which might have some influence in deciding his > conduct, There is reason for believing that he differed from some of his colleagues on the important subject of peace; and, indeed, it may be inferred, from the part which he afterwards took in the discussions on the peace of Amiens, that he was disposed to make more sacrifices for the attainment of peace than other members of the Cabinet would have been inclined to accede to; and had a schism prevailed in the Cabinet on such a question, Mr. Pitt might possibly have been left in a minority. There were various other points, too, of less importance, which combined to fix his determination to resign. But, whether one or all of these considerations influenced his resignation, it is certain that, in the adoption of that measure, he acted, as he did upon every other occasion, most conscientiously. Had he listened, indeed, to the dictates of that honest ambition which made him aspire to power, only for the sake of rendering his country service; had he even been influenced by that chastened love of fame which sought for gratification only in the prosperity of his native land; had he suffered the voice of selfinterest, which so often makes the balance preponderate, when doubt keeps it in suspense, to bias his conduct, he would have retained the reins of power, which he had so long, and

so successfully, guided. His resignation damped all his hopes and all his prospects; it left the great object of his public life unaccomplished, his financial schemes incomplete. After he had been Prime Minister of Great Britain for the long term of seventeen years, he retired from office, much poorer than he entered it; he retired with embarrassed circumstances, and impaired health. But his embarrassments proceeded not from extravagance, nor his indispo"sition from dissipation. With the affairs of the nation entrusted to his care, at one of the most critical periods of our history, his mind was, of necessity, too much engrossed by public business, to attend to domestic concerns; and it is not in the family of a Prime Minister that the most economical regulations are adopted, or that the absence of a master's eye is supplied by the vigilance of servants. When Mr. Pitt left office, he carried with him the esteem of his Sovereign, the affection of his colleagues, and the confidence of the country.

Lord Grenville obtained, on his resignation, in addition to some other sources of emolument during his own life, a pension during that of his lady. Mr. Dundas was soon created a Peer by the title of Viscount Melville, and the East India Company settled on him, byàn unanimous vote, an annuity of two thousand

pounds. Lord Loughborough, besides the pension allotted to all Chancellors when they retire, was made Earl of Rosslyn, with a limitation of his title to his nephew. Mr. Pitt's services, however, were no otherwise rewarded upon this occasion, than, by the approving voice of his own conscience, and the honest plaudits of a grateful public. He received neither title nor pension, having no other place than that of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, of which he had been possessed many years. Neither did Lord Spencer nor Mr. Windham receive any mark of the royal favour.

CHAPTER XLVII.

Progress of the disputes with the Northern Powers-Embargo laid on all their ships in British harbours-The British Envoys recalled from their courts-Plans of the confederates-Seizure of Hamburgh by the Danes-The King of Denmark a tool of Buonaparté-Hanover invaded by Prussia-A British fleet passes the Sound-Battle of Copenhagen - The King of Denmark abandons the Northern Confederacy-Assassination of the Russian Emperor, Paul-Accession of Alexander to the Throne of Russia-Peace with the Northern Powers-A British force lands in Egypt-Military operations in that country -Battle of the 21st of March, 1801-Defeat of the French - Death of Sir Ralph Abercrombie-General Hutchinson succeeds to the command of the army-Reduction of Grand Cairo - Capitulation of Alexandria - Final evacuation of Egypt by the French-News of this event first received at Paris-Negotiations for peace-Preliminaries signed in London - Conditions of the treaty-Lord Cornwallis sent to France-Definitive treaty signed at Amiens-The Peace popular in England-Reflections on the consequences of the war-Failure of its principal objects-The war beneficial, on the whole, to Great Britain-Terms of peace highly favourable to France—Mr. Pitt defends the peace in Parliament-The Opposition approve it-Mr. Windham condemns it-His able delinea

tion of the spirit of the French government-Difference of opinion, on the subject of peace, between Mr. Pitt and his friends, and the Members of the Portland-PartyProbable influence of that difference on Mr. Pitt's resignation-Debates on the peace-establishment--Mr. Pitt contends for the necessity of a powerful and extensive establishment Mr. Fox defends the propriety of an ordinary establishment-Mr. Whitbread attacks the public character of Mr. Pitt-Is silenced by Mr. Pitt-Sir Francis Burdett makes a similar attack-Mr. Pitt defended by Lord Temple-Memorable speech of Mr. Archdall, on the same side The Baronet's motion rejected by 246 votes against 39-Mr. John Nicholls moves a vote of thanks to the King for dismissing Ministers, whom his Majesty had not dismissed-Amendment moved by Lord Belgrave, converting the proposed vote of censure on the late Ministry into a vote of thanks-Opposed by Mr. Fox, Mr. Erskine, and Mr. Grey-Supported by Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Wilberforce, and Mr. S. Thornton-Sir Robert Peel's speech in praise of Mr. Pitt-Amendment carried by a great majority-Separate vote of thanks to Mr. Pittproposed by Sir Henry Mildmay, carried by 211 votes against 52-Commemoration of Mr. Pitt's Birth-Hostile disposition of Buonaparté-Extension of his power on the continent-He complains of the licentiousness of the Bri tish Press-Betrays a gross ignorance of the laws and constitution of England-Judicious answer of Lord Hawkesbury to the complaints of the French Consul-Conciliatory disposition of the British Cabinet-Trial of Peltier for a libel on Buonaparté-Animadversions on certain doc. trines advanced on that trial-Insolent conduct of Buona parté to Lord Whitworth, the British Ambassador-Dispute relating to the restoration of Malta-Aggressive projects of Buonaparté-Lord Whitworth recalled-War declared.

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