按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
To modern literature Pitt paid comparatively little attention。 He knew
no living language except French； and French he knew very imperfectly。
With a few of the best English writers he was intimate； particularly with
Shakspeare and Milton。 The debate in Pandemonium was； as it well
deserved to be； one of his favourite passages； and his early friends used to
talk； long after his death； of the just emphasis and the melodious cadence
with which they had heard him recite the incomparable speech of Belial。
He had indeed been carefully trained from infancy in the art of managing
his voice； a voice naturally clear and deep…toned。 His father； whose oratory
owed no small part of its effect to that art； had been a most skilful and
judicious instructor。 At a later period； the wits of Brookes's； irritated by
observing； night after night； how powerfully Pitt's sonorous elocution
fascinated the rows of country gentlemen； reproached him with having
been 〃taught by his dad on a stool。〃
His education； indeed； was well adapted to form a great parliamentary
87
… Page 88…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
speaker。 One argument often urged against those classical studies which
occupy so large apart of the early life of every gentleman bred in the south
of our island is； that they prevent him from acquiring a command of his
mother tongue； and that it is not unusual to meet with a youth of excellent
parts； who writes Ciceronian Latin prose and Horatian Latin Alcaics； but
who would find it impossible to express his thoughts in pure； perspicuous；
and forcible English。 There may perhaps be some truth in this observation。
But the classical studies of Pitt were carried on in a peculiar manner； and
had the effect of enriching his English vocabulary； and of making him
wonderfully expert in the art of constructing correct English sentences。
His practice was to look over a page or two of a Greek or Latin author； to
make himself master of the meaning； and then to read the passage
straightforward into his own language。 This practice； begun under his first
teacher Wilson； was continued under Pretyman。 It is not strange that a
young man of great abilities； who had been exercised daily in this way
during ten years； should have acquired an almost unrivalled power of
putting his thoughts； without premeditation； into words well selected and
well arranged。
Of all the remains of antiquity； the orations were those on which he
bestowed the most minute examination。 His favourite employment was to
compare harangues on opposite sides of the same question； to analyse
them； and to observe which of the arguments of the first speaker were
refuted by the second； which were evaded； and which were left untouched。
Nor was it only in books that he at this time studied the art of
parliamentary fencing。 When he was at home； he had frequent
opportunities of hearing important debates at Westminster； and he heard
them； not only with interest and enjoyment； but with a close scientific
attention resembling that with which a diligent pupil at Guy's Hospital
watches every turn of the hand of a great surgeon through a difficult
operation。 On one of these occasions； Pitt； a youth whose abilities were as
yet known only to his own family and to a small knot of college friends；
was introduced on the steps of the throne in the House of Lords to Fox；
who was his senior by eleven years； and who was already the greatest
debater； and one of the greatest orators； that had appeared in England。 Fox
88
… Page 89…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
used afterwards to relate that； as the discussion proceeded； Pitt repeatedly
turned to him； and said； 〃But surely； Mr Fox； that might be met thus；〃 or；
〃Yes； but he lays himself open to this retort。〃 What the particular
criticisms were Fox had forgotten； but he said that he was much struck at
the time by the precocity of the lad who； through the whole sitting； seemed
to be thinking only how all the speeches on both sides could be answered。
One of the young man's visits to the House of Lords was a sad and
memorable era in his life。 He had not quite completed his nineteenth year；
when； on the 7th of April 1778； he attended his father to Westminster。 A
great debate was expected。 It was known that France had recognised the
independence of the United States。 The Duke of Richmond was about to
declare his opinion that all thought of subjugating those states ought to be
relinquished。 Chatham had always maintained that the resistance of the
colonies to the mother country was justifiable。 But he conceived； very
erroneously； that on the day on which their independence should be
acknowledged the greatness of England would be at an end。 Though
sinking under the weight of years and infirmities； he determined； in spite
of the entreaties of his family； to be in his place。 His son supported him to
a seat。 The excitement and exertion were too much for the old man。 In the
very act of addressing the peers； he fell back in convulsions。 A few weeks
later his corpse was borne； with gloomy pomp； from the Painted Chamber
to the Abbey。 The favourite child and namesake of the deceased statesman
followed the coffin as chief mourner； and saw it deposited in the transept
where his own was destined to lie。
His elder brother； now Earl of Chatham； had means sufficient； and
barely sufficient； to support the dignity of the peerage。 The other members
of the family were poorly provided for。 William had little more than three
hundred a year。 It was necessary for him to follow a profession。 He had
already begun to eat his terms。 In the spring of 1780 he came of age。 He
then quitted Cambridge； was called to the bar； took chambers in Lincoln's
Inn； and joined the western circuit。 In the autumn of that year a general
election took place； and he offered himself as a candidate for the
university； but he was at the bottom of the poll。 It is said that the grave
doctors； who then sate robed in scarlet； on the benches of Golgotha；
89
… Page 90…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
thought it great presumption in so young a man to solicit so high a
distinction。 He was； however； at the request of a hereditary friend； the
Duke of Rutland； brought into Parliament by Sir James Lowther for the
borough of Appleby。
The dangers of the country were at that time such as might well have
disturbed even a constant mind。 Army after army had been sent in vain
against the rebellious colonists of North America。 On pitched fields of
battle the advantage had been with the disciplined troops of the mother
country。 But it was not on pitched fields of battle that the event of such a
contest could be decided。 An armed nation； with hunger and the Atlantic
for auxiliaries； was not to be subjugated。 Meanwhile the House of
Bourbon； humbled to the dust a few years before by the genius and vigour
of Chatham； had seized the opportunity of revenge。 France and Spain were
united against us； and had recently been joined by Holland。 The command
of the Mediterranean had been for a time lost。 The British flag had been
scarcely able to maintain itself in the British Channel。 The northern
powers professed neutrality； but their neutrality had a menacing aspect。 In
the East； Hyder had descended on the Carnatic； had destroyed the little
army of Baillie； and had spread terror even to the ramparts of Fort Saint
George。 The discontents of Ireland threatened nothing less than civil war。
In England the authority of the government had sunk to the lowest point。
The King and the House of Commons were alike unpopular。 The cry for
parliamentary reform was scarcely less loud and vehement than in the
autumn of 1830。 For