the tales that were told in my presence.

I would treasure

up the chief incidents, and then invent others, and weave them into tales, so that at this age I was always welcome in the evening to the boys of the court. At this time, and for years previous, the name of Pitt was familiar in every one's mouth, and his portrait was universally seen in all the picture shops. He was most unmercifully caricatured and satirized. Every measure that he

brought forward was sure to call forth a host of satirists, and he was as easily known for his long nose as the Duke of Wellington was by his hooked one. He was universally hated by the poorer people for his taxinventing propensities, while those who had the tact to satirize him, did so without remorse, and doubtless were well paid for it. A name with so notorious a reputation could not escape my open ears, and his portrait-always with his distinguishing nose, however-was presented under every variety of shape to the public gaze. I recollect seeing an old caricature (it was old then, inasmuch as it was originally published at the first addition, by Pitt, to the Salt Tax*), the point of which I could not then understand, but it was universally admired. A cook in a gentleman's kitchen was represented as preparing dinner for a large party, and in the midst of her labor repairs to the salt-box for a handful of salt, which, upon reaching, up starts the lid of the box, and out pops the head of Pitt, long nose and all, with the exclamation- Ah, Cookie, how do you do!' Starting back with affright, the poor cook exclaims-The deuce take the fellow, he's got into the salt-box now.'

Never was there a man so severely lampooned as well as caricatured as William Pitt. On one occasion, when he had brought into the House a very obnoxious Budget, a host of anonymous pamphlets were issued, some of them exceedingly biting and caustic. I recollect the substance of one which I have in vain attempted to procure a copy

* The Salt Tax was originally imposed in the reign of Queen Anne, at 2s. 6d. per cwt. It was increased by Pitt to 5s., and in 1808, to 15s.

of, and, as perhaps it may have found its way into the tomb of all the Capulets, I will try to set down as much of it as is still in my memory. It was entitled :

"The Tenth Chapter of the Acts of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.'

Now it came to pass after these things, that there arose up a man out of the tribe of Chatham, whose name was Pitt, and in process of time he became Chancellor of the Exchequer. With respect to his chin he was a Nazarite, for no razor had come thereon. Howbeit, notwithstanding he was but a youth, the princes, and the nobles, and the knights, and the squires, and they on whose heads the almond tree did flourish, bowed down before him. His voice prevailed mightily in the assembly of the congregation, and he became a man of renown. And when his heart was swollen with pride, he said within himself-Go to, now; behold! I will show the great power and dominion which I have over this people, and will load them with taxes-obnoxious, partial, and oppressive. And because by trade this nation prospereth, I will, therefore, tax trade; and the taxing shall not fall on the rich and opulent merchant, whose stomach is crammed with turtle, and who fareth sumptuously every day; because he could easily afford it, verily, he shall not pay a mite. But it shall fall heavily on the poor industrious shopkeeper, who is driven into the front streets to expose his wares, who groaneth under burthens too grievous to be borne, whose house rent is so high that it keepeth him poor continually; therefore shall his burthen be increased by the heavy tax wherewith I will tax him. And it shall come to pass, that when one asketh me in time to come, saying, Wherefore dost thou thus oppress the poor, and drive the needy from their dwelling, and shut the door of thine ear against their petitions? that I will in that day laugh them to scorn; and because the

deed can by no means be justified, I will say, It is my humor. Do I not assuredly know that I have power to do all things with this people, by means of the majority which I have in the House, even by means of the men of Belial, who vote against conviction, and sell their country for gold? Then went he straightway into the assembly of the congregation, he and his Secretary Rose,* who is accounted little less than his echo, and he opened his Budget; and the opening of his Budget was as the opening of the box of Pandora, pregnant with plagues. And he spake of one tax, and of another tax, and they answered him to never a word, though the congregation marvelled greatly. At length he cometh to the tax which taxeth the weaker vessel, even the damsel that administereth to the convenience of her master, that getteth up small linen, and putteth her hand to anything. Then the whole congregation rose up as one man, and murmured against the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; and they looked on Rose the Secretary, and said, Henceforth thou shalt no more be called the Rose of Sharon, neither shall Pitt be accounted any more the lily of the valley among the daughters of this isle; but ye shall be a bye-word and a reproach among all females whithersoever ye go. And after one had spake on this manner, and another on that, they rose up and departed, many to the gaming table, where they lost the inheritance of their fathers, and some to the harlot, who is subtle of heart, and one or two went unto their own wives. But the Chancellor of the Exchequer cheered his heart with a chapter in the Book of Numbers. And he called unto him his secretary, and said unto him, "Rose !" and he answered, "Here am I." And he said unto him, “Go to, now; write me circular letters to each of those whose names I shall give thee; they shall be even written in letters of gold; and this is the form of the letters which shall be written: Pensions, and places, and honors, and titles. And thou shalt write below, If ye hope for these, do as I bid ye. And with these will

