The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-19


row, on the lonely chief who broathed a now
soul into his oountrymen. who planted the
saplings which have grown into a mighty
forest, and who inspired that passion for
transoOeanio expansion which has given
birth TO 80 much energy, 40 much misery,
so much heartburning and 80 much glory
H.
Up TO the time when he entered Parlia-
ment at the age Of 20 as a member for
the rotten borough OF Old Sarum, the
property Of his family, very few facts are
ascertainable regarding William Pitt. We
know that he was born on Nov. IS, i7Os,
the younger son OF Robert Pitt, who him
self was the eldest son OF Thomas Pitt who
in an adventurous life Of seventy-three
years had amassed fortune and reputation
abroad, To understand Chatham's char
acter II is needful TO recall briefly the career
Of his grandfather, Thomas Pitt, who
began life as a common sailor, subse-
quently engaged in business on his own
account in Bengal and for twenty years
carried on a battle with the East India
Company as an "interloper' on their mo-
nopoly The company found It easier to
bride him than 10 beat him, and they made
him Governor Of Madras which he sue
cessfully defended against the Nawab OF
the Carnatic. While at Madras he en-
gagged continuously in a search for large
diamonds. and thus acquired the name Of
Diamond Pitt His great coup was the
purchase in 1901 for e2O. 400 OF the historic
Pitt diamond which sixteen years later
he sold TO the Regent OF France for cl35OOO.
II is still preserved in the State jewels
Of the French Republic. and recently was
valued at E4sO, 900. With the fortune
that he acquired in India Thomas
Pitt bought estates in England and was
elected TO the Parliaments OF 1882 1890 and
1895. From 1910 to 1915 he represented
Old Sarum. He was man Of indomitable
energy and infinite resource, qualities
which he evidently transmitted 20 his grand
son. Patriotic Scots have made much Of
the fact that CEatham's grandmother on
the fathers side was Jane Innss, who traced
descent from James Stewart, Earl Of Moray
natural son Of James V. of Scotland.
Robert Pitt, Chatham's father, married
Harriet Nilliers, daughter Of the fifth
Viscount Grandson in the peerage Of
Ireland. Thomas Pitt, Chathams elder
brother. married a sister Of the first Lord
Lytteton, and Chatham himself married
the sister Of Richard Grenville first Earl
Temple. His connection with the families
Of Vi!liers, Lyttelton and Grenville played
a considerable part in the future states
mans life.
William Pitt was cocltney by birth and
thus combined with Chauoer, Bacon, Milton,
Pope and Byron to refute Carlyle's assertion
that 1T is impossible but that London
10 e.
He was sent to Eton, whence, at the age Of
eighteen, he went to Trinity College, OK
ford. He did not take a degree, but while
at the university he gave much attention
to history and the classics. A scholar he
could never he called and ourauthor points
out that, like most great orators, he was
rather a poor writer. II is plain, never
theless, that his powerful mind had as
simulated such history and poetry az was
most akin to his nature. Lord Stanhope
tells US that he was early warmed by the
fame" Of the records Of the past, and Lord
Granville editing Chatham's letters, says
hat he had what Milton calls complete
and generous education that, namely,
which FITS a man 10 perform justly, skill
fully and ma unanimously all the Offices, both
public and private. Of pace and Of war"
At the age Of Is william Pitt obtained
Of Cornet in the Blues, but
we know nothing Of his military career,
which lasted only four years. In 17S5 he
was returned TO Parliament for Old Sarum,
which rotten borough had been bought by
his grandfather. More than a year elapsed
before he made his maiden speech, which
has been described by Macaulay as empty
and wordy,' but which, owing TO it's biting
irony, produced at the time a great effect.
II made the Prime Minister. Sir Robert
Walpole. 30 angry that Pitt was at once
cashiered and his commission cancelled.
There is no doubt that his first speech
placed Pitt in the van Of the Opposition.