It is with regret I quit a fubject, on which fo much might yet be faid. But as I cannot pretend to go beyond a few hints, I fhall only offer one obfervation more, which is, that, This matter deferves the serious attention of the friends of liberty in Britain. A general fpirit of reform now pervades us; and an inclination to enlarge in every fhape the powers and privileges of the PEOPLE. But, perhaps, it may be found, that we are beginning at the wrong end of things; and that, before we make the people more powerful, we fhould endeavour to make them better qualified for it; left, by giving them POWER, before they have got WISDOM, we make them more unhappy, and more vicious, than before.' This laft hint appears to us of the utmost importance to the fuccefs of thofe laudable plans for emancipating mankind from every kind of tyranny, civil, religious, and moral, to which every enlightened citizen, and genuine philanthropist, muft wifh fuccefs. In the title page of this work, we obferve the term medical: but we find nothing of this kind in the volume, excepting a dedication to Dr. Percival, containing fome remarks on the connection between medicine and philosophy. ART. III. Anecdotes of the Right Hon. William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, and of the Principal Events of his Time. With his Speeches in Parliament, from the Year 1736 to the Year 1778. 4to. 2 Vols. PP. 370 in each. 11. 165. Boards. Jordan. 1792. TH 'HE outlines of the political life of the late Earl of Chatham are already well known to, if not within the memory of, all fuch of our readers as have public fpirit enough to interest themselves in the measures of government; and these will doubtless review, with pleasure, the principal events of their own times, including the fhare which that great man took in them; efpecially when they fee them collected into one point of view. His career, indeed, paffed in the usual manner. He entered young into parliament, forced himfelf into notice and confequence, as an oppofition man, by his talents and powers of elocution; circumftances favoured his own acquifition of minifterial power; fuccefs crowned his fpirited measures, and rendered his miniftry brilliant, to a dangerous extreme; he was fupplanted when at the pinnacle of his glory by rivals in the fame line; received his reward; and then funk finally under the preffure of competition, as all have done before him, and as all will do after him. In the preface to this publication, the writer disclaims the intention of offering this work as a HISTORY: He presumes no more, than having collected and preferved a fund of mate rials, which may afford light and information to the future inquirer; who could not have found them in any of the books hitherto printed. This limitation of his purpose is farther confirmed in the work, where he mentions the death of Frederic Prince of Wales, who is difmiffed as laconically as poffible, under a profeffion, that-it is not the defign of this work to ftate the particulars of any event, which have been related in other books, unless fuch relation is very erroneous.' (Vol. i. p. 114.) If this purpose were ftrictly executed, so far from producing any thing like a hiftory, the writer would furnifh only fupplemental fcraps, and errata to other hiftories; and nothing connected, nor very fatisfactory to the purchasers of these particular volumes :-but this is only one among many inftances, where the author is apt to overshoot himself by a hafty mode of expreffion, for which his readers will occafionally find it neceffary to allow. 6 The author has in reality made a valuable collection of anecdotes, especially of the latter and moft confpicuous part of Lord Chatham's life, and of other matters connected with it; and has feafoned them at times to a degree of poignancy that may happen to be too ftrong for fome palates: yet as he makes ferious profeffions of his adherence to truth, affirming that he is conscious that his ftile and fome circumftances are not in his favour; but he is not confcious of having advanced one falfehood; and if we give credit to this declaration, (and we have found no cause to doubt it,) we may, for the fake of being treated with fterling ingredients compounded by a well informed purveyor, put up with his Cayenne pepper; or, by dilution, bring the dishes down to our own taste. Of the early part of the noble Peer's life, when he was better known, and more refpected, under the plain name of PITT, the materials here collected are but fcanty; for political occurrences were not fo amply detailed before parliamentary orations were openly published, as they have been fince the privilege, of knowing what our reprefentatives are doing, was