Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketch Of The Life Of The Right Hon. William Pitt .
sentiments of future greatness . To the honour of Mr . Pitt it must be spoken , that he has been duly sensible of the care taken of his rising years . His instructors have received repeated marks of his acknowledgment . Dr . Wilson , his firt instructor , is now Canon of Windsor ; and one of his sons has a lucrative sinecure in Jamaica . The worthy Dr . Turner is Dean of Norwich ; Dr . Prettyman has received the Bishopric of Lincoln and the Deanery of St . Paul ' . s , and will , doubtless , not be overlooked in future promotions .
He was afterwards entered a student at Lincoln ' s Inn ; and after the usual period of term-keeping , was called to the bar , with every prospect of great success . ¦ It is said that he once or twice went upon the western circuit , and appeared as junior counsel in several causes . He was , however , destined to fill a more important station in the government of his country , than is usually to be obtained through the channel of the law .
At the general election , 17 S 0 , we find-him nominated by some of the most respectable persons in Cambridge as a candidate to represent that university ; but notwithstanding' his hig h character , he found very few to second his pretensions . In the following year , however , lie was returned for the borough of Appleby , by the interest of Sir J . Lowther . On taking his seat in the House of Commons , he enlisted himself on the side of the party which had constantly opposed the minister , Lord North , and the American war , and which regarded
him with a degree of veneration : recognising in his person the genius of his illustrious father , revived and acting , as it were , in him . One of his first acts as a member of the House of Commons , was extremely well calculated to increase his popularity ; this was his motion for a committee of the House of Commons to consult upon the most effeftual means to accomplish a more equal representation of the le in parliamentHis propositions were indeed rejected ; but he
peop . continued to repeat and renew them from time to time ; arid thus kept up the public attention to this great object , and made it more generally canvassed than it ever had been before . On the death of the great Marquis of Rockingham , the old Whig party fell into a state of disunion , nearly bordering upon dissolution . A new arrangement took lace soon alterand Lord Shelburne
bep , came the able first Lord of the Treasury , carrying , along with him Mr . Pitt , who astonished the country , and indeed all Europe , by the phenomenon of a Chancellor of the Exchequer at the age of twentythree ! His popularity at this period , effeftually screened him from every charge which his youth and inexperience miht havejustly warranted ,
g , and which were strongly urged against him by the opposite party . The situation of the country was extremely critical . The American war had become generally odious ; and all hearts panted for a cessation of hostilities . This desirable object was , therefore , the first com sideration with the new ministry .
The combined powers had recently experienced great humiliations , 2 nd consequently the opportunity was not to be lost . A general pe <; ce accordingly lock place ; but ' the terms of it were reprobated by
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketch Of The Life Of The Right Hon. William Pitt .
sentiments of future greatness . To the honour of Mr . Pitt it must be spoken , that he has been duly sensible of the care taken of his rising years . His instructors have received repeated marks of his acknowledgment . Dr . Wilson , his firt instructor , is now Canon of Windsor ; and one of his sons has a lucrative sinecure in Jamaica . The worthy Dr . Turner is Dean of Norwich ; Dr . Prettyman has received the Bishopric of Lincoln and the Deanery of St . Paul ' . s , and will , doubtless , not be overlooked in future promotions .
He was afterwards entered a student at Lincoln ' s Inn ; and after the usual period of term-keeping , was called to the bar , with every prospect of great success . ¦ It is said that he once or twice went upon the western circuit , and appeared as junior counsel in several causes . He was , however , destined to fill a more important station in the government of his country , than is usually to be obtained through the channel of the law .
At the general election , 17 S 0 , we find-him nominated by some of the most respectable persons in Cambridge as a candidate to represent that university ; but notwithstanding' his hig h character , he found very few to second his pretensions . In the following year , however , lie was returned for the borough of Appleby , by the interest of Sir J . Lowther . On taking his seat in the House of Commons , he enlisted himself on the side of the party which had constantly opposed the minister , Lord North , and the American war , and which regarded
him with a degree of veneration : recognising in his person the genius of his illustrious father , revived and acting , as it were , in him . One of his first acts as a member of the House of Commons , was extremely well calculated to increase his popularity ; this was his motion for a committee of the House of Commons to consult upon the most effeftual means to accomplish a more equal representation of the le in parliamentHis propositions were indeed rejected ; but he
peop . continued to repeat and renew them from time to time ; arid thus kept up the public attention to this great object , and made it more generally canvassed than it ever had been before . On the death of the great Marquis of Rockingham , the old Whig party fell into a state of disunion , nearly bordering upon dissolution . A new arrangement took lace soon alterand Lord Shelburne
bep , came the able first Lord of the Treasury , carrying , along with him Mr . Pitt , who astonished the country , and indeed all Europe , by the phenomenon of a Chancellor of the Exchequer at the age of twentythree ! His popularity at this period , effeftually screened him from every charge which his youth and inexperience miht havejustly warranted ,
g , and which were strongly urged against him by the opposite party . The situation of the country was extremely critical . The American war had become generally odious ; and all hearts panted for a cessation of hostilities . This desirable object was , therefore , the first com sideration with the new ministry .
The combined powers had recently experienced great humiliations , 2 nd consequently the opportunity was not to be lost . A general pe <; ce accordingly lock place ; but ' the terms of it were reprobated by