ment. It is said that on one of these occasions he was introduced, on the steps of the throne in the House of Lords, to Mr. Fox, who was his senior by ten years, and already in the fulness of his fame. Fox used afterwards to relate that, as the discussion proceeded, Pitt repeatedly turned to him and said, "But surely, Mr. Fox, that might be met thus:" or, "Yes, but he lays himself open to retort." What the particular criticisms were, Fox had forgotten; but he said that he was much struck at the time by the precocity of a lad who through the whole sitting was thinking only how all the speeches on both sides could be answered.2

I proceed with some extracts from Pitt's family correspondence:

"MY DEAR MOTHER,

"Hotel, King Street, Feb. 11, 1779.

"I flatter myself that a letter from me may not be unwelcome, though it cannot have the merit of much news to recommend it, neither of a public nor private sort. To begin with the second, which I believe pretty generally claims precedence, nothing has, I am afraid, yet been obtained on the subject of the arrears. I saw Mr. Coutts on Tuesday, who told me that Mr. Crauford had been ill, which had delayed the presenting of the memorial, but that he now expected to hear of its effect every day. I shall renew my inquiry in a short time, and wish I may receive a favourable account of the seven quarters.

"I am to meet my sister at Hayes on the subject of

2 I give this Holland House tra- | Lord Macaulay (Biographies, p. dition, which is no doubt quite 147, ed. 1860).

authentic, in the very words of

your commission, as soon as she can find a leisure moment. Her great business is that of secretary to Lord Mahon, whose 'Electricity' is almost ready for the press, and will rank him, I suppose, with Dr. Franklin. I have just been dining with a brother philosopher of his, Dr. Priestley, at Shelburne House. His Lordship is very cordial in his inquiries after you; and if you continue in the West till next summer, 'will think it his duty to make them in person at Burton.' He is very obliging

to me.

"You will have the goodness to excuse the haste of a letter written in my way to the Opera.

"Ever, my dear Mother, &c.,

"W. PITT."

"Nerot's Hotel, Thursday, Feb. 18, 1779.

"At present I hope to set out Sunday or Monday; and nothing probably can tempt me to any delay except the prospect of an interesting debate, which, however, I do not foresee at present.

"If it should happen, I will certainly write to you next post. I have been for two or three days an auditor at one or other of the Houses, but without any great entertainment. To-day I had the honour of being squeezed with the Duke of Cumberland in the gallery of the House of Commons, and hearing the Speaker deliver the thanks to Admiral Keppel."

"Nerot's Hotel, Wednesday night (1779).

"I have heard no news of any kind. James is gone with my sisters to the ball as a professed dancer, which stands in the place of an invitation; a character which I do not assume, and have therefore stayed away."

"Nerot's Hotel, Tuesday, Half-past Two (1779).

"I was just going to mount my horse about an hour ago, when the most violent of all April showers prevented me, and by that means it is now so late that I have no chance of reaching Hayes by dinner. Consequently I must at all events give up the hope of enjoying much of your company this evening; which being the case, the double temptation of a seat in the gallery of the House of Commons, and a ticket for the Duchess of Bolton's in the evening, determined me to defer it till to-morrow morning.

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Nothing less than the concurrence of all these circumstances could have been sufficient to alter my resolution of coming to you to-day; and even now I should be almost afraid that the engagement which called me from Hayes last night, and that which detains me here at present, might completely stamp me for a fine gentleman, if the House of Commons did not come in to support the gravity of my character. I shall certainly be with you to-morrow, at as early an hour as the raking of this evening will permit."

"Nerot's Hotel, June 19, 1779.

"You will easily imagine that the principal subject of conversation here is the Rescript which has been delivered within these few days from Spain; and that subject, I am sure, does not afford matter of agreeable consideration.

"The situation of public affairs is undoubtedly in most respects rendered still more melancholy and deplorable by that event, and all the dangers that have for some time been apprehended are accelerated and increased.

"There seems, however, to be less despondency than

1

might be expected in such circumstances; and I am willing to flatter myself that it may, in the midst of many evils, be productive of some good effects at home, and that there may still be spirit and resources in the country sufficient to preserve at least the remnant of a great empire. I was very glad to be present at the debate on this subject in the House of Lords, which, though not so good in point of speaking as many I have heard, could not fail of being extremely interesting. My brother, as well as his friend the Duke of Rutland, took their seats on this occasion, and added two to a respectable minority. Lord Shelburne spoke as usual with great ability, and made the roughest invective I ever heard against several of the Ministry, Lord North in particular."

"Pembroke Hall, June 28, 1779.

"I left Lord and Lady Mahon and Harriot in town, not likely, I imagine, to quit it for some time. Unless the Parliament should continue sitting, they will probably have as solitary a vacation there, as I propose to myself here. This place has so many advantages for study, and I have unavoidably lost so much time lately, and can spare so little for the future, that I cannot help wishing to continue here a considerable part of the summer. It is, however, quite indifferent to me whether that part be at the beginning or end; and at all events, if there is any particular time at which you wish to see me at Burton, I shall always be in readiness to obey your summons immediately."

"Pembroke Hall, July 3, 1779.

"Within a short time the scenes of Cambridge are become doubly interesting to me, as I have lately found very good reason to hope that the University

may furnish me with a seat in Parliament possibly at the General Election. It is a seat of all others the most desirable, as being free from expense, perfectly independent, and I think in every respect extremely honourable. You will not wonder that I am not in

different to such an object, and my wishes on this occasion will, I trust, coincide with yours for me. You will perhaps think the idea hastily taken up, when I tell you that six candidates have declared already; but I assure you that I shall not flatter myself with any vain hopes, or stir a step without all the certainty which the nature of the case admits. Hitherto I have not pursued my inquiries far enough to form quite a confident opinion, and till I have, I shall keep the idea a perfect secret, which is indispensably necessary to its success. I may probably very soon be enabled to judge, and may be obliged to declare my intentions; but you shall undoubtedly hear as soon as possible the further progress of this business.”

The design here communicated as a secret was soon afterwards publicly announced. Mr. Pitt wrote to several persons of weight and influence, asking their support. Amongst others we find him on the 19th of July address a letter to the Marquis of Rockingham, the chief, in name at least, of the Opposition at that time. But his Lordship was cold and ungracious. He left Mr. Pitt for upwards of a fortnight without any answer at all; and on the 7th of August he thus replied:

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"I am so circumstanced from the knowledge I have of several persons who may be candidates, and who indeed are expected to be so, that it makes it impossible for me in this instance to show the attention to your