afferted; and it is to be observed that we are no where introduced to Mr. Pitt as a private man in focial life. We here see him only in his public capacity; and though he is by name the principal character before us, we have fome doubt whether the jate Lord Temple, whenever he is introduced, may not be intended to appear as the principal hero in the drama. The matter and ftyle of thefe anecdotes may be conceived from two or three specimens; the first of which shall be chapter XI. of vol. 1. treating of difputes concerning the education of the Prince of Wales: • Upon Upon the death of Frederick Prince of Wales, the education of the Prince (George III.) had been committed to Lord Harcourt as Governor; to Dr. Hayter, Bifhop of Norwich, as Preceptor; and to Andrew Stone, Efq. brother to the Primate of that name, as Sub-governor; recommended by the Duke of Newcastle; and to Mr. Scott, as Sub-preceptor; recommended by Lord Bolingbroke. In about a year and a half, a difagreement broke out amongst them, of a very interesting nature. It was faid by the friends of Leicester-houfe, that the Governor and Preceptor did not difcharge the duties of their truft with alacrity. But it came out afterwards, that this complaint lay deeper than was at first fuppofed. There were two perfons concerned in this affair, whom it is proper to mention particularly. Mr. Stone, was the most particular friend and advifer of the Duke of Newcastle. The other, Mr. Murray, afterward Lord Mansfield, was in precifely the fame fituation, and degree of credit, with Mr. Pelham. Between Mr. Stone and Mr. Murray there fubfifted the warmest intimacy; not only their friendships, but their principles and politics were perfectly congenial. Lord Bute, who had been Lord of the Bedchamber to the late Prince, and was continued in the family, gained a fuperiour influence, by affiduity and attention. He was moreover favoured by the Princess. The referve of Lord Harcourt, and the very orderly demeanour of the Bishop, gave great advantage, as well as opportunity, to Lord Bute, who excelled in the affumption of theatrical grace and gesture; which, added to a good figure, rendered his converfation particularly pleafing, and at length created a partiality in his favour. The Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pelham had information of every circumftance at Leicester-house. In a little time, the Bishop found fome very improper books put into the hands of the Prince. He complained of this matter to the Duke of Newcastle. And in a few days Lord Harcourt and the Bishop refigned. From the period of making this counter complaint, it became a ftruggle between the party of Leicefter-house, and the Pelhams, which should have the power of educating the Prince. While this difpute was going on, a third party (the Bedfords) interfered for the fame purpofe, by attacking Stone and Murray. Thefe gentlemen were charged with being Jacobites. Lord Ra ven worth brought the charge. A Committee of the Privy Council was directed to enquire into it. The Committee fat feveral times upon it but the two Confidents had the addrefs to acquit themselves; though Mr. Fawcett, Recorder of Newcastle, fwore to their having drank the Pretender's health feveral times. 'On the 22d of March 1753, the Duke of Bedford made the following motion in the Houfe of Lords: "That an humble address be prefented to his Majefty, that he would be graciously pleafed to give orders, that there be laid before this Houfe, the feveral examinations of the Lord Ravensworth, the Dean of Durham, Mr. Fawcett, the Lord Bishop of St. Afaph, the Lord Bishop of Gloucefter, the Honourable Mr. Murray, his Majefty's Solicitor Generál; Andrew Stone, Efq. and fuch other examinations upon oath, as have been taken before the Lords appointed by his Majefty to C 4 enquire enquire into informations of a very material nature, relating to a perfon in the fervice of their Royal Highneffes the Prince of Wales and Prince Edward; and the other perfons mentioned in the courfs of the faid examinations, likewife all letters and papers relative thereto, and the report made by their Lordships to his Majesty thereupon." But the Duke of Newcastle, and the rest of the Miniftry were against the motion; and therefore it was negatived. Lord Harcourt faid in the debate, that he found he had no authority over the Prince's education; nor could he be of any fervice, unless the Sub-governor and others (Scott and Creffet *) were difmiffed, all of whom he had ftrong reafons to believe were Jacobites, and therefore he had refigned. The Pelhams thought they had gained their point, in the protection of Stone and Murray, and in appointing Lord Waldegrave and the Primate to fucceed the refigners; while