that the late George Ellis, Esq.† one of the first scholars in Europe, author of "Specimens of Early Poetry," &c. noticed Mr. Pitt in the second number of the " Rolliad," in the following words:

"Pert without fire; without experience sage.”

Mr. Pitt, so far from being indignant at this unjust invective, immediately cultivated the friendship of Mr. Ellis, which continued unabated, glowing and enthusiastic, until the period of the death of the former.

Mr. Pitt's popularity was considerably diminished by the imposition of the shop-tax: this impolitic assessment excited great dissatisfaction throughout the kingdom, but especially in the metropolis of the British empire; and when, agreeable to civic etiquette, Mr. Pitt, with the rest of the cabinet ministers, were invited, on the inauguration of the chief magistrate, commonly termed, "Lord Mayor's Day," to the banquet at the Guildhall, the premier was very indignantly treated by the populace. Unbending as Mr. Pitt's disposition was, he found it expedient to withdraw a tax so justly made a subject of public obloquy; and in its system so peculiarly injurious to the interests of trade and commerce. The afflicting malady which occasioned a suspension of his Majesty's exercise of the regal functions, caused Mr. Pitt to introduce the famous Regency Bill into parliament, which placed the reins of government, during his Majesty's indisposition, in the hauds of the Queen. It was during the debates on this momentons subject, that Mr. Burke, speaking of the calamitous event, said, "That Divine Providence had hurled the King from his throne;" and that Lord Thurlow, in the house of peers, exclaimed, “If I forget my King, may God forget me." The happy recovery of his Majesty rendered the provisions of the bill useless; but the supposed indignity offered to the heir apparent to the crown, created Mr. Pitt many enemies.

A dispute afterwards took place between Mr. Pitt, and that able and zealous servant of the crown, Lord Thurlow, relative to a proposed excise on tobacco; which the, latter strenuously opposed, and in consequence resigned the seals, which were given to Lord Loughborough.

This elegant writer died early in April, 1815.

At the breaking out of the French revolution the Bri tish cabinet remained neutral; but after the death of the King, the dismissal of M. Chauvelin, led to the commencement of hostilities; and England, under the guidance of Mr. Pitt, was at the head of the confederated powers allied against France. There was a strong party in parliament adverse to the interference of Great Britain with the affairs of France; but the Duke of Portland, Mr. Burke, and Mr. Windham, who had hitherto been in opposition to Mr. Pitt, enrolled themselves among his partisans. During the events of that sanguinary war which resulted from the French revolution, Great Britain enjoyed a state of enviable tranquillity, and was an asylum for thousands, who fled from their native soil, for the preservation of their existence, and their liberty. But many of the taxes brought forward by Mr. Pitt, to defray the expences of the war, were highly unpopular, amongst which were the assessed taxes; and the tax upon income. In the summer of 1798, a smart altercation took place between Mr. Pitt and the Right Honorable George Tierney, in the house of commons, in consequence of which a duel took place between those gentlemen, on Wimbledon Common; but in which neither of them were wounded.

Mr. Pitt maintained his situation, as prime minister till the elevation of Napoleon, whom he he had often denominated "The Child of Jacobinisin," to be first consut of France; soon after which he resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. Addington. Here closed the brilliant period of Mr. Pitt's life as a stasesman; here closed the career of his glory. In the short period of his last administration, oh! what a falling off was there; the powers of his mind were enfeebled; his transcendent talents impaired, until he gradually sunk into the arms of death. The fatal battle of Austerlitz laid near his heart, and his dying words were singularly emphatic.

"Alas! My Country!" The news of his approaching

An Income, or Property Tax, is of very ancient date. Conarus, King of Scotland, who reigned at the time when Adrian, was Emperor of Rome, made a law (says Buchanan), “ that a valuation of every man's estate should be made, and a proportionable tax imposed on each individual."--Buchanan's History of Scotland, vol. i. p. 157, 8vo. edition, by Bond. See also Cullen's History of Scotland, now publishing.

dissolution produced an awful sensation in the British senate; and, upon his death, a funeral was decreed at the public expence, and a monument to be erected to his memory in Westminster-abbey,† where the mortal remains of this great man were deposited with splendid funeral honors. The corporation of the city of London also ordered a monument to be erected to his memory in the Guildhall.‡

