MR. PITT TO LADY CHATHAM. Friday, past one, February 21, 1766.(1) My love will, I trust, be better pleased to hear of me from the fountain-head than by hearsay. (1) On this day, the resolutions of the committee of the whole House, appointed to consider of the papers relative to the disturbances in America, on account of the Stamp-act, were taken into consideration; and, after a debate which lasted till one in the morning, and a division of 275 against 167, leave was given to bring in a bill to repeal the said act. No report of Mr. Pitt's speech on this memorable occasion has been preserved in any collection of debates; but the following account of what passed in the course of these discussions is contained in a letter from Lord Charlemont to Mr. Flood — "Mr. Pitt has spoken several times: his first speech was nearly two hours long. He began by abusing the late ministry, and in particular George Grenville, who did not choose to answer him. He then found fault with the present also, insinuating that they were under ill influences; 'I say influences in the plural, because I would not be understood to mean only that influence which is most suspected.' By this he is supposed to have hinted at the too great influence of the Duke of Newcastle. He then spoke to the American affair, and boldly and distinctly declared, that the act of taxation was illegal; that the colonies could only be taxed by their representatives; and concluded by insisting, that the act should be repealed as illegal. This produced a warm debate: the majority of the House seemed to be of opinion that, if the tax were to be taken off, it should be done upon a supposition that it was too heavy for the colonies to bear, but that the rescinding of the act should be accompanied by an explicit declaration of the right of taxation. Heavens, what a fellow is this Pitt! I had his bust before; but nothing less than his statue shall content me now." It was during these debates on the Stamp-act, that Mr. Burke, who in January had taken his seat for Wendover, under the auspices of the Marquis of Rockingham, made his parliamentary début. Lord Charlemont states, that Mr. Pitt, who followed him in the debate, complimented him by observing, "that the Thank God, I am able to send a good account of myself, legs excepted; more properly, one leg only excepted. I must get up to the House as I can; when in my place, I feel I am tolerably able to remain through the debate, and cry Aye! to the repeal, with no sickly voice. I wish I could have had the comfort of hearing that poor little Hester was better. Thank Heaven, my love and the rest of her babes are as well as when we parted. Till the dear hour of meeting, adieu. W. PITT. LADY CHATHAM TO MR. PITT. Hayes, past nine, Saturday, Joy to you, my dear love. The joy of thou sands is yours, under Heaven, who has crowned young member had proved a very able advocate; he had himself intended to enter at length into the details, but he had been anticipated, with so much ingenuity and eloquence, that there was little left for him to say; he congratulated him on his success, and his friends on the value of the acquisition they had made." Dr. Johnson also, in writing to Mr. Bennet Langton, a few days after, says, in reference to the Literary Club, "we have the loss of Burke's company since he has been engaged in public business, in which he has gained more reputation than perhaps any man at his first appearance ever gained before. He made two speeches for repealing the Stamp-act, which were publicly commended by Mr. Pitt, and have filled the town with wonder."-See Boswell's Johnson, vol. ii. p. 321. ed. 1835. your endeavours with such happy success. May the Almighty give to mine and to the general prayers, that you may wake without any increased gout, or any cold that may threaten it, byand-bye! I will hope that Mr. Onslow may have been a true prophet, and that what you saw yesterday, and what Johnson tells me you heard, the gratitude of a rescued people, have cured you. I cannot tell you with what pleasure my eyes opened upon the news. All my feelings tell me that I hate oppression, and that I love zealously the honour of my dear husband. I must not be sorry that I do not see you to-day: it would be too great a hurry, and it is fit you should rejoice with those that have triumphed under you. I hope that little Hester's cough is something better; much I cannot say, but as it has begun to yield, I trust we shall soon get the better of it. She and John are by no means indifferent to the news. Eager Mr. William I have not yet seen. A thousand thanks for your dear note of yesterday. The hounds are just discovered in Dock Mead, and have animated us into a charming noise; which would be inconvenient, if I had more to add, than that I am Your ever faithful and loving wife, CHATHAM. You will keep Smith as long as you please, till it is convenient for you to see him. I do not understand the House dividing at half-past twelve, and your not being at home till half-past two. MR. PITT TO LADY CHATHAM. February 22, past four, 1766. HAPPY, indeed, was the scene of this glorious morning (for at past one we divided), when the sun of liberty shone once more benignly upon a country, too long benighted. My dear love, not all the applauding joy which the hearts of animated gratitude, saved from despair and bankruptcy, uttered in the lobby, could touch me, in any degree, like the tender and lively delight, which breathes in your warm and affectionate note. All together, my dearest life, makes me not ill to-day after the immense fatigue, or not feeling that I am so. Wonder not if I should find myself in a placid and sober fever, for tumultuous exultation you know I think not permitted to feeble mortal successes; but my delight, heartfelt and solid as it is, must want its sweetest ingredient (if not its very essence) till I rejoice with my angel, and with her join in thanksgivings to protecting Heaven, for all our happy deliverances. Thank you for the sight of Smith: his honest joy and affection charm me. Loves to the sweet babes, patriotic or not; though I hope impetuous William is not behind in feelings of that kind. Send the saddle-horses if you please, so as to be in town early to-morrow morning. I propose, and hope, to execute my journey to Hayes by eleven. Your ever loving husband, W. PITT. GEORGE ONSLOW, ESQ. TO MR. PITT. DEAR SIR, Curzon Street, February 25, 1766. As you seemed desirous of information how we proceeded in our present undertaking, I cannot help acquainting you, that after I sent away the letter I had the honour of writing to you last night, we came to a division upon the question for re-committing the main resolution, and were 240 to 133. The question was moved by Oswald ('), with much more warmth, I think, than ability. He was answered very ably by Colonel Barré, whom you would have been pleased with. Stanley replied to him, and procured us one of the finest performances Hussey (2) ever made. Norton attempted to answer Mr. Hussey. Some people, I hear, thought better of his arguments than I did. Mr. Dyson (3) acted with his usual parliamentary (1) Member for the boroughs of Kirkaldy, &c., and at this time one of the vice-treasurers of Ireland. (2) Richard Hussey, member for St. Mawes, counsel to the navy, and attorney-general to the Queen. (3) Mr. Dyson was, at this time, member for Yarmouth, and one of the lords of trade. He had been, for several years, principal clerk of the House of Commons, and is described by Mr. George Hardinge, as "quite a man of business, of order and figures, of parliamentary forms, and of political argument; having neither fancy nor eloquence, and though possessing strong prejudices, veiling them in obliging manners." In 1763, he was joint secretary of the treasury, and in 1774, cofferer of the household. He was originally a dissenter, and, while studying the civil law at Leyden, became acquainted with Akenside |