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PENN.

WILLIAM PENN, the celebrated founder of Pennsylvania, son of admiral sir William Penn, was born on Tower-hill, October 14, 1644. About the age of fifteen, he became a student of Christ-church, Oxford; but, having early imbibed strong religious impressions, through the preaching of Thomas Loe, one of the people called quakers, he was, in 1661, fined for non-conformity, and next year expelled for destroying surplices. On returning home, he was chastised, and turned out of doors: but, soon after, sent to Paris; where, being one evening attacked, he drew his sword, and dextrously disarmed his assailant. He next studied the law as a member of Lincoln's Inn, till the raging of the plague in 1665. The year following, sent to manage a family estate in Ireland, he heard Loe preach at Cork, immediately became a decided adherent, and was imprisoned by the mayor; though soon released, on application to the earl of Orrery: called home by his father, and refusing a promise to appear uncovered, at least, before the king and the duke of York, he was again turned out.

In 1668, beginning both to preach and to write as a quaker, his second tract occasioned him an imprisonment of seven months in the Tower. He there commenced his chief work, best known by the title of No Cross, no Crown. On his release, he again went to Ireland; and now kindly treated by his father, preached to, and obtained relief for, all his persecuted brethren. Himself, however, coming to London, and preaching in Gracechurch-street, was committed to Newgate, under the conventicle act; and even the jury were fined for returning a verdict of "not guilty." Nor was he liberated, till the fines for contempt of court, in his bold and vigorous defence, at the Old Bailey, on the trial of himself and William Mead, September 1, 3, 4, and 5, 1670, were secretly paid by his father; who died the 16th of the same month, leaving him an estate of 1500%. per annum. In 1672, he married a respectable lady, of his own religious sentiments, with whom he settled at Rickmansworth: and, in 1677, went on a religious mission, with Fox and Barclay, throughout Holland, and great part of Germany. After his return, in 1680, he obtained from Charles II. a province in North America, which the king named Pennsylvania. Penn immediately published a description of the country, and its produce, offering easy terms to settlers; who, being allowed to enjoy more religious liberty than any where else existed in the Christian world, a numerous colony, chiefly of quakers, was soon congregated. In 1682, he visited his new territory, convoked his first provincial assembly, conciliated the Indians by kindness, and for two years witnessed as well as promoted the prosperity of the colonists. On the death of Charles II. the great friendship of James II. for his father now affording him the freest possible access at court, he was absurdly charged with being a papist and jesuit. Accordingly, after the revolution, so favourable to general freedom, he was, under suspicion of corresponding with the abdicated sovereign, long cruelly harrassed. In 1694, he lost his wife, which affected him more than all his other troubles. However, in 1696, he again married; and soon after lost his eldest son, a pious young man just coming of age. At the accession of queen Anne, though again welcomed at court, his difficulties were not at an end: on the contrary, animosities arose in his government; vast expenses were incurred; no returns could be obtained; and he was, by a litigation with the executors of his deceased steward, compelled to reside within the rules of the Fleet prison, in 1707 and 1708; and, finally, to mortgage his province. In 1710, with ' impaired health, as well as suffering under untoward circumstances, he settled at Rushcomb, Berks: where, in 1712, he had, at different periods, three fits, judged to be apoplectic; and died, July 30, 1718.

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PITT.

The honourable WILLIAM PITT, second son of the great earl of Chatham, and a statesman of little less celebrity than even that incomparable British minister, was born, May 28, 1759, at Hayes, in Middlesex. He was educated, at home, under the immediate eye of his father, who indefatigably cultivated the manifest abilities of this favourite son. At the age of fourteen, fully qualified for the university, he was sent to Cambridge; where, being intended for the bar as well as the senate, he soon acquired the requisite fundamental knowledge. He then visited the continent, and remained a short time at Rheims. In 1778, he lost his father; and, on coming of age, was called to the bar : but, in 1781, by the influence of sir James Lowther, he obtained a seat in parliament for Appleby. His first speech was in support of Mr. Burke's bill for retrenchments of the civil list, February 26, 1781; when whatever might be expected, from a son tutored by his matchless father to speak with ease, elegance, and force, and to argue with logical precision from a copious fountain of political knowledge, was not only gratified, but surpassed, in the general opinion of the house, on hearing the youthful orator. His first motion was, for the more equal representation of the people in parliament; which, though unsuccessful, rendered him very popular. On the death of the marquis of Rockingham, the earl of Shelburne becoming first lord of the treasury, he was made chancellor of the exchequer. The peace proving unpopular, they were succeeded by the coalition; but Pitt, ably exposing the vast mass of patronage which Fox's East India bill was calculated to create, with all its unjust and dangerous tendencies, to the crown, the company, and the people, now became first lord of the treasury and chancellor of the exchequer, Dec. 18, 1783. His bill for the regulation of India affairs being rejected, he appealed to a new parliament; and, finding he had the confidence of his country, in the immediate approbation of this bill, he provided for the reduction of the national debt by a sinking fund, and concluded a commercial treaty with France. On the king's illness, in 1788, he denied any constitutional right of the heir apparent to the regency; for which Fox had, with more zeal than discretion, ventured to contend.

At the commencement of the French revolution, Pitt was reluctant to interfere; till, on the murder of their king, January 21, 1793, the ambitious projects of the regicide rulers of France evidently menacing the universal subjugation of mankind, under pretence of a general philosophic fraternity of the whole of the human race, their ambassador was dismissed, and war immediately ensued. His skill in finding resources for a warfare of eight years, extensive and expensive beyond all precedent, must ever be regarded as a proof of his unrivalled financial ability. The history of Pitt, during this period, enters largely into that of nearly the whole civilized world. In 1800, he effected the union with Ireland; and, soon after, retired from office: partly respecting catholic emancipation; but more particularly to negociate the peace of Amiens, through a new minister. The peace obtained by Mr. Addington was soon at a end; and, in 1804, Pitt resumed the reins of government. He now formed that important confederacy with Russia and Austria, which so fairly promised to crush the colossal power of France. The battle of Austerlitz, fatal to the immediate success of his favourite plan for the deliverance of Europe from the thraldom of the French, contributed much, with other untoward circumstances, to hasten his end. In December 1805, he went ill to Bath; but, obtaining no substantial relief, returned to his seat at Putney, on the 11th of January 1806; and died there the 23d, throwing himself, literally, on the mercy of God, and exclaiming-" Oh, my country!" His remains were deposited in Westminster Abbey, at the public expense; and 40,000l. were granted by parliament for the discharge of debts contracted in his country's service. Monuments to his memory have been erected in Westminster Abbey, in Guildhall, and other parts of the united kingdom.

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