The Sun.
London, England, 1821-04-24 00:00:00

lit LIFE of the RIGHT HON. W. PITT,
By prcnnt LORD 8131107 of WINCIC-MeTER.

This long expected memoir has at length been
presented in part to the public. The two-first
volutnes are published this day. We have not
had au opportunity of taking more than a very
cursory and hasty view of them; but hasty as it
has been, it was sufficient to enable u-s to form_
some estimate of the valuable and interesting in-
t-or...nationn, which they contain, and of the pro-
inise which they hold out of matter equally inte-
resting and valuable in the subsequent volumes.
These two volumes are chiefly.occupied by 6 de-
tail of the public or political life of this great
Statesman, which they bring down to the year
-1.7g3. The plan and arrangement of the work is
somewhat different from that of the late Mr. Gt F-
Much information is also added from
sources to which that able writer had not access.
We do not, however, mention Mr:,..G;Froan's
work with any intention of entering into a-minute
and elaborate comparison of it with that of the
learned Prelate, .whose intirnate connection and
confidential communication' with i'dr. PITT, and
whose long consideration of the subject,_ has giveit
him advantages, which the former,: never pos-
sessed, but without which he was enabled Ito do

FORD.

ihe country eminent service by placing before it
the whole of Mx. PITT'S public conduct at a pe-
Tiod when it was of vital irriportance that it
he known and duty'* arpretqated, oril'er
,
that-notlaviation froc,rt "b 1 cy might take place.
before it had accomplished thOse objects, which
were at that time essential to the national
-welfare e,-id independence.' 'We mention it
merely as a work on the same subject high in
the public estimation, and from which they .Will
naturally inquire how far it differs from the one now
presented to them. We shall only add, therefore,
that valuable and interesting as Mr. Gifford's
work is, yet not comprehending any, detail of the
private life of Mr. PITT, there remained something
to be supplied, which the present learned and
Venerable biographer alone could furnish. We
shall not pursue these observations but hasten to
introduce our readers to those extracts which
we propose, from time to time, to lay before them.
'Those which we have selected for this day con-
sist of some letters from the late Lord and
Lady CHATHAM to their illustrious son. They
will be perused with that interest which every
thing relating to that noble and patriotic family
must ever excite. But if our readers trace Mr.
PITT to a later period of his life, when all the
tender hopes and solicitude of his noble father
had been more than amply realized, these letters
will excite a still higher and more affecting gra-
tification.
" in May 1778, Mr. Pitt lost his great and excellent father,
at a period when his advice and assistance would have been of
the highest importance to him. I am happy to have it in my
power to insert the following letters, which strongly mark the
affectionate heart and amiable character of one of the ablest and
most disinterested Statesmen' the world ever produced; and at
the same time shew the opinion he entertained, and the expec-
tatioes he had formed of the subject of these memoirs.
" The first of these letters was written by Lord Chatham to
Mr. Pitt, upon his_going to the University en 1773.
" Burton Pynsent, Oct. 9, 1773.
" Thursday's past brought us no letter from the dear travel-
ler; we trust this day will prove more satisfactory; it is the
nappy day that gave us your brother, and it will not be less in
favour with all here, if it should give us, about four o'clock,, an
epistle from my dear William. By that hour, I reckon, we
senall he warm in our cups, and shall not fail to pour forth with
renewed joy, grateful libations over the much wished tidings of
your prosperous progress towards your destination. We coin-
. pate that yesterday brought you to the venerable aspect of
Alma Mater ; and that you are invested to day with the toga
,virilis. Your race of manly virtue, and use/'u/ knowledge as
now begun, and may the favour of Heaven smile upon the
noble career I
" Little was really disappointed in not being in time to
see you—a good mark for my young vivid friend. He is just
as much compounded of the elements of air and fire as he
was. A due proportion of terrestial solidity will, I trust, come
