The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-04-05
PI11 1ho Elder and PItt the Younger.

PITT the Elder and PITT the Younger.
The annals OF history, in all prob
ability, afford mention of no two men,
each bearing the same name, and each
alike distinguished as statesmen and
orators, comparable in their sphere, TO
William Pitt Uord Chatham), the eld-
er, and his son William Pitt (the
younger, who, each in his turn, made
his mark so efIectually in the Parlla-
ment OF Great Britain. Another coin
cidence in the career of this remarka-
BILE father, and in that of his no less
remarkable son, waB the extremely
youthful age at which both commenced
their parliamentary career. II we mis-
take not, the e.der Pitt 10y means con
stitutional or otherwise, we are at
loss to determine), obtained a seat in
the House OF Commons at the very
premature age Of nineteen or twenty.
He resigned his commission as cornet
Of horse egiment-taking his seat
in Parliament with selfpossession and
hduteur, we cannot doubt, in the high
est degree remarkable. There was one
member OF the blouse, Tin particular.
that could not bear what he deemed
young Pitts audacity, in participating
30 coolly in its debates. This was no
less an individual than Horace Wal
pole, who lost no time in readino
young Pitt lesson, bearing upon his
forwardness in taking part in the dis
cussions Of the House. Well aware
Of the culnerGJiLity, in several respects,
OF the ill-natured carper who thus took
him to task, young Pitt promptly re-
piled to his malevolent sarcasms, and
in such style as TO render Horace
''tremblingly alive DER all" to the in
dignity put upon him by Il mere boy,
and by one, too, whom he (Horacc)
considered q sort OF half intruder into
Parliament. ''The atrocious crime"
ut was thus he commenced his reply 10
Walpole) ''Of being a young man, |
shall neither attempt to palliate nor
deny, but content myself with wishing
that / may be one of those whose fol-
lies may cease with their youth, and
not Of that number who still continue
ignorant in spite of age and expert
ence." And in reference to the proverb-
ial insolence Of Walpole, and his i'll
gotten power and wealth, our fedg-
ling legislator thus continues, ~ shall
trample upon the forms with which
wealth and dignity entrench them
selves, and drag the thief to
justice wherever he may lurk"-lan-
guage, it Is said, which caused Wal
pole feelIngly to remark to friend, on
leaving the House, "Would to heaven
/ could bride that cornet of horse"
The son Of this same cornet of horse,
William Pitt, junior, was born on the
twenty-eighth Of May, 1859, and en-
tered Parliament in his twenty-second
year. No sooner was he well seated
In his place than, intent upon "tread-
ing in the footsteps of his glorious
predecessor" he commenced, fright
and left" TO deal out his blows against
the most distinguished orators of the
time, comprising such men az Burke,
Fox and Sheridan. The last, more es-
pecially, became the target of his satiri-
cal missiles, one of which we chance
to have treasured up in our memory
mo man" said the youthful satirlst,
'admired more than he did the abili-
ties Of that right honorable gentle
man, the elegant sallies of his thought,
the gay illusions of his fancy, his
dramatic turns, and his epigrammatic
points; and if they were reserved for
the proper stage, they would no
doubt receive, what the honorable
gentleman's abilities always did re-
ceive, the plAudits Of the audience. But
this was not the proper scene for
the exhibition Of these elegances; and
he therefore must beg leave to call the
attention of the House to the serious
consideration Of the very important
question then before them" Sheridan
was effectually reused by this equally
cool and contemptuous attack on him
on the part of the "boy" legislator,
and proceeded to reply in the follow
ing caustic style: son the particular
sort OF personality which the right
honorable gentleman has thought prop
or to make use Of, need not make any
comment; the propriety, the taste, the
gentlemanly point of it must have been
obvious to the House. But let me as
sure the right honorable gentleman
that | do now, and will at any time
when he chooses to repeat this sort of
aliusion, meet it with the most sincere
good humor. Nay, I will say more
fattered and encouraged by the right
honorable gentleman's panegyric on my
talents, if ever l again engage in the
composition he alludes to, l may be
tempted to an act of presumption-to
attempt an improvement On one of Ben
Jonson's best characters, the charac-
ter Of the angry bog in the Alchymist. "
Pitt, as far as We are aware, evinced
towards Sheridan respectful feeling
ever afterwards.