There have been few instances in which a public character has been so glaringly misrepresented, as that of Mr. Pitt; he has been eulogised to the skies on the one hand, while on the other hand, he has been insidiously represented as an enemy to the best interests. of his country. To give an opinion as to the merits, or demerits, of Mr. Pitt, as a statesman, requires a decided spirit of impartiality; and a fair criterion is offered in the existing circumstances of the times in which he lived. He was indeed a " Pilot who weathered a Storm" of the most boisterous and desolating nature. In preserving his country from intestine commotion, when all Europe was convulsed, and when there was a predominant spirit of disaffection prevalent, might justly designate him as the saviour of his country; so far Mr. Pitt may be ranked as a great minister, and may be compared with Sir Francis Walsingham, the wise and able minister of Queen Elizabeth, whom he also resembled in his disinterestedness; like him, dying insolvent. But Mr. Pitt was peculiarly unfortunate in his foreign alliances; and in those enterprises denominated secret expeditions. An immense deal of money was lavished in loans improvidently granted, and, in some instances, without the consent of parliament. The allies were frequently paid for doing their own business, and largely too; and the consequence was, that some of them placed themselves under French dominion. And those expeditions to which we have alluded, which took place under his administration, from unskilful management, were almost always unsuccessful; indeed it was a solecism in language to entitle them "secret expeditions," when the enemy was

+ It has lately been executed by Westmacott.

This monument exhibits a striking likeness of Mr. PITT, and has a verbose panegyric inscription, by the right honorable George Canning. It is admirably executed by Mr. Bubb.

apprised of their destination, even before the forces to be employed had been embarked.

There was also a degree of culpable jealousy in Mr. Pitt, of having coadjutors of eminent talents, connected with him, which was of essential injury to the public welfare. Under such a man as Mr. Pitt, every department should have been filled up with men of talent. There should have been a concentration of political science, and then what might not have been expected, the mighty spirit, the great soul of Pitt, pervading the whole? But the associates of that statesman were composed of persons chiefly known as his private friends, persons who had been fostered under his patronage, and who were familiarly denominated, "The School of Pitt."

Another defect in the political character of Mr. Pitt was, that he adopted that mean line of policy which excited him to bribe his avowed enemies; while he suffered many persons who had, from motives of attachment to his principles, volunteered their services, to pass neglected and unnoticed. There are specks in the sun; there are flaws in the best; and the political character of Mr. Pitt, notwithstanding the defects of this eminent statesman was luminous, he was raised up by heaven to render essential services to his country, and his name will ever shine resplendent in the annals of English history.

As an orator, none could excel, and few could equal Mr. Pitt: his manner was clasically Ciceronian. The beginning of his speeches were delivered in a slow and deliberate manner, as he advanced he was gradually animated with his subject. His exordium was impressibly beautiful, but his peroration generally consisted of a climax so truly grand and sublime, as to occasion the utmost degree of admiration, mingled with astonishment.‡

We may except the ingenious author of the " Protest against Paine's Rights of Man.”

What Saurin was in the pulpit, Pitt was in the senate. The author of this work has been in the House of Commons, when at the close of one of Mr. Pitt's speeches, there has been such an impression made, as absorbed, for a few minutes, every other feeling-a solemn pause of admiration, when even Mr. Fox has been deeply affeeted.

CHAP. XI.

Confederation of the Rhine. Correspondence between Mr. Fox and M. Talleyrand. Differences between Prussia and France. Murder of M. Palm.

THE impolitic conduct of the Emperor Francis II. in signing the treaty of Presburgh, placed the Germanic empire at the disposal of Bonaparte; the forms of the constitution were left; the Emperor had an outward visible sign of authority, but the essence of power was with his rival; and with strict degree of wily caution, which ever distinguished Bonaparte, he had bound down the Emperor of Germany to terms which would gradually acquire him a proud ascendancy over that empire. Na poleon had projected a plan for forming a grand confederation of princes, at the head of which he should be placed. The Emperor of Russia found it best calculated for the prosperity of his vast dominions, to preserve peace and amity with France, and a negociation was entered into between General Clarke,† and M. D'Oubril, the Russian minister, in which the new arrangement was fixed as to Germany. At the head of this confederation was first placed the Emperor Napoleon, the King of Bavaria, the Elector of Wirtemberg, now created by Bonaparte King of Wirtemberg; the Archbishop of Ratisbon, the Elector of Baden, the Duke of Berg, the Landgrave of Hesse Darmstadt, the Prince of Nassau Weilburg, the Prince of Nassau Usingen, the Prince of HohenzollernHechingen, and the Prince of Hohenzollern-Fieymarigen; the two Princes of Salm, the Prince of Isenburg, the Prince of Birstein, the Prince of Lichtenstein, the Duke of Aremburg, and the Count of Lucen; the Archduke Ferdinand afterwards joined. This confederation was stiled, "The Confederation of the Rhine." The articles stated, that those distingu'shed persons had separated from the German empire, disclaiming all connexion with it. They also agreed to appoint a diet to be held at Frankfort, to manage their public concerns, and arrange affairs.

Now DUKE DE FELTRE,