The Press.
London, England, 1853-09-03 00:00:00

A DAY WITH PITT.

In the afternoon of a tine day in November,
178$, a tall horseman, with a groom after him,
might be observed crossing Westminster-
bridge to the StuTey side. Riding with excessive
rapidity, and seated almost bolt upright in the
saddle, he looks neither to the right nor to
the left, but seems rapt in abstraction. A
physiognomist, at a passing glance, would
pause before saying, whether the countenance
was most expressive of mental thought or
personal arrogance. The grave face, indeed,
tells of habitual reflection ; but that pro-
minent haughty nose, tossed disdainfully
upwards, is suggestive of 'wide carried even to
scorn. His figure is gaunt, and more wiry
than muscular, but the well-opened chest and
manly bearing promise elasticity and energy.
few of the foot-passengers look after
him, and recognise his striking form, for they
have often seen that haughty horseman riding
thus rapidly about town ; and, once seen, kw
could forget the sovereign look of that un-
crowned ruler of men who answered to the
world-famed name of "Mr. Pitt."
It is even he, and he looks more grave and
resolute than usual. As the servant has
saddle-bags, it. appears that his master was
going some considerable distance. But he
would scarcely go very far at this advanced
season of the year. Onward he rides faster
anti faster, and more rapidly than his livery-
groom likes,* and the minister takes the road
that crosses the Surrey hills by Norwood and
Dulwich. lie pulls up for a moment in as-
cending a sharp acclivity, and draws aside to
let a yellow barouche pass by. How that
showy, hold-looking woman stares after him !
Alt ! that if, Miss (or rather " Mistress") Her-
vey, who twenty years ago used to be toying
at the bar at Nando's with gay young Tem-
plars, anti who is now at the head of the Lord
Chancellor Thurlow's estatblishmentat Kni ght's-
hill, Dulwich. But the minister is not going there,
aunt canters by its gate without stopping ;
and on he rides, until he reaches the heights
by White Horse-house, and, if he bad any reel-
ing for the picturesque, the man of great ora-
tions might enjoy time striking effect of the
declining day upon that vast bitrst of country,
which meets his eye as he looks over the cul-
tivated tracts of West. Kent and East Surrey.
But for that fair landscape, end the dila-My-
elin) of the darkling light over*Croydon town,
the horseman has not the least sentiment. And
Pitt still trots forward at his rapid pace, taking
the road to Beckenham, but he is not going
so far. lie soon turns off the highroad about a
mile to the east of Croydon town, and dis-.
mounts at an old-fashioned villa, seated in a
flat and rather swampy paddock, which gives
the courtesy title of " park " to " Adgecombe,"
or " Addiscombe," according to later ortho-
graphy.t
Pitt is glad to learn that its owner, Lord
Hawkesbury, has recovered from his severe
cold, anti soon he is in the study, where
the veteran official (now a new peer) is
laid up before the tire, ill a half-invalided
condition. In 31 moment the sudden visit
is explained. Pitt wants to talk to old
.lenkinson about fifty things that press. The
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.
crisis Itas become very serious indeed, and
I - - ... I is dismayed, as he sees
thi c 4.,..- .-pression of Pitt's face.
41frn -M TM ak. vz\..
it • becomes that bold and
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4:=I"T
i •: 4 4,,,0 ,:t. ill's ..r,i..,. from tar etre,•ls of
;`' er gallorili:: after thin master.
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1 01 • iti the habit of WIWI; Isccret
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