on the one hand, or by the fear of giving offence, on the other. I may, possibly, My Lord, be supposed, by some readers, to have entered more largely into the affairs of Foreign States, than was necessary for the apparently limited subject of my Work: but your Lordship must be sensible, that it was impossible to disconnect the great measures of Mr. Pitt's administration from the concerns of the Continent, to which so many of them had an immediate relation; or to convey a just estimate of the former, without impressing a right understanding of the latter. And as, in the cursory view of transactions abroad, I have been enabled to correct many misrepresentations which had been industriously circulated at home, I trust your Lordship will concur with me in the opinion, that the course which I have pursued, while it is perfectly consistent with the plan of my Work, is the best calculated to afford information, and to promote truth. It is to me, My Lord, a matter of serious and deep regret, that this task has not devolved on some one more competent, in many respects, than myself, to do justice to the subject; and that the difficulty which, in a greater or less degree, must always occur in writing the history of contemporary times, should be enhanced by a disregard of the potent consideration, that delicacy to individuals should ever be made to yield to the public good. While I am greatly indebted to the free and open communications of some distinguished persons, I have reason to complain of the apathy and reserve of others ;-and, according to my sense of public duty, their notions respecting it are very erroneous, who think it no breach of it to withhold any information tending to elucidate facts which may instruct, or to correct errors which may mislead, the public mind. Fortunately, however, for the historian, the circumstances and transactions of Mr. Pitt's administration are not locked up in the Cabinet, or confined within the bosom, of any individual; they have all been subjected to public analysis, and submitted to public discussion.-He has, in fact, been the historian of his own measures, the expounder of his own principles, and the herald of his own deeds. Mr. Pitt's actions required no subterfuge to disguise, no artifice to conceal, them ;—the Nil conscire sibi, et nullâ pallescere culpâ, was the true characteristic of his feelings, With the pride of conscious integrity, he solicited investigation, and courted publicity. In his luminous and comprehensive Speeches in Parliament, he has explained his motives, and unfolded his views, his objects, and his designs; and has thus, by the supply of an invaluable fund of materials, greatly facilitated the labour of his Political Biographer, which might, indeed, be said chiefly to consist in the proper use, application, and arrangement, of those materials. I may, then, without presumption, express my belief, that your Lordship will not perceive, in these volumes, either any superfluous matter, or any important omission; and that, whatever cause of disapprobation you may find in the opinions, you will not discover the slightest ground of censure in the perversion of facts. I have the honour to be, MY LORD, With the greatest respect, Your Lordship's most faithful, and most obedient Servant, JOHN GIFFORD. London, March 1st, 1809. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Cursory View of the State of Europe-American Rebellion- |