beloved and reverenced by the patriot band, and still possessed of a dignity never conferred on any other man; that of being deemed, and even called, the people's minister. Your own firmness will keep firm this glorious basis; and as long as you continue to rest and build upon it, they that do not love you must ultimately find it necessary to have you. I am telling you these things, as the last efforts of my friendship; for I am wasting my life in such incessant constraint and pain, that, if you loved me as well as you do your wife and children, you would not wish the duration of it. Adieu. THO. HERVEY.

insecure, because it restored the enemy to her former greatness; it was inadequate, because the places retained were no equivalent for those surrendered. Mr. Pitt was so feeble at the beginning of his speech, that he was supported by two of his friends; but his pain increasing as he proceeded, he was allowed the unprecedented indulgence of delivering his sentiments sitting. * Towards the close of his speech he was so ill that he could scarcely be heard. He intended to have spoken to some points relative to Spain, but was unable, and left the house in an agony of pain, before the division.

"I remem

* Mr. Hatsell, in the first edition of his "Precedents," says, ber two instances of the House's permitting members to speak sitting; one was Mr. Pitt, in his very long speech against the peace of 1762." To this passage, in subsequent editions, he added: " Mr. Pitt spoke for three hours and forty minutes. This, at the time of the first publication of this volume, entitled me to call his speech very long. The later practice (contrary to the recommendation of Cicero, 'ut modo, ne sit infinitus; nam brevitas in sententia, senatoris laus est ') has rendered this epithet improper." The speech of Mr. (now Lord) Brougham, in February 1828, on moving for a commission to enquire into the state of the common law courts, occupied nearly seven hours.

I

THOMAS HOLLIS, ESQ. (1) TO MR. PITT.

SIR,

Pall Mall, December 21, 1762,

Í HAVE been much embarrassed by the receipt of the enclosed letter and papers, which were wholly unexpected. At length I resolve to send them to you as I received them: forgive their liberty who wrote them, for they are ingenuous; and mine who send them, for I mean well. Retain the dedication, I request; and bestow on me beneficently, such an answer as I wish to send, and they to receive.

For the sincerity of the dedication, I appeal to the suffrages of the English people in Runymead, in general assembly convened, or any such hallowed spot; or to foreigners, every where. Sir, you have surprised, astonished, us all, on a late remark

(1) Of Corscombe, in the county of Dorset. The following quaint character of this extraordinary man appeared in one of the public prints some years before his death :-" Thomas Hollis is a gentleman possessed of a large fortune, above the half of which he devotes to charities, to the encouragement of genius, and to the support and defence of liberty. Wherever he meets the man of letters, he is sure to assist him; and were I to describe in paint this illustrious citizen, I would depict him leading by the hands Genius and distressed Virtue to the temple of Reward.', He was a fellow of the Royal, the Antiquarian, and other learned societies, and made many valuable presents to the British Museum. He died in 1774; and in 1781, his Memoirs, compiled by Archdeacon Blackburne, were printed in two volumes quarto, as a lasting monument of one, who was nobly and ingenuously devoted to the services of his country by deeds of peace."

able occasion. It brought honest Lucan to my mind

"Victrix causa Diis placuit, sed victa Catoni. (1)

I am, with unfeigned and deepest respect and

reverence,

Your most obedient servant,

THOMAS HOLLIS.

[The enclosures spoken of were a letter from Mr. Taylor How, then residing at Pisa, to Mr. Hollis, announcing the intention of Count Algarotti to dedicate his forthcoming "Essay on the Opera" to Mr. Pitt, and also a copy of the proposed dedication, in the Count's hand-writing; of which the following is a transcript.]

'A GUGLIELMO PITT FRANCESCO ALGAROTTI. (2)

Pisa, 18 Novembre, 1762. SEMBRERA ad alcuni assai strano, che à Voi, uomo immortale, che nella vostra nazione sapeste riaccendere il nativo valore, sapeste provveder per sempre alla sua difesa, et la faceste in un medesimo anno trionfare nelle quattro parti del mondo, venga intitolato uno scritto, che ragione da poesia, di musica, di cose da teatro.

(1) "The gods and Cato did in this divide;

They chose the conquering, he the conquer'd side."

(2) Algarotti was born at Venice in 1712, and when young paid a visit to England. His first publication was the "Newtonianismo per le Dame," which was translated into English by Mrs. Carter. He afterwards visited Berlin, where he was much caressed by Frederick the Great; who bestowed on him the post of chamberlain, the order of merit, and the title of count. He died in 1764. An edition of his works, in seventeen volumes octavo, appeared at Venice in 1794.

Ma pare che ignorino costoro, come il Restitutore della Inghilterra, l'Amico del gran Federigo, sa ancora munire il suo ozio co' presidj delle Lettere, e come quella sua vittoriosa eloquenza, colla quale egli tuona in senato, non è meno l'effetto della elevatezza del suo animo, che dello studio da lui posto nei Tullj, e nei Demosteni, antecessori

suoi.

Possa solamente questo mio scritto esser da tanto, che trovi anch'esso un luogo nell'ozio erudito di un tal uomo, e giunga ad ottenere il suf fragio di colui, che ne' più alti uffizj dello stato, ha meritato l'ammirazione e l'applauso di tutta Europa.

FRANCESCO ALGAROTTI.(')

(1) "It will appear, to some persons, sufficiently strange, that to you, immortal man, who know how to rekindle in your nation her native valour, to provide for her perpetual defence, and who caused her, in one and the same year, to triumph in the four quarters of the globe, should be dedicated a work which treats of poetry, music, and theatrical subjects.

"But it seems that these are not aware, that the Restorer of England, the Friend of the Great Frederic, knows also to invigorate his leisure with the powers of literature, and that that victorious eloquence, with which he thunders in the senate, is no less the effect of the elevation of his mind, than of his studies in Tully and Demosthenes, his predecessors.

May even this treatise be considered worthy of a place in the leisure of such a man, and obtain the suffrage of one who, in the highest offices of the state, has deserved the admiration and applause of all Europe."

MR. PITT TO THOMAS HOLLIS, ESQ.

[From a draught in the hand-writing of Lady Chatham.]

Hayes, December—, 1762.

Mr. Pitt, whose hand is still unable to lend its office to what his heart dictates to Mr. Hollis, must employ another's pen to convey his warm sense of that noble testimony, with which the spirit itself of liberty, under the name of Hollis, crowns his unavailing endeavours. However partial the suffrage, Mr. Pitt as affectionately cherishes the kindness of it, as he truly respects its authority.

With regard to the great honour destined to him from Pisa, Mr. Pitt blushes while he reads, and while he answers; and, standing as an example of human vanity, accepts with pride, what he too well knows he has not the least title to receive. Little did he dream that his name was to live to posterity, before Count Algarotti, by joining it with his own, forbid it to die, till literature shall be no more; thus giving him to be indeed immortal.

Mr. Pitt desires the favour of Mr. Hollis to convey to Count Algarotti, as soon as may be, these sentiments of respect and gratitude; at the same time offering to Mr. How his best acknowledgments, with the assurance of great esteem and consideration.