of St. James's, Westminster. Dr. Kippis says, that "Dr. Aken side was very much devoted to the study of ancient literature, and was a great admirer particularly of Plato, Cicero, and the best philosophers of antiquity. His knowledge and taste in this re spect are conspicious in his poems, and in the notes and illustrations which he hath annexed to them."-A most ardent spirit of liberty also breathes through Dr. Akenside's works ;" and "his high veneration for the Supreme Being, his noble sentiments of the wisdom and benevolence of the Divine Providence, and his zeal for the cause of virtue, are apparent in all his poems."

In 1772, Mr. Dyson published, in 4to. a beautiful and complete edition of Dr. Akenside's poems, with his last corrections> and improvements; and they have since been re-printed in various forms.

Among the smaller pieces of Akenside, is the following inscription for a column at Runnymede :

"THOU, who the verdant plain dost traverse here,
While Thames among his willows from thy view
Retires; O stranger, stay thee, and the scene
Around contemplate well. This is the place
Where England's ancient barons, clad in arms,
And stern with conquest, from their tyrant king
(Then rendered tame) did challenge and secure
The charter of thy freedom. Pass not on
Till thou hast bless'd their memory, and paid
Those thanks which God appointed the reward
Of public virtue. And if chance thy home
Salute thee with a father's honor'd name,
Go call thy sons; instruct them what a debt
They owe their ancestors; and make them swear

To pay it, by transmitting down intire

Those sacred rights to which themselves were born."

*Authorities. Biog. Brit. second edt. Johnson's Lives of

the poets. Akenside's Works.

THIS illustrious statesman was born on the 15th of November, 1708. His grandfather was Thomas Pitt, esq. some time gover- : nor of Madras; and who sold to the king of France, for £135,000, the celebrated diamond, commonly known by the appellation of Pitt's diamond. His father was Robert Pitt, esq. of Boconneck, in Cornwall. After having received a iberal education, he entered into the army, and became a cornet of horse; but he seems soon to have discovered, as one of his biographers has expressed it, "that the senate, and not the camp, the cabinet, and not the field, were the scenes for which nature had destined him." Accordingly, he obtained a seat in the house of commons, as representative for the borough of Old Sarum. He soon distinguished himself in parliament, and particularly spoke with great eloquence against the Spanish convention in 1738. He also opposed the bill for registering seamen, which was brought. into parliament in 1743, as a very arbitrary and indefensible act; upon which, Mr. Horatio Walpole thought proper to attack him with some personal sarcasms. He reflected upon his youth; and observed, that the discovery of truth was very little prompted by pompous diction, and theatrical emotion. These insinuations exposed him to a severe reply. Mr. Pitt standing up again, said, " he would not undertake to determine, whether youth could be justly imputed to any man as a reproach; but he affirmed, that the wretch who after having seen the consequences of repeated errors, continues still to blunder, and whose age has only added obstinancy to stupidity, is surely the object of either abhorrence or contempt, and deserves not that his grey head should secure him from insults: much more is he to be abhorred, who as he advanced in age, has receded from virtue, and becomes more wicked with less temptation; who pro

stitutes himself for money which he cannot enjoy; and spends the remains of his life in the ruin of his country."

Some time before this, Mr. Pitt had been appointed a groom of the bed-chamber to Frederick prince of Wales; but that office he resigned in 1745. In consideration of his opposition to the measures of the ministry in parliament, on various occasions, the duchess dowager of Marlborough left him a legacy of £10,000,

upon account," as her will expresses it, "of his merit in the noble defence he has made for the support of the laws of England, and to prevent the ruin of his country."

In 1746, Mr. Pitt was made joint vice-treasurer of Ireland, and the same year, treasurer and paymaster-general of the army, and privy-counsellor. But in 1755, he strongly opposed the continental connexions which were entered into by the ministry; though he afterwards relaxed upon that subject, finding that power was not to be obtained without complying with the king's views and prejudices as elector of Hanover. After having resigned his former places, and been some time out of office, on the 4th of December, 1756, he was appointed secretary of state for the southern department.

