OnepartonlyofPitt’sconductduringthelasteightyearsoftheeighteenthcenturydeserveshighpraise。HewasthefirstEnglishministerwhoformedgreatdesignsforthebenefitofIreland。ThemannerinwhichtheRomanCatholicpopulationofthatunfortunatecountryhadbeenkeptdownduringmanygenerationsseemedtohimunjustandcruel;anditwasscarcelypossibleforamanofhisabilitiesnottoperceivethat，inacontestagainsttheJacobins，theRomanCatholicswerehisnaturalallies。Hadhebeenabletodoallthathewished，itisprobablethatawiseandliberalpolicywouldhaveavertedtherebellionof1798。Butthedifficultieswhichheencounteredweregreat，perhapsinsurmountable;andtheRomanCatholicswere，ratherbyhismisfortunethanbyhisfault，thrownintothehandsoftheJacobins。TherewasathirdgreatrisingoftheIrishryagainsttheEnglishry，arisingnotlessformidablethantherisingsof1641and1689。TheEnglishryremainedvictorious，anditwasnecessaryforPitt，asithadbeennecessaryforOliverCromwellandWilliamofOrangebeforehim，toconsiderhowthevictoryshouldbeused。Itisonlyjusttohismemorytosaythatheformedaschemeofpolicy，sograndandsosimple，sorighteousandsohumane，thatitwouldaloneentitlehimtoahighplaceamongstatesmen。HedeterminedtomakeIrelandonekingdomwithEngland，and，atthesametime，torelievetheRomanCatholiclaityfromcivildisabilities，andtograntapublicmaintenancetotheRomanCatholicclergy。Hadhebeenabletocarrythesenobledesignsintoeffect，theUnionwouldhavebeenanUnionindeed。ItwouldhavebeeninseparablyassociatedinthemindsofthegreatmajorityofIrishmenwithcivilandreligiousfreedom;andtheoldParliamentinCollegeGreenwouldhavebeenregrettedonlybyasmallknotofdiscardedjobbersandoppressors，andwouldhavebeenrememberedbythebodyofthenationwiththeloathingandcontemptduetothemosttyrannicalandthemostcorruptassemblythathadeversateinEurope。ButPittcouldexecuteonlyonehalfofwhathehadprojected。HesucceededinobtainingtheconsentoftheParliamentsofbothkingdomstotheUnion;butthatreconciliationofracesandsects，withoutwhichtheUnioncouldexistonlyinname，wasnotaccomplished。Hewaswellawarethathewaslikelytofinddifficultiesinthecloset。Butheflatteredhimself，thatbycautiousanddexterousmanagement，thosedifficultiesmightbeovercome。Unhappily，thereweretraitorsandsycophantsinhighplacewhodidnotsufferhimtotakehisowntime，andhisownway，butprematurelydisclosedhisschemetotheKing，anddiscloseditinthemannermostlikelytoirritateandalarmaweakanddiseasedmind。HisMajestyabsurdlyimaginedthathisCoronationoathboundhimtorefusehisassenttoanybillforrelievingRomanCatholicsfromcivildisabilities。Toarguewithhimwasimpossible。Dundastriedtoexplainthematter，butwastoldtokeephisScotchmetaphysicstohimself。Pitt，andPitt’sablestcolleagues，resignedtheiroffices。ItwasnecessarythattheKingshouldmakeanewarrangement。Butbythistimehisangeranddistresshadbroughtbackthemaladywhichhad，manyyearsbefore，incapacitatedhimforthedischargeofhisfunctions。Heactuallyassembledhisfamily，readtheCoronationoathtothem，andtoldthemthat，ifhebrokeit，theCrownwouldimmediatelypasstotheHouseofSavoy。Itwasnotuntilafteraninterregnumofseveralweeksthatheregainedthefulluseofhissmallfaculties，andthataministryafterhisownheartwasatlengthformed。
