pe by her
example." In its terseness and strength, its truth and modesty, its
patriotism and hopefulness, this utterance stands unrivalled. The effect
must have been all the greater because Pitt then bore on his countenance
signs of that anxious forethought in which now lay the chief hope of
European independence.

Six days before the arrival of news of the Austrian disaster, Pitt had
sought to expedite a union with Prussia. In view of the urgency of the
case, he decided to send his trusted friend, the Earl of Harrowby, the
Dudley Ryder of former days. Harrowby's great abilities have never met
with due recognition, probably owing to the persistent ill health which
impaired alike his equanimity and his power of work; but Wilberforce had
good cause for commending Pitt's choice; and he added in a letter of
25th October that the capacity of Harrowby was rated far higher by
foreigners than by Englishmen.[740] The instructions to the Earl,
drafted by Lord Mulgrave on 27th October, reveal Pitt's resolve to go
very far in order to buy the support of Prussia. They empowered Harrowby
to offer her the Belgic provinces and such German lands as would
connect them with the Westphalian domains of Prussia. The need of money
for the immediate equipment of her army being also urgent, Harrowby was
to offer a yearly subsidy of L12 10_s._ for each Prussian soldier
actually serving against France, the hope being expressed that from
150,000 to 200,000 men would be forthcoming. At the same time Pitt
explained that at the general peace Great Britain would restore all her
acquisitions oversea, Malta and the Cape of Good Hope alone excepted.
Harrowby was also charged to do all in his power to effect the
liberation of North Germany and Holland by the Russo-Swedish force then
mustering at Stralsund. Such were the plans of Pitt. Even in this brief
outline, their magnanimity is apparent. In order to assure the freedom
of the Continent, he was ready to pour forth the wealth of Britain, and
to sacrifice all her conquests, except those two bulwarks of Empire,
Malta and the Cape.[741] Already even before Nelson gained the mastery
of the seas at Trafalgar, Baird's force had set sail for the reduction
of the Cape. It achieved its purpose in the month in which Pitt died. It
is not generally known that the foundation of our South African Empire
was due primarily to his foresight. The war having originated in
Napoleon's aggressions and his threats respecting