( '35 ) 
clans of the Machiavelian fchool, have ap- 
peared ridiculous ; but I will venture to af- 
firm, that, if Mr. Pitt, be his abilities what 
they may, had been a gambler, or had been 
known to debafe human nature by any fpe- 
cies of debauchery, we fhould never have 
beheld him in his prefent exaltation. Lord 
North, by a feries of unfuccefsful attempts 
to prevent the independence of our Ameri- 
can brethren, had loft the confidence of the 
nation, and, by an enormous accumulation 
of the national debt, had ruined our credit 
both at home and abroad. So (ituated, no 
human policy or power, without an imme- 
diate restoration of that credit, could have 
faved us from abfolute perdition. 
Now, to produce this great, this impor- 
tant effecT:, it was neceflary to chufe a firfl 
Minifter eminently confpicuous for abili- 
ties, application, knowledge, refolution and 
integrity. It feems very extraordinary that 
thefe five efTentials fhould have been generally 
perceived and acknowledged in fo young a 
man. 
The firfl of thefe abilities, that is, a capa- 
city to learn, is doubtlefs a boon from Na- 
ture: in this boon, however, fhe is more ge- 
nerally liberal than Indolence is willing to 
j 4 allow. 