In this situation, he obtained the confidence of the public to a very high degree; but in consequence of some court intrigues, and his not being willing to comply with all the private views of the king, which were sometimes inconsistent with the real interests of the nation, he received the royal command to resign his office. Some other of his friends, and particularly Mr. Legge, chancellor of the exchequer, were also removed from their posts. But the people of England, attracted by the consummate eloquence of Mr. Pitt, by his singular disinterestedness, and the supposed purity of his views, united to look to him, as to the person in whom they confided, for the salvation of their country. Indeed, the whole nation seemed to rise up as one man, in vindication of the character of the displaced patriots, The most respectable cities and corporations presented them with the freedom of their respective bodies; and addresses were sent up from all parts of the king. dom, soliciting their restoration to their different employments. King George II. therefore, found it necessary to comply with the wishes of the people; and accordingly on the 29th of June, 1757,

Mr. Legge was

Mr. Pitt was now

Mr. Pitt was again appointed secretary of state. also again made chancellor of the exchequer. considered as prime minister; and this office, it has been remarked, he held till October 5, 1761, with such honor to himself, such glory to the nation, and so greatly to the satisfaction of the people in general, as never any minister in this kingdom before experienced. The ministry which preceded him had been unfortunate and unpopular. They had carried on the war, in which the nation was then engaged, without ability, and without spirit. But never was the great scene of things so suddenly shifted, as one of his biographers remarks, as after Mr. Pitt came into power. "Whatever comprehensive genius, extended intelligence, deep political' knowledge, and indefatigable industry could effect, was ours. From torpid supineness, we astonished the enemy with unremitted activity. Not a ship, not a man, was suffered to remain unemployed. Europe, America, Africa, felt the influence of Mr. Pitt's character in an instant. His glory, in the mean time, advanced like a regular fabric. Gradual in its commencement, it however discovered, to the discerning eye, a grandeur of design, and promised the most magnificent effect. By degrees, it disclosed beauty, utility and majesty; it outstretched the eye of the spectator, and hid its head among the clouds." Under the auspices of Mr. Pitt, Amherst and Boscawen reduced Cape Breton ; Wolf and Saunders triumphed at Quebec ; Goree and Senegal were subjugated to the crown of Great Britain; the French were ruined in the East Indies; and their armies defeated in Europe; Belleisle was rent from their monarchy; their coasts were insulted and ravaged, their fleets destroyed; their trade annihilated, and their state reduced even to bankruptcy.

On the 25th of October, 1760, died George II. king of Great Britain, in the 77th year of his age; and was succeeded by his grandson, now George III. eldest son to Frederick prince of Wales. The new king ascended the throne with great advantages. His being a native of England prejudiced the people in his favor ; and at the time of his accession, Great Britain was in a very high degree of reputation and prosperity. The popularity of Mr. Pitt at this time had risen to a great height; but his popularity appeared to give no satisfaction to the king. As Mr. Pitt had conduct,

ed the war against France with such eminent ability, so he also re ceived the most accurate information of the hostile intentions and private intrigues of the court of Spain; and he therefore proposed in council, an immediate declaration of war against that kingdom, He urged his reasons for this measure with his usual energy; asserting, that "this was the time for humbling the whole house of Bourbon;" and that if this opportunity were let slip, it might never be recovered. But he was over-ruled in the council, all the members of which declared themselves of a contrary opinion, excepting his brother-in-law earl Temple. Mr. Pitt now found the decline of his influence; and it was soon too manifest to the nation, that the earl of Bute, who had a considerable share in directing the education of the new king, had acquired an ascendancy in the royal favor, that was extremely injurious to the real interests of the kingdom.

It has been observed, that at the critical moment, in which Mr, Pitt's imagination "was fired with its largest, and most comprehensive plan, he found himself suddenly and invincibly prevented, In the councils that were held upon this business, he demonstrated in a manner he apprehended the most incontestible, the hostile dispositions of Spain. He expatiated upon the alarming nature of the family compact, of the conclusion of which he had received the fullest intelligence. He told them, that this was the instant to attack Spain, unprepared and with advantage. Even while they deliberated, the time would be past. Now she was willing to tem. porize. But as soon as her treasure was safe in her harbours, he prophesied, with the utmost confidence, she would keep terms with us no longer. Beyond that time, we might endeavour to defer hostilities in vain. These things, however, with whatever else he could urge, were to no purpose.”. "It had been the glory of Mr. Pitt's administration to abolish the spirit of party, and to introduce into the senate an unanimity hitherto unexperienced. The ambition of lord Bute brought things back again to their original chaos, and gave new life to all the bitterness and implacability of faction.”

Mr. Pitt, finding his influence in the cabinet at an end, declared, that "as he was called to the ministry by the voice of the people, to whom he considered himself as accountable for his con