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lemonade parties at Milan； that the great man with whose name hers is
inseparably associated had ceased to exist。
He had； in spite of much mental and much bodily affliction； clung
vehemently to life。 The feeling described in that fine but gloomy paper
which closes the series of his Idlers seemed to grow stronger in him as his
last hour drew near。 He fancied that he should be able to draw his breath
more easily in a southern climate； and would probably have set out for
Rome and Naples； but for his fear of the expense of the journey。 That
expense； indeed； he had the means of defraying； for he had laid up about
two thousand pounds； the fruit of labours which had made the fortune of
several publishers。 But he was unwilling to break in upon this hoard； and
he seems to have wished even to keep its existence a secret。 Some of his
friends hoped that the government might be induced to increase his
pension to six hundred pounds a year： but this hope was disappointed； and
he resolved to stand one English winter more。 That winter was his last。 His
legs grew weaker； his breath grew shorter； the fatal water gathered fast； in
spite of incisions which he； courageous against pain； but timid against
death； urged his surgeons to make deeper and deeper。 Though the tender
care which had mitigated his sufferings during months of sickness at
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Streatham was withdrawn； he was not left desolate。 The ablest physicians
and surgeons attended him； and refused to accept fees from him。 Burke
parted from him with deep emotion。 Windham sate much in the sick room；
arranged the pillows； and sent his own servant to watch a night by the bed。
Frances Burney； whom the old man had cherished with fatherly kindness；
stood weeping at the door； while Langton； whose piety eminently
qualified him to be an adviser and comforter at such a time； received the
last pressure of his friend's hand within。 When at length the moment；
dreaded through so many years； came close； the dark cloud passed away
from Johnson's mind。 His temper became unusually patient and gentle； he
ceased to think with terror of death； and of that which lies beyond death；
and he spoke much of the mercy of God； and of the propitiation of Christ。
In this serene frame of mind he died on the 13th of December 1784。 He
was laid； a week later； in Westminster Abbey； among the eminent men of
whom he had been the historian；Cowley and Denham； Dryden and
Congreve； Gay； Prior； and Addison。
Since his death the popularity of his worksthe Lives of the Poets； and；
perhaps； the Vanity of Human Wishes； exceptedhas greatly diminished。
His Dictionary has been altered by editors till it can scarcely be called his。
An allusion to his Rambler or his Idler is not readily apprehended in
literary circles。 The fame even of Rasselas has grown somewhat dim。 But；
though the celebrity of the writings may have declined； the celebrity of the
writer； strange to say； is as great as ever。 Boswell's book has done for him
more than the best of his own books could do。 The memory of other
authors is kept alive by their works。 But the memory of Johnson keeps
many of his works alive。 The old philosopher is still among us in the
brown coat with the metal buttons and the shirt which ought to be at wash；
blinking； puffing； rolling his head； drumming with his fingers； tearing his
meat like a tiger； and swallowing his tea in oceans。 No human being who
has been more than seventy years in the grave is so well known to us。 And
it is but just to say that our intimate acquaintance with what he would
himself have called the anfractuosities of his intellect and of his temper
serves only to strengthen our conviction that he was both a great and a
good man。
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。。。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
WILLIAM PITT。
（January 1859。）
William Pitt； the second son of William Pitt； Earl of Chatham； and of
Lady Hester Granville； daughter of Hester Countess Temple； was born on
the 28th of May 1759。 The child inherited a name which； at the time of his
birth； was the most illustrious in the civilised world； and was pronounced
by every Englishman with pride； and by every enemy of England with
mingled admiration and terror。 During the first year of his life； every
month had its illuminations and bonfires； and every wind brought some
messenger charged with joyful tidings and hostile standards。 In Westphalia
the English infantry won a great battle which arrested the armies of Louis
the Fifteenth in the midst of a career of conquest； Boscawen defeated one
French fleet on the coast of Portugal； Hawke put to flight another in the
Bay of Biscay； Johnson took Niagara； Amherst took Ticonderoga； Wolfe
died by the most enviable of deaths under the walls of Quebec； Clive
destroyed a Dutch armament in the Hooghly； and established the English
supremacy in Bengal； Coote routed Lally at Wandewash； and established
the English supremacy in the Carnatic。 The nation； while loudly
applauding the successful warriors； considered them all； on sea and on
land； in Europe； in America； and in Asia； merely as instruments which
received their direction from one superior mind。 It was the great William
Pitt； the great commoner； who had vanquished French marshals in
Germany； and French admirals on the Atlantic； who had conquered for his
country one great empire on the frozen shores of Ontario； and another
under the tropical sun near the mouths of the Ganges。 It was not in the
nature of things that popularity such as he at this time enjoyed should be
permanent。 That popularity had lost its gloss before his children were old
enough to understand that their father was a great man。 He was at length
placed in situations in which neither his talents for administration nor his
talents for debate appeared to the best advantage。 The energy and decision
which had eminently fitted him for the direction of war were not needed in
time of peace。 The lofty and spirit…stirring eloquence which had made him
supreme in the House of Commons often fell dead on the House of Lords。
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A cruel malady racked his joints； and left his joints only to fall on his
nerves and on his brain。 During the closing years of his life； he was odious
to the court； and yet was not on cordial terms with the great body of the
opposition。 Chatham was only the ruin of Pitt； but an awful and majestic
ruin； not to be contemplated by any man of sense and feeling without
emotions resembling those which are excited by the remains of the
Parthenon and of the Coliseum。 In one respect the old statesman was
eminently happy。 Whatever might be the vicissitudes of his public life； he
never failed to find peace and love by his own hearth。 He loved all his
children； and was loved by them； and； of all his children； the one of whom
he was fondest and proudest was his second son。
The child's genius and ambition displayed themselves with a rare and
almost unnatural precocity。 At seven； the interest which he took in grave
subjects； the ardour with which he pursued his studies； and the sense and
vivacity of his remarks on books and on events； amazed his parents and
instructors。 One of his sayings of this date was reported to his mother by
his tutor。 In August 1766； when the world was agitated by the news that
Mr Pitt had become Earl of Chatham； little William exclaimed； 〃I am glad
that I am not the eldest son。 I want to speak in the House of Commons like
papa。〃 A letter is extant in which Lady Chatham； a woman of considerable
abilities； remarked to her lord； that thei