misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写3)-第50章
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incapable of defending himself。 Lord Grenville； who had been informed of
Pitt's state by Lord Wellesley； and had been deeply affected by it； earnestly
recommended forbearance； and Fox； with characteristic generosity and
good nature； gave his voice against attacking his now helpless rival。 〃Sunt
lacrymae rerum；〃 he said； 〃et mentem mortalia tangunt。〃 On the first day；
therefore； there was no debate。 It was rumoured that evening that Pitt was
better。 But on the following morning his physicians pronounced that there
were no hopes。 The commanding faculties of which he had been too proud
were beginning to fail。 His old tutor and friend； the Bishop of Lincoln；
informed him of his danger； and gave such religious advice and
consolation as a confused and obscured mind could receive。 Stories were
told of devout sentiments fervently uttered by the dying man。 But these
stories found no credit with anybody who knew him。 Wilberforce
pronounced it impossible that they could be true。 〃Pitt；〃 he added； 〃was a
man who always said less than he thought on such topics。〃 It was asserted
in many after…dinner speeches； Grub Street elegies； and academic prize
poems and prize declamations； that the great minister died exclaiming；
〃Oh my country！〃 This is a fable； but it is true that the last words which he
uttered； while he knew what he said； were broken exclamations about the
alarming state of public affairs。 He ceased to breathe on the morning of the
23rd of January； 1806； the twenty…fifth anniversary of the day on which he
first took his seat in Parliament。 He was in his forty…seventh year； and had
been； during near nineteen years； First Lord of the Treasury； and
undisputed chief of the administration。 Since parliamentary government
was established in England； no English statesman has held supreme power
so long。 Walpole； it is true； was First Lord of the Treasury during more
than twenty years： but it was not till Walpole had been some time First
Lord of the Treasury that he could be properly called Prime Minister。
It was moved in the House of Commons that Pitt should be honoured
with a public funeral and a monument。 The motion was opposed by Fox in
a speech which deserves to be studied as a model of good taste and good
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
feeling。 The task was the most invidious that ever an orator undertook： but
it was performed with a humanity and delicacy which were warmly
acknowledged by the mourning friends of him who was gone。 The motion
was carried by 288 votes to 89。
The 22d of February was fixed for the funeral。 The corpse having lain
in state during two days in the Painted Chamber； was borne with great
pomp to the northern transept of the Abbey。 A splendid train of princes；
nobles； bishops； and privy councillors followed。 The grave of Pitt had
been made near to the spot where his great father lay； near also to the spot
where his great rival was soon to lie。 The sadness of the assistants was
beyond that of ordinary mourners。 For he whom they were committing to
the dust had died of sorrows and anxieties of which none of the survivors
could be altogether without a share。 Wilberforce； who carried the banner
before the hearse； described the awful ceremony with deep feeling。 As the
coffin descended into the earth； he said； the eagle face of Chatham from
above seemed to look down with consternation into the dark house which
was receiving all that remained of so much power and glory。
All parties in the House of Commons readily concurred in voting forty
thousand pounds to satisfy the demands of Pitt's creditors。 Some of his
admirers seemed to consider the magnitude of his embarrassments as a
circumstance highly honourable to him； but men of sense will probably be
of a different opinion。 It is far better； no doubt； that a great minister should
carry his contempt of money to excess than that he should contaminate his
hands with unlawful gain。 But it is neither right nor becoming in a man to
whom the public has given an income more than sufficient for his comfort
and dignity to bequeath to that public a great debt； the effect of mere
negligence and profusion。 As first Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of
the Exchequer； Pitt never had less than six thousand a year； besides an
excellent house。 In 1792 he was forced by his royal master's friendly
importunity to accept for life the office of Warden of the Cinque Ports；
with near four thousand a year more。 He had neither wife nor child； he had
no needy relations： he had no expensive tastes： he had no long election
bills。 Had he given but a quarter of an hour a week to the regulation of his
household； he would have kept his expenditure within bounds。 Or； if he
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
could not spare even a quarter of an hour a week for that purpose； he had
numerous friends； excellent men of business； who would have been proud
to act as his stewards。 One of those friends； the chief of a great
commercial house in the city； made an attempt to put the establishment in
Downing Street to rights； but in vain。 He found that the waste of the
servants' hall was almost fabulous。 The quantity of butcher's meat charged
in the bills was nine hundredweight a week。 The consumption of poultry；
of fish； and of tea was in proportion。 The character of Pitt would have
stood higher if with the disinterestedness of Pericles and of De Witt； he
had united their dignified frugality。
The memory of Pitt has been assailed； times innumerable； often justly；
often unjustly； but it has suffered much less from his assailants than from
his eulogists。 For； during many years； his name was the rallying cry of a
class of men with whom； at one of those terrible conjunctures which
confound all ordinary distinctions； he was accidentally and temporarily
connected； but to whom； on almost all great questions of principle； he was
diametrically opposed。 The haters of parliamentary reform called
themselves Pittites； not choosing to remember that Pitt made three motions
for parliamentary reform； and that； though he thought that such a reform
could not safely be made while the passions excited by the French
revolution were raging； he never uttered a word indicating that he should
not be prepared at a more convenient season to bring the question forward
a fourth time。 The toast of Protestant ascendency was drunk on Pitt's
birthday by a set of Pittites who could not but be aware that Pitt had
resigned his office because he could not carry Catholic emancipation。 The
defenders of the Test Act called themselves Pittites； though they could not
be ignorant that Pitt had laid before George the Third unanswerable
reasons for abolishing the Test Act。 The enemies of free trade called
themselves Pittites； though Pitt was far more deeply imbued with the
doctrines of Adam Smith than either Fox or Grey。 The very negro…dri
