misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写3)-第42章
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and pious circles his Protestant mistresses gave less scandal than his
Popish wife。 That he must be Regent nobody ventured to deny。 But he and
his friends were so unpopular that Pitt could； with general approbation；
propose to limit the powers of the Regent by restrictions to which it would
have been impossible to subject a Prince beloved and trusted by the
country。 Some interested men； fully expecting a change of administration；
went over to the opposition。 But the majority； purified by these desertions；
closed its ranks； and presented a more firm array than ever to the enemy。
In every division Pitt was victorious。 When at length； after a stormy
interregnum of three months； it was announced； on the very eve of the
inauguration of the Regent； that the King was himself again； the nation
was wild with delight。 On the evening of the day on which His Majesty
resumed his functions； a spontaneous illumination； the most general that
had ever been seen in England； brightened the whole vast space from
Highgate to Tooting； and from Hammersmith to Greenwich。 On the day on
which he returned thanks in the cathedral of his capital； all the horses and
carriages within a hundred miles of London were too few for the
multitudes which flocked to see him pass through the streets。 A second
illumination followed； which was even superior to the first in
magnificence。 Pitt with difficulty escaped from the tumultuous kindness of
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
an innumerable multitude which insisted on drawing his coach from Saint
Paul's Churchyard to Downing Street。 This was the moment at which his
fame and fortune may be said to have reached the zenith。 His influence in
the closet was as great as that of Carr or Villiers had been。 His dominion
over the Parliament was more absolute than that of Walpole of Pelham had
been。 He was at the same time as high in the favour of the populace as
ever Wilkes or Sacheverell had been。 Nothing did more to raise his
character than his noble poverty。 It was well…known that； if he had been
dismissed from office after more than five years of boundless power； he
would hardly have carried out with him a sum sufficient to furnish the set
of chambers in which； as he cheerfully declared； he meant to resume the
practice of the law。 His admirers； however； were by no means disposed to
suffer him to depend on daily toil for his daily bread。 The voluntary
contributions which were awaiting his acceptance in the city of London
alone would have sufficed to make him a rich man。 But it may be doubted
whether his haughty spirit would have stooped to accept a provision so
honourably earned and so honourably bestowed。
To such a height of power and glory had this extraordinary man risen
at twenty…nine years of age。 And now the tide was on the turn。 Only ten
days after the triumphal procession to Saint Paul's； the States…General of
France； after an interval of a hundred and seventy…four years； met at
Versailles。
The nature of the great Revolution which followed was long very
imperfectly understood in this country。 Burke saw much further than any
of his contemporaries： but whatever his sagacity descried was refracted
and discoloured by his passions and his imagination。 More than three
years elapsed before the principles of the English administration
underwent any material change。 Nothing could as yet be milder or more
strictly constitutional than the minister's domestic policy。 Not a single act
indicating an arbitrary temper or a jealousy of the people could be imputed
to him。 He had never applied to Parliament for any extraordinary powers。
He had never used with harshness the ordinary powers entrusted by the
constitution to the executive government。 Not a single state prosecution
which would even now be called oppressive had been instituted by him。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
Indeed； the only oppressive state prosecution instituted during the first
eight years of his administration was that of Stockdale； which is to be
attributed not to the government； but to the chiefs of the opposition。 In
office Pitt had redeemed the pledges which he had； at his entrance into
public life； given to the supporters of parliamentary reform。 He had； in
1785； brought forward a judicious plan for the improvement of the
representative system； and had prevailed on the King； not only to refrain
from talking against that plan； but to recommend it to the Houses in a
speech from the throne。 （The speech with which the King opened the
session of 1785； concluded with an assurance that His Majesty would
heartily concur in every measure which could tend to secure the true
principles of the constitution。 These words were at the time understood to
refer to Pitt's Reform Bill。） This attempt failed； but there can be little
doubt that； if the French Revolution had not produced a violent reaction of
public feeling； Pitt would have performed； with little difficulty and no
danger； that great work which； at a later period； Lord Grey could
accomplish only by means which for a time loosened the very foundations
of the commonwealth。 When the atrocities of the slave trade were first
brought under the consideration of Parliament； no abolitionist was more
zealous than Pitt。 When sickness prevented Wilberforce from appearing in
public； his place was most efficiently supplied by his friend the minister。 A
humane bill； which mitigated the horrors of the middle passage； was； in
1788； carried by the eloquence and determined spirit of Pitt； in spite of the
opposition of some of his own colleagues； and it ought always to be
remembered to his honour that； in order to carry that bill； he kept the
Houses sitting； in spite of many murmurs； long after the business of the
government had been done； and the Appropriation Act passed。 In 1791 he
cordially concurred with Fox in maintaining the sound constitutional
doctrine； that an impeachment is not terminated by a dissolution。 In the
course of the same year the two great rivals contended side by side in a far
more important cause。 They are fairly entitled to divide the high honour of
having added to our statute…book the inestimable law which places the
liberty of the press under the protection of juries。 On one occasion； and
one alone； Pitt； during the first half of his long administration； acted in a
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
manner unworthy of an enlightened Whig。 In the debate on the Test Act；
he stooped to gratify the master whom he served； the university which he
represented； and the great body of clergymen and country gentlemen on
whose support he res
