consequence of repeated errors, continues still to blunder, and whose age has only added obstinacy to stupidity, is surely the object either of abhorrence or contempt, and deserves not that his gray hairs should secure him from insult. Much more is he to be abhorred, who, as he has advanced in age, has receded from virtue, and becomes more wicked with less temptation; who prostitutes himself for money which he cannot enjoy, and spends the remainder of his life in the ruin of his country."

Frederic prince of Wales, who had long been the rallying point of opposition; and who, consistently with his noble sentiments, took men of genius, talents, and honesty, under his protection; appointed Mr. Pitt a groom of the bedchamber, which office he held till the year 1745 and for his firm adherence to the patriotic side, he experienced about the same time an exalted proof, though not the only one, of the estimation in which he was held by the public. The duchess of Marlborough, who to a masculine understanding united a zeal to be distinguished asa politician, having, from his first enterance into life, supported Mr. Pitt by her patronage, now left him a very honourable testimony of her regard, in a legacy of ten thousand pounds; expressly, as she declared, "for defending the laws of his country, and warding off its ruin."

But abilities such as his could not always remain in useless opposition. He was formed to exalt the honour of his country, and to direct its councils: and when its affairs were conducted in a manner which enabled him to participate in its administration without any dereliction of principle, in 1746 he accepted the office of joint trea surer of Ireland; and the same year became treasurer and paymaster of the army, and was sworn a privy counsellor. But though now engaged to the court by interest, he did not sacrifice the independence of his vote to any partial

views. He knew the unpopularity attached to continental connexions; his better sense saw their destructive tendency; his patriotism led him to oppose them: and in consequence he made a temporary resignation of all his places.

He did not, however, remain long unemployed. In December, 1756, he was appointed secretary of state for the southern department, with unbounded public applause: but in a short time he discerned that he could not be acceptable to his sovereign without deserting the interests of the people; and by a man who placed his glory in pa triotic upright conduct, the choice was easily made. The love and confidence of the nation had contributed to make him what he was: he foresaw that these might be alienated by indifference, and might be lost by presumption; but so well was he fixed in the public opinion, that he knew it would accompany him while he studied by honourable means to retain it. In a short time after his resignation, his hopes were realized; the voice of the people was so loudly expressed in his favour, and their affection seemed so strongly rivetted to his interest, that it was deemed politic to recall him to the cabinet, with a large addition of power. In June 1757 he was again appointed secretary of state, with the full authority of prime minister. His colleagues were either men of his own principles, or wholly subservient to his more enlarged views.

The preceding ministry had been both unfortunate and unpopular. The war in which the nation had been engaged, was carried on without spirit and without success. But no sooner was Mr. Pitt placed at the helm, than his active genius pervaded every department of the state; his spirit animated the whole nation. His plans were conceived with ability, and executed with a vigour and promptitude that astonished both friends and enemies. The fortune of the war was changed, and victory attended the arms of Britain wherever her military operations were directed. Europe, Asia, and America, felt and acknow

ledged the influence of this able minister. The French were defeated in every quarter of the globe; their navy, their commerce, and their finances, in the period of a very few years, were brought to the verge of ruin. "Meanwhile," to adopt the words of an elegant writer, "the glory of Mr. Pitt advanced like a regular fabric. Gradual in its commencement, it however discovered to the discerning eye a grandeur of design, and promised the most magnificent effects. By degrees it disclosed beauty, utility, and majesty; it outstretched the eye of the spectator, and hid its head among the clouds."

Amidst the brilliant career of success which might thus he fairly ascribed, under Providence, to the virtuous energies of one man, his majesty George the Second died. About this period the French had succeeded in obtaining the co-operation of Spain by secret intrigues; which however did not elude the vigilance, or escape the pene tration of Mr. Pitt. He had procured private, though certain intelligence of the Bourbon compact; and with his usual vigour of decision, wished to strike the first blow against Spain. He proposed in council, that war should be immediately declared against that power, and orders instantly sent to capture her vessels: urging with the utmost energy, the impolicy of suffering her to put herself into a posture of defence, and to secure her treasure before she threw off the mask. Other sentiments now influenced the cabinet than when Mr. Pitt began his career. He found the members disposed to temporize, and to pause, before they created a new enemy. • P will not give them leave to think," replied the indignant minister; "this is the time, let us crush the whole house of Bourbon. But if the members of this board are of a different opinion, this is the last time I shall ever mix in its councils. I was called into the ministry by the voice of the people, and to them I hold myself responsible. 1 n to thank the ministry of the late king for their sup