The sun., 1901-03-31

s0Hs Nsw BOOKS.
Lsra Cs.sAA..
Thoes whs have desired TO follow In detai
the career Of the English statesman known
as the 'Grest Commoner. have been hithertl
compelled 10 rely on the biography publ'shei
in 1877 by the Rev Francis Thsckeray, which
served a a text for certain well-kno~n essay.
by Lord Macaulay. since the publication
OF that book. however. much additional
material throwing light upon the subjecl
has become accessible and This ha, beeu
turned 10 sccount in the latest addition 10
the Heroes OF the Nation" series lwuliGm
Put. Essl Of Chatham by WAIFoRp DAVIS
GRxEs. NJ P Putnam II = hard TO write
about Chatham In a Discriminating way.
because there was something histrionic
about him which repealed sobeF-in ndrd
men. and has caused them TO do less than
justice 70 the elevation Of his aims sni The
superiority Of his abilities. Among his con-
temporarisa Burke and shelburns Who
we're In q position 10 appreciate bis inertia
had keen eye for bis fslinsa and In recent
times Lecky has pronounced q somewhat
harsh judsmeut On him The prssens bios-
raphsr. on the other hand while By no means
alive to the essential greatness Of the man
and to the mAsnitsds Of the ssrvioss which
be rendered 10 the Bnsish Empire n. in
deed. ws are 70 Judge by the importance
and the permanencs OF the results achieved.
ws cannot refuse 10 place Chatham not only
above HE son. but evan above Rsehslisu in
the small group Of great Ministers
william Pitt was born on Nov Is. l7os.
In the parish Of ST James. Westminster.
The family 70 which he belonged seems 70
have been founded by John Pitt. q clerk Of
the Excheouer in the reign OF Elizabeth The
sreat-srandson OF John Pitt Was Governor
Of Fort ST George and OF Jamaica, and the
fortunate acQurer OF the famous Pi't diamond
which was sold in l7l7 TO the Regent Orleans
stsproft OF sloo.oco He married Jane LINES
who was directly descended from the Earl
Of Murray, natural son Of James Of SCOT
and In the days OF Chathlm's glory, >'o's-
men used to point 10 this strain IN his blood
ss an explanation OF what was loiriest IN a.
character Gov PITT purchased The rotten
borough Of Old Sarum. ana himself sa' 10
he House Of Commons as its representative
His eldest son, Robert. married the ~Is,rr
OF an Irish peer. Earl Grand son, anh 'heir
second son. William. Is the sub'e't Of 'h~
biography The most important pui''c1l con
nection Of the family wa with the >tauho, -,
Lacy. daughter Of GOV Pitt. b-oomuS The
wife Of James. Earl Stanhope Guy Piu Vel
till his grandson, william. W., =, and ~eye-ai
references 70 the boy ~ family .e''n-s StoT
that his grandfather had funanr>~ '"r
him The rsoudl know edge II tusisuG
far possessions which GuN PIT Possessed
may have awakened IN The fJ'ur" statesman
the instructive regard for the Empire srloh
slwsys marked him lhe present tIos-arhrr
suggests that this may have h-eu q, valuable
a sift a. the annuity oi Il"l WI" 49, l"''
10 him by the Governor, wlu
William Pi't was sent 20 Ir.,r. hlr. l... Is
of a public school IN IN. elgEteeGfh ,,u,.lJ
Possessed no charm for hin. IH" us.d,
which racksd his body and mind '.'uIgi-
out life attacked Pi't while - s,hap. T. Wa.
o. the age OF IA that hr made hls r"s' ao. 4aIn-
tsnce with sou' A. Eton. however. 'rgJu
his friendship with george l'''.e'uu. s.d
among other contemporaries were h,- l.'.lr"
rival Henry Fox, Hrrry F'eIdIut aad g.. r.es
Hanbury Williams Ne proceeded 'p l-.,.'E
College. oxford, and 'her" o"Iunu-d 90"
classical studies which deeply Influenced ".,
mind WrItns in lare- l'e 20 '- u"p1"w
he extolied the advantage of il'ra" "d .-
carton. praisine especially WuusI sud N'g-
From the Lain writers he drew Roma.
hardness ana uuHn,mrg patriotism. ard
from the advice l- gsy" uls A"lH"N .' NAV
NJ inferred that he poetry ". Rome, 'r"
history OF England ana fHo rru".op.} .'
locke were the ".~'rr influences '''I N.-
mind Al oxford N., arr,'n "s, aor." .t"