*The late Right, Hon. G. Rose.

I win the hearts of the members of the Lower House; for I perceive an opposition arising to my taxes, which, nevertheless, I am determined to carry through." So the Secretary, after having received his instructions, departed to write the letters.

'And early the next morning, when the barbers, the quidnuncs, and the politicians read the contents of the Budget, they rose up as one man, and murmured against the Chancellor of the Exchequer. And they said one to another, Verily, we are sold for bond servants, both we, and our wives, and also our little ones; and it shall come to pass in time to come, when any of our sons shall attempt to get into trade, that so many are the taxes thrown in the way, it will be next to madness to attempt it. Go to let us choose a chairman, and have a committee, and let us draw up a petition, and go to this great man, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Who knows but he may listen to our prayers, and turn away the fierce anger which he hath devised against us, and spare the remnant that are left and it seemed good unto them to do so. So they gathered themselves together: many at the tavern called the Paul's Head Tavern, and others at the Judgment Hall at Westminster, as thou goest to the Abbey. And they chose a chairman, who opened the assembly. And one spake on this manner, and another on that manner, and there was a confusion of tongues, and much speechifying. And so it was that finally they drew up the petition, and brake up the assembly. And early the next morning they that bare the petition came into the presence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with their faces shaved, their wigs floured, and staves in their hands; and they bowed down their heads, and did obeisance; and they delivered the petition to the Chancellor, who delivered it to the Secretary, who delivered it to the Scribe, who delivered it to the Porter, who delivered it to the Devil (queryPrinter's Devil?), who published it in the newspapers. Then these men lifted up their voices with one consent, and said: "O Pitt, live for ever! We, thy servants, the

barbers, the bakers, the butchers, the fishmongers, the cock milliners, the hen milliners, and all kinds of tradesfolks, are come before thee. We cannot pay thy taxes, neither can we furnish thee with the golden images which thou requirest at our hands; wherefore, then, shouldest thou set thy face against us, even the poor shopkeepers of this city, to destroy us? The occupation of thy servants doth verily oblige us to take up our abode in the front streets of the city, it proceedeth not from choice, neither from pride, nor is our renting a large house proof of our riches; but, contrariwise, it keepeth poor continually; wherefore spare thy servants, and let our prayer prevail for the remnant that are left." Then the Chancellor of the Exchequer answered and said unto them: "Ye are idle-ye are idle ! Do I not assuredly know that ye will put the tax upon your customers, by raising the price of your commodities ?" And the men answered and said: "We cannot put the tax upon customers; because, although thy servants are in general very poor, yet there are to be found, thinly scattered up and down among us, men of each profession who have amassed large wealth by the profits of their great returns; these men will not raise the price of their commodities, and, of course, be able to undersell thy servants. And we do know of a verity, that the fair and delicate women of this isle, who would not put forth their hands for delicacy, even their eyes shall be evil against us, even the poor shopkeepers of this city; for they will issue forth with their chariots and horses, and an exceeding great train, and pass a whole summer's day in cheapening a pair of gloves." Then the Chancellor of the Exchequer wearied himself for an answer to these men, and found none. So he looked on Rose the Secretary, and he showed them the way to the lobby, and the porter, who waited at the gate, shut the door upon them. And they spake one to another, and said, "Our hope is now crushed for ever." So they departed. And, behold! they were very sorrowful, and many of them lifted up their voices and wept sore.