WILLIAMPITT。
（January1859。）
WilliamPitt，thesecondsonofWilliamPitt，EarlofChatham，andofLadyHesterGranville，daughterofHesterCountessTemple，wasbornonthe28thofMay1759。Thechildinheritedanamewhich，atthetimeofhisbirth，wasthemostillustriousinthecivilisedworld，andwaspronouncedbyeveryEnglishmanwithpride，andbyeveryenemyofEnglandwithmingledadmirationandterror。Duringthefirstyearofhislife，everymonthhaditsilluminationsandbonfires，andeverywindbroughtsomemessengerchargedwithjoyfultidingsandhostilestandards。InWestphaliatheEnglishinfantrywonagreatbattlewhicharrestedthearmiesofLouistheFifteenthinthemidstofacareerofconquest;
BoscawendefeatedoneFrenchfleetonthecoastofPortugal;
HawkeputtoflightanotherintheBayofBiscay;JohnsontookNiagara;AmhersttookTiconderoga;WolfediedbythemostenviableofdeathsunderthewallsofQuebec;ClivedestroyedaDutcharmamentintheHooghly，andestablishedtheEnglishsupremacyinBengal;CooteroutedLallyatWandewash，andestablishedtheEnglishsupremacyintheCarnatic。Thenation，whileloudlyapplaudingthesuccessfulwarriors，consideredthemall，onseaandonland，inEurope，inAmerica，andinAsia，merelyasinstrumentswhichreceivedtheirdirectionfromonesuperiormind。ItwasthegreatWilliamPitt，thegreatcommoner，whohadvanquishedFrenchmarshalsinGermany，andFrenchadmiralsontheAtlantic;whohadconqueredforhiscountryonegreatempireonthefrozenshoresofOntario，andanotherunderthetropicalsunnearthemouthsoftheGanges。Itwasnotinthenatureofthingsthatpopularitysuchasheatthistimeenjoyedshouldbepermanent。Thatpopularityhadlostitsglossbeforehischildrenwereoldenoughtounderstandthattheirfatherwasagreatman。Hewasatlengthplacedinsituationsinwhichneitherhistalentsforadministrationnorhistalentsfordebateappearedtothebestadvantage。Theenergyanddecisionwhichhademinentlyfittedhimforthedirectionofwarwerenotneededintimeofpeace。Theloftyandspirit—stirringeloquencewhichhadmadehimsupremeintheHouseofCommonsoftenfelldeadontheHouseofLords。Acruelmaladyrackedhisjoints，andlefthisjointsonlytofallonhisnervesandonhisbrain。Duringtheclosingyearsofhislife，hewasodioustothecourt，andyetwasnotoncordialtermswiththegreatbodyoftheopposition。ChathamwasonlytheruinofPitt，butanawfulandmajesticruin，nottobecontemplatedbyanymanofsenseandfeelingwithoutemotionsresemblingthosewhichareexcitedbytheremainsoftheParthenonandoftheColiseum。Inonerespecttheoldstatesmanwaseminentlyhappy。Whatevermightbethevicissitudesofhispubliclife，heneverfailedtofindpeaceandlovebyhisownhearth。Helovedallhischildren，andwaslovedbythem;and，ofallhischildren，theoneofwhomhewasfondestandproudestwashissecondson。