the fact was, they were deceived and betrayed by their own people. By this fecret manoeuvre, the influence and afcendancy of Lord Bute were completely eftablished. At that time was circulated by the Bedford party a remarkable paper, which the reader will find in the note f. And in the weekly paper, called the Protefter, (printed in small folio, like the North Briton, Auditor, &c. ; and which feems to be the paper alluded to by Lord Melcombe, in his Diary, pp. 235 and 236,) number fifteen, September 8, 1753, after faying a good deal about Stone, are these words," And whatever * Creffet was Secretary to the Princess; and upon her recommendation, was appointed Treasurer to the Prince." A Memorial of feveral Notlemen and Gentlemen of the first rank and fortune. The Memorialists represent, THAT the education of the Prince of Wales, is of the utmost importance to the whole nation; that it ought always to be entrufted to Noblemen of the most unblemished honour, and to Prelates of the moft diftinguished virtue, of the most accomplished learning, and of the most unfufpected principles, with regard to government both in Church and State: That the misfortunes which the nation formerly fuffered, or efcaped, under King Charles I. King Charles II. and King James II. were owing to the bad edu cation of thofe Princes, who were early initiated in maxims of arbitrary power: That for a faction to engrofs the education of the Prince of Wales to themfelves, excluding men of probity and learning, is unwarrantable, dangerous, and illegal: That to place men about the Prince of Wales, whofe principles are fufpected, and whofe belief in the myfteries of our faith is doubtful, has the moft mifchievous tendency, and ought juftly to alarm the friends of their country, and of the Proteftant fucceffion: That for a Minister to fupport low men, who were originally improper for the high trust to which they were advanced, after complaints made of dark, suf. picious, and unwarrantable methods made ufe of by fuch men, in their plan of education, and to protect and countenance fuch men in their infolent and unheard of behaviour to their fuperiors, is a foundation for fufpecting the worst defigns in fuch Minifters; That, whatever may be the mifgivings and repinings of those who expected a kingdom of their own, and who now fee themfelves for ever excluded, Those who have the forming of the Youth, have reason to promife themselves a like afcendancy over the Man." This bufinefs being fettled, Leicefter-houfe went on as it pleafed. Stone and Murray, and Lord Bute, were in perfect union; not indeed oftenfibly, but confidentially. And in a very little time, (that is before the war broke out,) Lord Bath paid his Court to Lord Bute, and was admitted of his Cabinet. From this time may be dated that unhappy and dangerous idea, which Lord Bute had imbibed, of forming a double Cabinet. He had it from Lord Bath, who told him, the official men ought never to be trufted with information of any meature, until it was given them to execate. They were the fervants, he faid, of the executive power; not the power itfelf. This extraordinary doctrine will appear more fully, if the letters at Fonthill are printed; for Mr. Alderman Beckford was one of those, who at this time, paid their devoirs at Leicefter-house. After Stone and Murray had been acquitted by the Privy Council, very little attention was paid to Leicester-house, or its concerns, by the Pelhams, or their Whig friends. In a very few years, the ideas of a feparate intereft, and of a separate party, were become perfectly vifible at Leicester-house.' Left it being notorious that books, inculcating the worst maxims of government, and defending the moft avowed tyrannies, have been put into the hands of the Prince of Wales, it cannot but affect the Memorialifts with the moft melancholy apprehenfions, when they find that the men who had the honesty and refolution to complain of fuch astonishing methods of inftruction, are driven away from Court, and the men, who have dared to teach fuch doctrines, are continued in truft and favour. That the fecurity of this Government, being built on Whig principles, is alone fupported by Whig zeal. That the eftablishment of the prefent, Royal Family being fettled * Father Orleans's Revolutions of the Houfe of Stuart.-Ramfay's Travels of Cyrus.-Sir Robert Filmer's Patriarch, and other books inculcating the fame principles.' Alluding to the refignations of Lord Harcourt and Dr. Hayter, who were fucceeded by Lord Waldegrave and Dr. Stone. The following lines were written under Dr. Hayter's portrait, published at this time: Not gentler virtues glow'd in Cambray's breaft, Not more his young Telemachus was blefs'd; |