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to humanity had made incapable of supporting himself by vigorous and
sustained exertion。 Nowhere had Chatham been praised with more
enthusiasm； or in verse more worthy of the subject； than in the Task。 The
son of Chatham； however； contented himself with reading and admiring
the book； and left the author to starve。 The pension which； long after；
enabled poor Cowper to close his melancholy life； unmolested by duns
and bailiffs； was obtained for him by the strenuous kindness of Lord
Spencer。 What a contrast between the way in which Pitt acted towards
Johnson and the way in which Lord Grey acted towards his political
enemy Scott； when Scott； worn out by misfortune and disease； was
advised to try the effect of the Italian air！ What a contrast between the way
in which Pitt acted towards Cowper and the way in which Burke； a poor
man and out of place； acted towards Crabbe！ Even Dundas； who made no
pretensions to literary taste； and was content to be considered as a
hardheaded and somewhat coarse man of business； was； when compared
with his eloquent and classically educated friend； a Maecenas or a Leo。
Dundas made Burns an exciseman； with seventy pounds a year； and this
was more than Pitt； during his long tenure of power； did for the
encouragement of letters。 Even those who may think that it is； in general；
no part of the duty of a government to reward literary merit will hardly
deny that a government； which has much lucrative church preferment in its
gift； is bound； in distributing that preferment； not to overlook divines
whose writings have rendered great service to the cause of religion。 But it
seems never to have occurred to Pitt that he lay under any such obligation。
All the theological works of all the numerous bishops whom he made and
translated are not； when put together； worth fifty pages of the Horae
Paulinae； of the Natural Theology； or of the View of the Evidences of
Christianity。 But on Paley the all…powerful minister never bestowed the
small benefice。 Artists Pitt reasoned as contemptuously as writers。 For
painting he did simply nothing。 Sculptors； who had been selected to
execute monuments voted by Parliament； had to haunt the ante…chambers
of the Treasury during many years before they could obtain a farthing
from him。 One of them； after vainly soliciting the minister for payment
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
during fourteen years； had the courage to present a memorial to the King；
and thus obtained tardy and ungracious justice。 Architects it was
absolutely necessary to employ； and the worst that could be found seem to
have been employed。 Not a single fine public building of any kind or in
any style was erected during his long administration。 It may be confidently
affirmed that no ruler whose abilities and attainments would bear any
comparison with his has ever shown such cold disdain for what is
excellent in arts and letters。
His first administration lasted seventeen years。 That long period is
divided by a strongly marked line into two almost exactly equal parts。 The
first part ended and the second began in the autumn of 1792。 Throughout
both parts Pitt displayed in the highest degree the talents of a
parliamentary leader。 During the first part he was a fortunate and； in many
respects； a skilful administrator。 With the difficulties which he had to
encounter during the second part he was altogether incapable of
contending： but his eloquence and his perfect mastery of the tactics of the
House of Commons concealed his incapacity from the multitude。
The eight years which followed the general election of 1784 were as
tranquil and prosperous as any eight years in the whole history of England。
Neighbouring nations which had lately been in arms against her； and
which had flattered themselves that； in losing her American colonies； she
had lost a chief source of her wealth and of her power； saw； with wonder
and vexation； that she was more wealthy and more powerful than ever。 Her
trade increased。 Her manufactures flourished。 Her exchequer was full to
overflowing。 Very idle apprehensions were generally entertained； that the
public debt； though much less than a third of the debt which we now bear
with ease； would be found too heavy for the strength of the nation。 Those
apprehensions might not perhaps have been easily quieted by reason。 But
Pitt quieted them by a juggle。 He succeeded in persuading first himself；
and then the whole nation； his opponents included； that a new sinking fund；
which； so far as it differed from former sinking funds； differed for the
worse； would； by virtue of some mysterious power of propagation
belonging to money； put into the pocket of the public creditor great sums
not taken out of the pocket of the tax…payer。 The country； terrified by a
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
danger which was no danger； hailed with delight and boundless confidence
a remedy which was no remedy。 The minister was almost universally
extolled as the greatest of financiers。 Meanwhile both the branches of the
House of Bourbon found that England was as formidable an antagonist as
she had ever been。 France had formed a plan for reducing Holland to
vassalage。 But England interposed； and France receded。 Spain interrupted
by violence the trade of our merchants with the regions near the Oregon。
But England armed； and Spain receded。 Within the island there was
profound tranquillity。 The King was； for the first time； popular。 During the
twenty…three years which had followed his accession he had not been
loved by his subjects。 His domestic virtues were acknowledged。 But it was
generally thought that the good qualities by which he was distinguished in
private life were wanting to his political character。 As a Sovereign； he was
resentful； unforgiving； stubborn； cunning。 Under his rule the country had
sustained cruel disgraces and disasters； and every one of those disgraces
and disasters was imputed to his strong antipathies； and to his perverse
obstinacy in the wrong。 One statesman after another complained that he
had been induced by royal caresses； intreaties； and promises； to undertake
the direction of affairs at a difficult conjuncture； and that； as soon as he
had； not without sullying his fame； and alienating his best friends； served
the turn for which he was wanted； his ungrateful master began to intrigue
against him； and to canvass against him。 Grenville； Rockingham； Chatham；
men of widely different characters； but all three upright and high…spirited；
agreed in thinking that the Prince under whom they had successively held
the highest place in government was one of the most insincere of mankind。
His confidence was reposed； they said； not in those known and responsible
counsellors to whom he had delivered the seals of office； but in secret
advisers who stole up the back stairs into his closet。 In Parliament his
ministers； while defending themselves against the attacks of the opposition
in front； were perpetually； at his instigation； assailed on the flank or in the
rear by a vile band of mercenaries who called themselves his friends。
These men constantly； while in possession of lucrative places in his
service； spoke and voted against bills which he had authorised the First
Lord of the Treasury or the Secretary of State to bring in。 But from the day
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on which Pitt was placed at the head of affairs there was an end of secret
influence。 His haughty and aspiring spirit was not to be satisfied with the
mere show of power。 Any attemp