has lamented this more than myself; I may indeed say more than
this. I have endeavoured both in public and in private to fight
against it. But selfishness has diffused itself thro' the whole
mass of our people, and _hinc illae lacrymae_. You mistakenly
conceive, as do many others, that I am biassed by personal
affection for Mr. Pitt. When we meet, I will rectify your error
on that head....[612]

Again, on 20th February 1798, Wilberforce wrote to William Smith, an
active Abolitionist and now prominent in the Opposition, deploring the
dilatoriness of Pitt, but maintaining that his patriotism was purer and
more disinterested than that of anyone not under the direct influence of
Christian principles. He adds these words:

I speak not this from the partiality of personal affection. In
fact for several years past there has been so little of the
_eadem velle et eadem nolle_ that our friendship has starved for
want of nutriment. I really love him for his public qualities
and his private ones, though there too he is much misunderstood.
But how can I expect that he should love me much, who have been
so long rendering myself in various ways vexatious to him, and,
above all, when, poor fellow, he never schools his mind by a
cessation from political ruminations, the most blinding,
hardening, and souring of all others?[613]

These passages explain why the personality of Pitt attracted all that
was purest and most patriotic in the public life of England. Men might
disagree with particular actions, but they saw in him the saving genius
of the State; and this was the dominant feeling until the year 1801 when
events scattered his following and reduced public life almost to a state
of chaos.

His character, then, was strong in the virtues of steadfastness and
loyalty, on which the social gifts can root deeply and bear perennial
fruit. Of these he had rich store. His conversations possessed singular
charm; for his melodious voice, facile fancy, and retentive memory
enabled him to adorn all topics. His favourite themes were the Greek and
Latin Classics. The rooms at Holwood or Walmer were strewn with volumes
of his favourite authors, on whom he delighted to converse at length.
Grenville declared to Wellesley that Pitt was the best classical scholar
he had ever met. Yet, with the delicate tact which bade him enliven, not
dominate, the social circle, he refrained from ob