Thematerialsoutofwhichhehadtoconstructagovernmentwereneithersolidnorsplendid。Tothatparty，weakinnumbers，butstrongineverykindoftalent，whichwashostiletothedomesticandforeignpolicyofhislateadvisers，hecouldnothaverecourse。Forthatparty，whileitdifferedfromhislateadvisersoneverypointonwhichtheyhadbeenhonouredwithhisapprobation，cordiallyagreedwiththemastothesinglematterwhichhadbroughtonthemhisdispleasure。Allthatwaslefttohimwastocalluptherearranksoftheoldministrytoformthefrontrankofanewministry。Inanagepre—eminentlyfruitfulofparliamentarytalents，acabinetwasformedcontaininghardlyasinglemanwho，inparliamentarytalents，couldbeconsideredasevenofthesecondrate。Themostimportantofficesinthestatewerebestowedondecorousandlaboriousmediocrity。HenryAddingtonwasattheheadoftheTreasury。Hehadbeenanearly，indeedahereditary，friendofPitt，andhadbyPitt’sinfluencebeenplaced，whilestillayoungman，inthechairoftheHouseofCommons。HewasuniversallyadmittedtohavebeenthebestspeakerthathadsateinthatchairsincetheretirementofOnslow。Butnaturehadnotbestowedonhimveryvigorousfaculties;andthehighlyrespectablesituationwhichhehadlongoccupiedwithhonourhadratherunfittedthanfittedhimforthedischargeofhisnewduties。Hisbusinesshadbeentobearhimselfevenlybetweencontendingfactions。Hehadtakennopartinthewarofwords;andhehadalwaysbeenaddressedwithmarkeddeferencebythegreatoratorswhothunderedagainsteachotherfromhisrightandfromhisleft。Itwasnotstrangethat，when，forthefirsttime，hehadtoencounterkeenandvigorousantagonists，whodealthardblowswithoutthesmallestceremony，heshouldhavebeenawkwardandunready，orthattheairofdignityandauthoritywhichhehadacquiredinhisformerpost，andofwhichhehadnotdivestedhimself，shouldhavemadehishelplessnesslaughableandpitiable。Nevertheless，duringmanymonths，hispowerseemedtostandfirm。HewasafavouritewiththeKing，whomheresembledinnarrownessofmind，andtowhomhewasmoreobsequiousthanPitthadeverbeen。ThenationwasputintohighgoodhumourbyapeacewithFrance。Theenthusiasmwithwhichtheupperandmiddleclasseshadrushedintothewarhadspentitself。Jacobinismwasnolongerformidable。
Everywheretherewasastrongreactionagainstwhatwascalledtheatheisticalandanarchicalphilosophyoftheeighteenthcentury。Bonaparte，nowFirstConsul，wasbusiedinconstructingoutoftheruinsofoldinstitutionsanewecclesiasticalestablishmentandaneworderofknighthood。Thatnothinglessthanthedominionofthewholecivilisedworldwouldsatisfyhisselfishambitionwasnotyetsuspected;nordidevenwisemenseeanyreasontodoubtthathemightbeassafeaneighbourasanyprinceoftheHouseofBourbonhadbeen。ThetreatyofAmienswasthereforehailedbythegreatbodyoftheEnglishpeoplewithextravagantjoy。Thepopularityoftheministerwasforthemomentimmense。Hiswantofparliamentaryabilitywas，asyet，oflittleconsequence:forhehadscarcelyanyadversarytoencounter。Theoldopposition，delightedbythepeace，regardedhimwithfavour。Anewoppositionhadindeedbeenformedbysomeofthelateministers，andwasledbyGrenvilleintheHouseofLords，andbyWindhamintheHouseofCommons。Butthenewoppositioncouldscarcelymustertenvotes，andwasregardedwithnofavourbythecountry。OnPitttheministersreliedasontheirfirmestsupport。Hehadnot，likesomeofhiscolleagues，retiredinanger。Hehadexpressedthegreatestrespectfortheconscientiousscruplewhichhadtakenpossessionoftheroyalmind;andhehadpromisedhissuccessorsallthehelpinhispower。Inprivatehisadvicewasattheirservice。InParliamenthetookhisseatonthebenchbehindthem;and，inmorethanonedebate，defendedthemwithpowersfarsuperiortotheirown。TheKingperfectlyunderstoodthevalueofsuchassistance。Ononeoccasion，atthepalace，hetooktheoldministerandthenewministeraside。"Ifwethree，"hesaid，"keeptogether，allwillgowell。"
