Engraved by A. Cardon, from

A. Cardon, from a Bust by

I. FLAXMAN, ESQ.R.A.

THE

POLITICAL

LIFE OF MR. PITT.

CHAPTER I.

Cursory View of the State of Europe-American RebellionHostile disposition of the European powers to Great Britain -Armed Neutrality-Treacherous Enmity of the DutchAsiatic League against the British power-Acts of Outrage in the Capital of England-Mr. Pitt's birth-his Education -his entrance into Parliament-his first Speech on Mr. Burke's proposals for an economical reform-Dissolution of the Ministry-Lord Rockingham, Premier-Mr. Pitt's refusal to come into office-Motives of that refusal-Death of Lord Rockingham-New Ministry-Mr.Pitt Chancellor of the Exchequer - Negotiations for Peace-Mr. Pitt defends the Address to the Throne-his Answer to Mr. Burke-Mr. Fitzherbert sent to Paris Conclusion of Peace-Terms of the Peace censured by the OppositionCoalition between Lord North and Mr. Fox-reprobated by Mr. Pitt-Debates on the Peace-Declaration of Principle by Mr. Pitt-The Ministers left in a minorityMinisterial Interregnum-New Ministry-The Duke of Portland, Premier-Mr. Pitt's motion for a Reform in Parliament-his notions of the duty of Representativeshis motion for a Reform in the Public Offices-Close of the Session,

I'r has often been observed, that, in the political progress of kingdoms and states, there is VOL. I.

B

a certain point of elevation, beyond which they cannot advance; but from which they must, as if impelled by the controling hand of Providence, upraised to defeat the ambition, and to chastise the presumption, of man, descend, step by step, towards their decline, until they reach the lowest point of depression, until every vestige of their former greatness is effaced, and until rank, character, and independence are destroyed. The observation, however, is more specious than solid; and the events which have, both from ancient and from modern history, been adduced in its support, might, it is apprehended, be fairly traced to causes, which the wisdom of man might have foreseen, and his exertions have averted. Be this as it may, the observation was applied to the state of Great Britain, at the peace of 1762; when this country was supposed, by the prophetic politicians of the day, to have attained, through the skill and the valour of her successive statesmen and officers, that point of elevation in the scale of political greatness, beyond which every effort to pass would prove fruitless, and from which she must, of necessity, recede; and the events which marked the period, at which this history commences, were confidently alluded to, as satisfactory proofs, that these desponding predictions were in the course of accomplishment.