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！
compelled a great Austrian army to surrender at Ulm。 To the first faint
rumours of this calamity Pitt would give no credit。 He was irritated by the
alarms of those around him。 〃Do not believe a word of it；〃 he said： 〃It is
all a fiction。〃 The next day he received a Dutch newspaper containing the
capitulation。 He knew no Dutch。 It was Sunday； and the public offices
were shut。 He carried the paper to Lord Malmesbury； who had been
minister in Holland； and Lord Malmesbury translated it。 Pitt tried to bear
up； but the shock was too great； and he went away with death in his face。
The news of the battle of Trafalgar arrived four days later； and seemed
for a moment to revive him。 Forty…eight hours after that most glorious and
most mournful of victories had been announced to the country came the
Lord Mayor's day； and Pitt dined at Guildhall。 His popularity had declined。
But on this occasion the multitude； greatly excited by the recent tidings；
welcomed him enthusiastically； took off his horses in Cheapside； and drew
his carriage up King Street。 When his health was drunk； he returned thanks
in two or three of those stately sentences of which he had a boundless
command。 Several of those who heard him laid up his words in their hearts；
for they were the last words that he ever uttered in public： 〃Let us hope
that England； having saved herself by her energy； may save Europe by her
example。〃
This was but a momentary rally。 Austerlitz soon completed what Ulm
had begun。 Early in December Pitt had retired to Bath； in the hope that he
136
… Page 137…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
might there gather strength for the approaching session。 While he was
languishing there on his sofa arrived the news that a decisive battle had
been fought and lost in Moravia； that the coalition was dissolved； that the
Continent was at the feet of France。 He sank down under the blow。 Ten
days later he was so emaciated that his most intimate friends hardly knew
him。 He came up from Bath by slow journeys； and； on the 11th of January
1806； reached his villa at Putney。 Parliament was to meet on the 21st。 On
the 20th was to be the parliamentary dinner at the house of the First Lord
of the Treasury in Downing Street； and the cards were already issued。 But
the days of the great minister were numbered。 The only chance for his life；
and that a very slight chance； was that he should resign his office； and pass
some months in profound repose。 His colleagues paid him very short visits；
and carefully avoided political conversation。 But his spirit； long
accustomed to dominion； could not； even in that extremity； relinquish
hopes which everybody but himself perceived to be vain。 On the day on
which he was carried into his bedroom at Putney； the Marquess Wellesley；
whom he had long loved； whom he had sent to govern India； and whose
administration had been eminently able； energetic； and successful； arrived
in London after an absence of eight years。 The friends saw each other once
more。 There was an affectionate meeting； and a last parting。 That it was a
last parting Pitt did not seem to be aware。 He fancied himself to be
recovering； talked on various subjects cheerfully； and with an unclouded
mind； and pronounced a warm and discerning eulogium on the Marquess's
brother Arthur。 〃I never；〃 he said； 〃met with any military man with whom
it was so satisfactory to converse。〃 The excitement and exertion of this
interview were too much for the sick man。 He fainted away； and Lord
Wellesley left the house； convinced that the close was fast approaching。
And now members of Parliament were fast coming up to London。 The
chiefs of the opposition met for the purpose of considering the course to
be taken on the first day of the session。 It was easy to guess what would be
the language of the King's speech； and of the address which would be
moved in answer to that speech。 An amendment condemning the policy of
the government had been prepared； and was to have been proposed in the
House of Commons by Lord Henry Petty； a young nobleman who had
137
… Page 138…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
already won for himself that place in the esteem of his country which；
after the lapse of more than half a century； he still retains。 He was
unwilling； however； to come forward as the accuser of one who was
incapable of defending himself。 Lord Grenville； who had been informed of
Pitt's state by Lord Wellesley； and had been deeply affected by it； earnestly
recommended forbearance； and Fox； with characteristic generosity and
good nature； gave his voice against attacking his now helpless rival。 〃Sunt
lacrymae rerum；〃 he said； 〃et mentem mortalia tangunt。〃 On the first day；
therefore； there was no debate。 It was rumoured that evening that Pitt was
better。 But on the following morning his physicians pronounced that there
were no hopes。 The commanding faculties of which he had been too proud
were beginning to fail。 His old tutor and friend； the Bishop of Lincoln；
informed him of his danger； and gave such religious advice and
consolation as a confused and obscured mind could receive。 Stories were
told of devout sentiments fervently uttered by the dying man。 But these
stories found no credit with anybody who knew him。 Wilberforce
pronounced it impossible that they could be true。 〃Pitt；〃 he added； 〃was a
man who always said less than he thought on such topics。〃 It was asserted
in many after…dinner speeches； Grub Street elegies； and academic prize
poems and prize declamations； that the great minister died exclaiming；
〃Oh my country！〃 This is a fable； but it is true that the last words which he
uttered； while he knew what he said； were broken exclamations about the
alarming state of public affairs。 He ceased to breathe on the morning of the
23rd of January； 1806； the twenty…fifth anniversary of the day on which he
first took his seat in Parliament。 He was in his forty…seventh year； and had
been； during near nineteen years； First Lord of the Treasury； and
undisputed chief of the administration。 Since parliamentary government
was established in England； no English statesman has held supreme power
so long。 Walpole； it is true； was First Lord of the Treasury during more
than twenty years： but it was not till Walpole had been some time First
Lord of the Treasury that he could be properly called Prime Minister。
It was moved in the House of Commons that Pitt should be honoured
with a public funeral and a monument。 The motion was opposed by Fox in
a speech which deserves to be studied as a model of good taste and good
138
… Page 139…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
feeling。 The task was the most invidious that ever an orator undertook： but
it was performed with a humanity and delicacy which were warmly
acknowledged by the mourning friends of him who was gone。 The motion
was carried by 288 votes to 89。
The 22d of February was fixed for the funeral。 The corpse having lain
in state during two days in the Painted Chamber； was borne with great
pomp to the northern transept of the Abbey。 A splendid train of princes；
nobles； bishops； and privy councillors followed。 The grave of Pitt had
been made near to the spot where his great father lay； near also to the spot
where his great rival was soon to lie。 The sadness of the assistants was
beyond that of ordinary mourners。 For he whom they were committing to
the dust had died of sorrows and anxieties of which none of the survivors
could be altogether without a share。 Wilberforce； who carried the banner
before the hearse； described the awful ceremony with deep feeling。 As the
coffin descended into the earth； he said； the eagle face of Chatham from
above seemed to look down with consternation into the dark house which
was receiving all that remained of so much power and glory。
All parties in the House of Commons readily concurred in voting forty
thousand pounds to