Butitwashardlypossible，humannaturebeingwhatitis，and，moreespecially，PittandAddingtonbeingwhattheywere，thatthisunionshouldbedurable。Pitt，consciousofsuperiorpowers，imaginedthattheplacewhichhehadquittedwasnowoccupiedbyamerepuppetwhichhehadsetup，whichhewastogovernwhilehesufferedittoremain，andwhichhewastoflingasideassoonashewishedtoresumehisoldposition。Norwasitlongbeforehebegantopineforthepowerwhichhehadrelinquished。Hehadbeensoearlyraisedtosupremeauthorityinthestate，andhadenjoyedthatauthoritysolong，thatithadbecomenecessarytohim。Inretirementhisdayspassedheavily。
Hecouldnot，likeFox，forgetthepleasuresandcaresofambitioninthecompanyofEuripidesorHerodotus。Priderestrainedhimfromintimating，eventohisdearestfriends，thathewishedtobeagainminister。Buthethoughtitstrange，almostungrateful，thathiswishhadnotbeendivined，thatithadnotbeenanticipated，byonewhomheregardedashisdeputy。
Addington，ontheotherhand，wasbynomeansinclinedtodescendfromhishighposition。Hewas，indeed，underadelusionmuchresemblingthatofAbonHassanintheArabiantale。HisbrainwasturnedbyhisshortandunrealCaliphate。Hetookhiselevationquiteseriously，attributedittohisownmerit，andconsideredhimselfasoneofthegreattriumvirateofEnglishstatesmen，asworthytomakeathirdwithPittandFox。
Suchbeingthefeelingsofthelateministerandofthepresentminister，arupturewasinevitable;andtherewasnowantofpersonsbentonmakingthatrupturespeedyandviolent。SomeofthesepersonswoundedAddington’spridebyrepresentinghimasalacquey，senttokeepaplaceontheTreasurybenchtillhismastershouldfinditconvenienttocome。OtherstookeveryopportunityofpraisinghimatPitt’sexpense。Pitthadwagedalong，abloody，acostly，anunsuccessfulwar。Addingtonhadmadepeace。PitthadsuspendedtheconstitutionallibertiesofEnglishmen。UnderAddingtonthoselibertieswereagainenjoyed。
Pitthadwastedthepublicresources。Addingtonwascarefullynursingthem。ItwassometimesbuttooevidentthatthesecomplimentswerenotunpleasingtoAddington。Pittbecamecoldandreserved。DuringmanymonthsheremainedatadistancefromLondon。Meanwhilehismostintimatefriends，inspiteofhisdeclarationsthathemadenocomplaint，andthathehadnowishforoffice，exertedthemselvestoeffectachangeofministry。
Hisfavouritedisciple，GeorgeCanning，young，ardent，ambitious，withgreatpowersandgreatvirtues，butwithatempertoorestlessandawittoosatiricalforhisownhappiness，wasindefatigable。Hespoke;hewrote;heintrigued;hetriedtoinducealargenumberofthesupportersofthegovernmenttosignaroundrobindesiringachange;hemadegameofAddingtonandofAddington’srelationsinasuccessionoflivelypasquinades。Theminister’spartisansretortedwithequalacrimony，ifnotwithequalvivacity。Pittcouldkeepoutoftheaffrayonlybykeepingoutofpoliticsaltogether;andthisitsoonbecameimpossibleforhimtodo。HadNapoleon，contentwiththefirstplaceamongtheSovereignsoftheContinent，andwithamilitaryreputationsurpassingthatofMarlboroughorofTurenne，devotedhimselftothenobletaskofmakingFrancehappybymildadministrationandwiselegislation，ourcountrymighthavelongcontinuedtotolerateagovernmentoffairintentionsandfeebleabilities。