and make him perfect. How happy, my loved boy, is it, that
your Mama and I can tell ourselves, there is at Cambridge one,
. without a beard, and all the elements so mixed in him, that
nature might stand up and say, this is a man.' I now take
leave for to day, not meaning this for what James calls a regu-
lar letter, but a flying thought, that wings itself towards my
absent William. Horses are ready, and all is birth-day.
" Bradshaw has shone this auspicious morning, in a very
fine speech of congratulation ; but I foresee, his sun sets
weeping in the lowly west,' that is, a fatal bowl of punch will
before night quench this luminary of oratory. Adieu, again
and again, sweet boy ; and if you acquire health and strength
every time I wish them to you, you will be a second Sampson,
and, what is more, will, I am sure, keep your hair.
Every good wish attends your kind fellow-traveller and
m
chu m : nor will he be forgot in our flowing bowls to day."
To this interesting letter, Lady Chatham added the following
postscript.
" If more could be said expressive of feelings, my dearest
dear boy, I would add a letter to this epistle, but as it is com-
posed, I. will only sign to its expressive contents,
" Your fond and loving mother,
" HESTER CHATHAM."
The following letter was written by Lord Chatham, to Mr.
Pitt, when he was recovering from the illness which has been
mentioned ;
" Burton Pynsent, Oct. 1773.
" With what ease of mind and joy of heart I write to my
loved William, since• Mr. Wilson's comfortable letter of Mon-
day ! I do not mean to address you as a sick man ;. I trust in
Heaven, that convatesrent is the only title I am to give you in
the ailing tribe; and that you are now enjoying the happy ad-
vantage of Dr. Glynn's acquaintance, as one of the cheerful
and witty sons of Apollo, in his poetic, not his medical attribute.
Put, though I indulge, with inexpressibledelight, the thoe;ht
of your xetnrning health, I cannot help being a little_ in peen;
beet you should make more haste than good speed to be well.'
Your Mama has been before me, in suggesting that most use-
fal proverb, recstler your rnieux sanler, useful to all, but to the
ardent, necessary. You may indeed, my sweet boy, better than
any one, practise thii sage oicturn, without any risque of being
:brownout (as-little James would sag, in the chase tf learning.
Ail you want, at present, is quiet ; with thin, if your ardour
ctplo-rEvEiv can he kept in, till you are stronger, you will make
noise enough ! How happy the task, my noble amiable boy,
to caution you only against pursuing too mare h all those libe-
ral and praise worthy things, to which less happy natures are
perpetually to be spurred and driven! I will not tease you with
too long a lecture in favour of inaction, and a competent stnpi-
ditu, your two best tutor, and companions at. present. You
have time to spare ; consider there is but the Encyclopedia ;
and when you have mastered all that, what will remain ? You
will want, like Alexander, another world to conquer. Your
Mama joins me in every word; and we know how much your
affectionate mind can sacrifice to our earnest and tender
wishes. Brothers and Sisters' are well ; all feel about you,
think and talk of you es they ought. My affectionate remem-
brances go in great abundance to Mr. Wilson. Yin, vale, is
the unceasing prayer of your truly loving father,
• " CHATHAM."
" The above letter indicates great anxiety, beautifully ex-
pressed, lest Mr. Pitt should too soon resume his studies ; and
seems to shew, that on former occasions of illness, Lord and
-Lady Chatham had been under the necessity of restraining hie:.
He recovered so slowly and so imperfectly before he left Cam-
bridge, that he was unable to read any book which required
much attention ; and Lord Chatham did not allow him to re-
turn to the University till the beginning of July ; soon after
which he wrote him the following letter, which proves the con-
tinuance of the same solicitude:—
" Hayes, Sunday July 170774.
" Need I tell my dear William, that his letter, received this
morning, diffused general joy here? To know that he is well

" This eminent physician and excellent scholar became
warmly attached to Mr. Pitt, and was a great admirer of his
talents and character, He frequently read with him select pas-
sages from classical writers, which he' thought particularly de-
fierfing his notice.