CHARACTERS. 
every part of it, to reflect on the 
obstacles and difficulties that might 
ise, nor provide the means of 
removing them. Being accustom- 
ed to follow the dictates of his 
own mind, without seeking foreign 
aid, he frequently preferred the 
more difficult modes of bringing his 
plans to maturity, rather than tread 
in the steps of any other person, 
Observing, in his youthful days, 
that he’ was quicker of compre- 
hension than’ most of those with 
whom he was connected, he be- 
came impatient of contradiction ; 
and, in the first impulse of his 
mind, it was difficult to convince 
him of an error: but when the 
impetuosity subsided, he cheerfuliy 
yielded to truth as soon as he per- 
ceived it. His temper was open 
and ingenuous; he was more sus- 
ceptible of great and strong impres- 
sions than of the softer emotions ; 
more disposed to melancholy than 
cheerfulness. This disposition is not 
to be ‘ascribed wholly to nature, 
but to the many unfavourable cir- 
‘cumstances of his early life, which 
rather suppressed than fostered the 
kinder feelings. Yet, in his riper 
years, when he became convinced 
of the worth and excellency of a 
benevolent disposition, and that 
the most acceptable part of religion 
was to do good to man, he applied 
himself to the task with unremitted 
eagerness ; and, to his last breath, 
he made this the principal object 
of his study, exertions, and liberal 
sacrifices. This character has the 
greater merit, as he acquired it by 
struggling against a disposition and 
education naturally inimical to it. 
In fine, his first object and princi- 
355 
pal ambition were to render man- 
kind better informed on subjects 
of the greatest moment; to facili- 
tate the improvement of youth in 
all useful knowledge; to inspire 
them with an ardent love of virtue; 
and to diffuse just and attractive 
ideas of religion, by reconciling 
Christianity with good sense and 
sound philosophy. 
> 
Character of his lute Majesty King 
George the Second*. 
From Anecdotes of William Pitt, Earl 
of Chatham, 2 vol. 4to. 
FF HIS Prince, though not born in 
this country, was educated in 
those principles by which the na- 
tion rose to power and happiness, 
and gloried in being the King of a 
free people. He carried the power 
and commerce of the nation to a 
degree to which they had never 
till then attained. Abroad, he 
established the importance, the ho- 
nour, and dignity of his crown, up- 
on a footing not known before his 
time toa king of this country, and 
made the name of Englishman re- 
spectable in every corner of the 
world. No foreign power trifled 
with his resentment, or despoiled 
his people with impunity, It hath 
been said that he had prejudices ; 
and the assertion, from the mouths 
of Tories and Jacobites, should not 
surprise us. The nation was bene- 
fited by the prejudices of this prince. 
Abroad, they operated against the 
natural enemies of the kingdom ; 
at home, against the enemies of the 
national freedom, and of the pro- 
* For particulars of his life and death see Annual Register, vol. 3, for 1760, 
p. 39—41—1338—140. 
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testant 
