CHA RA CT ERS, 
‘ment, and overthrow all private 
influence in obtaining seats in an 
assembly, where he was placed, not 
by the votes of the people, but by 
the will of one rich and powerful 
commoner. Were boroughs al- 
ways so disposed of, all arguments 
for reform must be absurd ; and it 
must at least be admitted, that the 
house of commons has frequently 
Se ee, 
owed the possession of its brightest 
ornaments, as senaters, to the in- 
fluence of individual patronage. 
Men of splendid, but unknown or 
_ unpopular talents, can find no other 
means of admission. 
It is almost 
unnecessary to say, that Mr. Pitt, 
~ 
_ rhetorician ; but 
clear, powerful, and harmonious ; 
in his subsequent accession to power, 
did not forget to gratify sir James 
Lowther with a peerage, while he 
conferred on the duke of Rutland 
the lord-lieutenancy of Ireland. 
Lord Carrington (formerly Mr. 
_ Smith) early’ formed a friendship 
with Mr. Pitt, whose greatness of 
mind, and independence of charac- 
ter, were qualities so congenial 
with his lordship’s sentiments, as 
served to bind and continue that 
friendship with unabated cordiality, 
and which ceased but with the ter- 
mination of Mr. Pitt’s life. 
As a public speaker, Mr. Pitt 
was almost unequalled, and is 
mot to be characterised by over- 
strained parallels, drawn from the 
orators of antiquity. He possessed 
rather the elegance and grace of Ci- 
cero than the fire of Demosthenes. 
’ He displayed, however, more of the 
acute logician, than of the mere 
his voice was 
and his copious eloquence rather 
Stormed the judgment than charmed 
the ear, or stole upon the heart.— 
To a magnificent dignity of style, 
which never failed him, was added 
Vou. XLVIII. 
881 
a forcible method of reasoning, and 
a facility of stating his arguments, 
which made them not only concei- 
vable by the meanest understanding, 
but gave them frequently a preci- 
sion and vigour which may be pro 
nounced irresistible, 
Asan orator, he possessed an ad- 
vantage of inestimable value, name- 
ly, a great command over his tem- 
per, added to much coolness during 
the ardour of debate. 
This enabled him to reply clearly 
and particularly to the arguments 
of his opponents, and to defend his 
cause, by often turning the weapons 
upon themselves. Though confident, 
and frequently, it must be confessed, 
even arrogant, in hisspeeches, which 
sometimes provoked his adversaries 
to harsh language, yet he seldom 
lost his own temper, or retorted in 
anger, 
His action was not strictly grace- 
ful, which was, in some measure, 
owing to the disadvantage of an ex-= 
terior, which, however dignified, 
was yct not engaging ; for he was 
very tall and thin. His counte- 
nance was also severe and forbid- 
ding, expressive, indeed (in the lan- 
guage of physiognomists) of a cae 
pacious mind, and inflexible resolu- 
tion; but also of a too lofty, and, 
perhaps, unbending spirit. 
The commonly received account 
of the last illness of Mr. Pitt is in- 
teresting, It originated in extreme 
debility, brought. on by exces- 
sive anxiety and unwearied atten 
tion to business. By this debility, 
his whole nervous system was so 
deranged, that for weeks together 
he was unable tosleep, and this pri- 
vation of rest, originating in debili- 
ty,still farther augmented the cause, 
so as to lead to a general breaking 
up of his constitution. An heredi- 
31 : tary 
