528 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1810. 



Mr. Pitt without correcting the 

 erroneous impression which has 

 too generally prevailed, that he 

 was, in society, cold, distant, and 

 reserved. So far from it, that, in 

 relation to private life, he was no 

 less amiable, than he was eminent 

 in his public conduct ; and, in the 

 company of his select friends, none 

 charmed more by the ease, play- 

 fulness, and vivacity of conversa- 

 tion. He possessed a peculiar 

 sweetness and equanimity of tem- 

 per, which under all the varying 

 circumstances of health and sick- 

 ness, of good and adverse fortune, 

 was never ruffled. The victory of 

 Trafalgar, though he felt at it the 

 honest pride of an Enghshman, 

 elated him to no unbecoming 

 height; nor did the overthrow of 

 his dearest hopes at Austerlitz, 

 though it affected him most sen- 

 sibly, sink him to an unmanly de- 

 jection. Yet this calmness and self- 

 possession arose not from any apa- 

 thy or coldness ; on the contrary, 

 the varied expression of his coun- 

 tenance, and the fire of his eye, 

 shewed him to be what he really 

 was, exquisitely sensible to every 

 feeling ; but they were the natural 

 result of a strong and well regu- 

 lated mind ; of the conscious rec- 

 titude of his measures, and of the 

 happy mildness of his disposition. 

 The same benevolence and sim- 

 plicity of heartstronglyraarked his 

 manners and deportment, which 

 were in the highest degree prepos- 

 sessing. They bespoke the total 

 absence of any thing like morose- 

 ness in his nature. With the most 

 playful vivacity he assumed no su- 

 periority in conversation, nor ever 

 oppressedany man with the strength 

 of his talents or the brilliancy of 

 his wit. It was matter of surprise 

 how so much fire could be miti- 



gated, and yet not enfeebled, by 

 so much gentleness, and how such 

 power could be so delightful. Mo- 

 desty was a striking feature in 

 Mr. Pitt's character ; he was at- 

 tentive to the humblest, and kindly 

 patient to the weakest opinions. 

 No man was ever more beloved 

 by his friends, or inspired those 

 who had the happiness of living 

 in his society with a more sincere 

 and affectionate attachment. In 

 his conduct he was rigidly just, 

 and strictly moral ; and, as his 

 virtues were greater, so his fail- 

 ings were less, than fall to the lot 

 of most men. 



A Day and a Night at Tongata- 

 boo, illustrating the Manners 

 and Customs of the Tongala- 

 boos. \_From an authentic Nar- 

 rative of Four Years Residence 

 at Tougataboo.'] 



The house of Mulkaamair, with 

 whom I resided, was very spacious; 

 its length was fifty feet. It was 

 of an oval form. One large and 

 lofty post was fixed in the centre ; 

 and round it, in an oval circle, 

 were placed less posts, at equal 

 distances, which formed the sides 

 of the habitation. Upon these 

 posts layers were fixed, to which 

 rafters were fastened, that extend- 

 ed to the pillar in the middle, and 

 united the whole building with it. 

 The inside of the roof was orna- 

 mented with warm beautiful mat- 

 ting, which was sheltered on the 

 outside with a skilful intertexture 

 of the branches of the plantain tree. 

 In rainy weather, screens of mat- 

 ting, called Takkabou, made of 

 branchesofthecocoa- nut-tree, were 

 fastened to the side posts, which al- 

 most reached the eaves, and left 