Unhappily，thetreatyofAmienshadscarcelybeensigned，whentherestlessambitionandtheinsupportableinsolenceoftheFirstConsulconvincedthegreatbodyoftheEnglishpeoplethatthepeace，soeagerlywelcomed，wasonlyaprecariousarmistice。Asitbecameclearerandclearerthatawarforthedignity，theindependence，theveryexistenceofthenationwasathand，menlookedwithincreasinguneasinessontheweakandlanguidcabinetwhichwouldhavetocontendagainstanenemywhounitedmorethanthepowerofLouistheGreattomorethanthegeniusofFredericktheGreat。ItistruethatAddingtonmighteasilyhavebeenabetterwarministerthanPitt，andcouldnotpossiblyhavebeenaworse。ButPitthadcastaspellonthepublicmind。Theeloquence，thejudgment，thecalmanddisdainfulfirmness，whichhehad，duringmanyyears，displayedinParliament，deludedtheworldintothebeliefthathemustbeeminentlyqualifiedtosuperintendeverydepartmentofpolitics，andtheyimagined，evenafterthemiserablefailuresofDunkirk，ofQuiberon，andoftheHelder，thathewastheonlystatesmanwhocouldcopewithBonaparte。ThisfeelingwasnowherestrongerthanamongAddington’sowncolleagues。Thepressureputonhimwassostrongthathecouldnothelpyieldingtoit;yet，eveninyielding，heshowedhowfarhewasfromknowinghisownplace。Hisfirstpropositionwas，thatsomeinsignificantnoblemanshouldbeFirstLordoftheTreasuryandnominalheadoftheadministration，andthattherealpowershouldbedividedbetweenPittandhimself，whoweretobesecretariesofstate。Pitt，asmighthavebeenexpected，refusedeventodiscusssuchascheme，andtalkedofitwithbittermirth。"Whichsecretaryshipwasofferedtoyou？"hisfriendWilberforceasked。"Really，"saidPitt，"Ihadnotthecuriositytoinquire。"Addingtonwasfrightenedintobiddinghigher。HeofferedtoresigntheTreasurytoPitt，onconditionthatthereshouldbenoextensivechangeinthegovernment。ButPittwouldlistentonosuchterms。Thencameadisputesuchasoftenarisesafternegotiationsorallyconducted，evenwhenthenegotiatorsaremenofstricthonour。Pittgaveoneaccountofwhathadpassed;Addingtongaveanother:andthoughthediscrepancieswerenotsuchasnecessarilyimpliedanyintentionalviolationoftruthoneitherside，bothweregreatlyexasperated。
MeanwhilethequarrelwiththeFirstConsulhadcometoacrisis。
Onthe16thofMay，1803，theKingsentamessagecallingontheHouseofCommonstosupporthiminwithstandingtheambitiousandencroachingpolicyofFrance;and，onthe22d，theHousetookthemessageintoconsideration。
Pitthadnowbeenlivingmanymonthsinretirement。TherehadbeenageneralelectionsincehehadspokeninParliament;andthereweretwohundredmemberswhohadneverheardhim。Itwasknownthatonthisoccasionhewouldbeinhisplace;andcuriositywaswounduptothehighestpoint。Unfortunatelytheshort—handwriterswere，inconsequenceofsomemistake，shutoutonthatdayfromthegallery，sothatthenewspaperscontainedonlyaverymeagrereportoftheproceedings。Butseveralaccountsofwhatpassedareextant;andofthoseaccountsthemostinterestingiscontainedinanunpublishedletter，writtenbyaveryyoungmember，JohnWilliamWard，afterwardsEarlofDudley。WhenPittrose，hewasreceivedwithloudcheering。Ateverypauseinhisspeechtherewasaburstofapplause。TheperorationissaidtohavebeenoneofthemostanimatedandmagnificenteverheardinParliament。"Pitt’sspeech，"Foxwroteafewdayslater，"wasadmiredverymuch，andveryjustly。I
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