and precision of thought, he, by algebraical exercises, increased the natural facility with which he invented or discovered proofs. Persevering industry accompanied and assisted the endowments of genius: his progress in erudition and science was uncommon. * His moral qualities and habits greatly facilitated the operations of his intellect: he was untainted by the dissipation which often diverts to improper objects the force of very great minds, and by that debauchery which precludes confident reliance on the exertions of its votaries, however extraordinary their genius may be, and even weakens the faculties themselves. He had a firmness of temper which steadily pursued what he perceived to be right; and adhered to his own plans of conduct, undisturbed by the ridicule of frivolity, and unseduced by the allurements of vice. His relaxations from study and business tended to the improvement of his understanding. Rational conviviality with men of talents

See the Historical Magazine, June 1799.

and knowledge gave to discourse and discussion hours bestowed by many young men on the licentiousness of the stews, or the phrenzy of the gaming-table.

His contemporaries at Cambridge pro-; posed that he should stand candidate for representing the University in Parliament: this he declined, and was returned member for Poole. His first public appearance had been two years before his election. Soon after his father's death, a report had been spread of a negociation having gone on the preceding winter, between Lord Chatham and Lord Bute, for Chatham coming into Administration. Some said that Lord Bute had applied to Chatham, others that Chatham had applied to Bute. This last supposition, with great reason, Pitt considered as derogatory to his father. A statement, published by the Chatham family, and drawn up by Pitt, was considered by Lord Mountstuart as tending to convey an idea that his father had applied to Chatham. In endeavouring to refute that notion, he

advanced some observations calculated to make it appear that Lord Catham had applied to Lord Bute. Mountstuart, a sensible, well informed, experienced man, on the one side, and Pitt, a youth of nineteen, on the other, entered into discussion of the subject. Pitt manifested a striking superiority in genius and reasoning,

In his speech on Burke's reform, Pitt acquitted himself so as to justify the anticipations of the public in his favour. He in some measure joined the party which Burke and Fox headed, but maintained the sentiments of his father respecting the independence of America.

One of the chief excellencies of Pitt's speeches is the clearness of the arrangement. This appears to result from a comprehensive mind viewing the subject in all its parts and relations, and disposing them in such a way as, from that view, he perceives, will render them most effectual. In the former edition, and also in the Histo

rical Magazine of June 1799, I delivered an opinion, that, in several points, Mr. Pitt considerably resembles Dr. Robertson. Like that eminent historian, he displays great powers of combination, of bringing together every circumstance and argument that can elucidate his plans or evince his propositions. He sets before us a subject in all its parts, dependencies, and relations. The comprehensive view which he takes, enables him to clear his ground as he goes along, and precludes every necessity of repetition. He makes his hearer and reader perfectly masters of his reasoning and its foundation. This constant and habitual exertion of a comprehensive mind produces clearness of arrangement, as it enables him to dispose every part of his orations in such a way, as he perceives will render them most effectual. Eloquence naturally calls forward more forcible reasoning than history, from minds equally strong; but it does not naturally produce more profound reflections: greater depth, therefore, must result from superior knowledge and superior powers. In the COMPASS

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depth of his understanding, I think Mr. Pitt is doubtless superior to that great man to whom I have compared him above. Force of reasoning, however, he has in common with another extraordinary personage, Mr. Fox; profound observation and expanded views, with a still greater personage, Mr. Burke; but there is one point in which he excells these uncommon men; that is, the appropriate appositeness of his arguments to the question at issue. We have not only before us every thing that is requisite, but nothing that is not requisite. If we consider the speeches of these three great men, Pitt, Fox, and Burke, as we should do a proposition in Euclid, enunciating a certain theorem to be proved true or false, and estimate the arguments of each by their exclusive tendency to prove the proposition enunciated, we must certainly give the preference to Pitt. The closeness of Pitt has converged the rays of Fox's genius; whoever peruses his speeches during Lord North's Administration, and his speeches during Mr. Pitt's, will find that, excellent