The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-03
SOME NEW ROCKS.
william Pitt,

-
wnlisa Fie.
The latest addition to tho Twelve English
statesmen series 10 biography Of William
Pitt By Lord RosEBERr tMacmillansl We give
high praise to this volume when wo say that it
asscfves to figure in tho same collection with
the Life Of walpoi, by Mr.. Morley. As re-
CARDS arrangement and style II is the model OF
brief biography. and II is disting uished bv o
freedom from prejudice which seems surpris-
Ing when we recall how unsympathetic 10 tho
author must have been Pitts attitude. not only
toward Ireland. but toward political reforms In
Great Britain. Without attempting to dis
guiso his own convictions. Lord Rosebery
shows himself not only Just but generous In his
estimate OF tho motives and intentions which
controlled tho subject OF his narrative.
tits An Interesting circumstance that Will
Ham Pitt. the younger. was born in 1853. the
year which witnessed the Incompatible vigor
infused by his father into the British admins
txation. the year made memorable by Wolfe's
capture OF Quebec. By the great victory ut
xinden. and by Hawkes. destruction OF tho
French feet or Brest Tho boys talents were
not, Is 10 generally supposed. derived ex-
clusively from his father. Lord Chatham. I'M
doubtsdly the greAtest orator and perhaps on
the whole the greatest War Minister that Eng
land has produced. One OF Lady Chatham's
brothers. George Gronville. was man Of I'M
dsniable abilities. however wrong-headed and
disastrou may have been the position which
he took toward the American colonies. Her
eldest brother. Earl Temple. was ut tho head
81 . connection which remained for two
generations a powerful factor In English
Dolitics and eventually secured the prize at
which IT had unwaveringly aimed. namely. tho
dukedonl OF Buckingham. Tho young William
Hitt inherited feeble constitution and whom
W learn that Lord Chatham himself had sui
fored from the govt before leaving Eton. 1t
seems amazing that his son should have
b>sn advised by his physician to repenlsh
with foods OF port wine his deficient stock OF
vitality. From . to IA his health was SO indif-
fsSent that for moro than half Of the time lie
vas unable to study. and 1t is recorded that
whom no went to Cambridge as All undergrad
uate no was accompanied by nurse. Yet.
feeble and sickly AS he was. he was a marvel
OF preeocity. and may be ranked with Mncau-
Icy. John Stuart Mill. and Sir W. X. Hamilton
among the few examples Of infant prodiGies
maturing into brilliant manhood. The "coun-
sellor" and the philosopher" were tho nick
names given by his parents to the child. Ono
OF his tutors, Bishop Tomline. speaking OF the
knowledge which Pitt had acquired at the age
OF ID. Notwithstanding the disability under
which he had labored from i'll health. said that
his proficiency in the learned languages was
probably greater than had ever been acquired
BY any other person in such early youth. In
Latin authors no seldom met with difficulty.
and 1t was no uncommon thing for him to
read into English with scarcely mistake.
six or seven pages Of Thucydidos. which
he had not previously seen. Sir w. H. Hamil-
ton was to do much better than this at the
same age. but lie belonged to later genera
ton. Lord Rosebery points out that the
great work OF Adam Smith had q far more i'm
portsnt bearing than the study Of the Greek
historians on the future career Of Pitt. who
alone among the statesmen OF his day had
mastered the Wealth OF Nations before enter
ing public life. The day came when Pitt him
self eagerly acknowledged his Indebtedness to
tho Scotch thinker. 1t was at = dinner given
by Dundss to Adam Smith. who. however did
not arrive until all were seated. When he
entered the whole company rose to their feet.
and Pitt gaily exclaimed. I'VE will stand
till you are seated" But while Pitt owod to
Adam Smith his comparatively Arm grasp OF
economical questions. he was indebted to the
habit inculcated by his father Of translatine
from classic authors at sight the luency OF
debate It was also owing to his close compan-
ionship with his father. who did not hesitate to
discuss with him the most urgent subjects OF
the hour. that the bias Of his mind became
even In early youth political. A tragedy
which he composed at the ago OF 10 exhibits
no trace OF love. but turns entirely upon a
struggle between q faithful Minister and an
unscSupulous conspirit or about regency. A
blo9rspher need not apo logize for recounting
these details Of Pitts childhood. for they OK
plain the political precoclty and long parlia-
mentary ascendency which otherwise would
puzzle posterity. From the cradle to the
grave Pitt lived in an atmosphere OF politics.
Hannibal WAS not more deliberately conse-
Grated BY Hamilcar to the destruction OF Romo
than Pitt was trained by Chatham for political
Performances Politics was his ambition. his
livelihood, his trade. his mistress. his racing
stud. his game preserve. his dicobox. and he
entered the House Of Commons as an heir en-
tsrs his home.
At the university Pitt led q studious and
austsre life. taking his degree by privilege ut
the age OF II. but continuing to reside at Cam
bridge for nearly four years afterward. The
principal relaxation that he allowed himself
was trip to London to hear his father
speak. and In his 10th year it was his fate to
support the aged statesman to tho last scene in
too 0ouho u AoEuS. Two months later no bore
bis part as chief mourner In the procession
that followed the noble and puissant William
Pitt. Earl Of Chatham" to his resting place In
Westminster Abbey. For the younger son
only meagre provision had been made His
fathers disregard OF money. which had been
- reckless IS his own was to be. left him with
IN income Of only $3.50 to $500 n year.
and even this was not Immediately
washable. It was his mothers eldest
brother. Lord Temple. who advanced
the sum needed to procure for him bet Of
rooms ut Lincoln's Inn. where no might keep
bis terms He was called TO the bar in June.
15e0. spd In the general election OF that year
ventured to stand for tho University OF Cam
bridge. but WAS left at the bottom OF the
poll Soon afterward. however. the lnagnato
Of the North. BIr James Lowthsr. aftsrward
Lord L0nsdSls. ordered one OF his pocket
borouShs TO return young Pitt. who. accord
lpsiy. IN January. 1851. took his seat In tho
House Of Commons as member for Applsby,
xsssty three years later he was to enter 1t as
pTtDs Minister and 10 hold that post with
UssSsupled power for eighteen years.
At the time that Pit went into public life
~ administration OF Lord North was serious.