After enlargement it
had been converted into a gentleman's abode which well suited the modest
requirements of Pitt and of his niece, Lady Hester Stanhope.[774] There,
not far from the scenes of his youthful frolics with Wilberforce, and
only a quarter of a mile from the dell where he fought the duel with
Tierney, he found solace from the ever-increasing cares of state. In
those last months Hester felt for him feelings akin to adoration.

[Illustration: BOWLING GREEN HOUSE, PUTNEY HEATH. (From a pencil
sketch by Elsie H. Rose)]

On the morrow, Sunday, their circle was enlarged by the arrival of his
old friend and counsellor, Bishop Tomline, who was shocked at the change
which had taken place in him since he left for Bath. The physicians,
Farquhar, Reynolds, and Baillie, however, saw no cause for alarm, the
only disquieting symptoms being intense weakness and dislike of animal
food. There is a forcibly significant phrase in a recent letter of
George Rose to Tomline, that he dreaded the effect on the invalid of an
excessive use of medicines.[775] Evidently Rose believed the digestive
organs to be impaired by this habit. Pitt's daily potations of port wine
for many years past must further have told against recovery. Whether
Farquhar and his colleagues cut off medicine and sought to build up that
emaciated frame is uncertain. All that we know is that they prescribed
complete quiet, and therefore requested the bishop to open all Pitt's
letters so as to preclude all chance of excitement.

On 12th January, Pitt wrote an affectionate letter to the Marquis
Wellesley, welcoming him on his return from his memorable Vice-royalty
in India. He begged him to come to Bowling Green House at the earliest
opportunity. The letter closes with these remarkable words: "I am
recovering rather slowly from a series of stomach complaints, followed
by severe attacks of gout, but I believe I am now in the way of real
amendment."[776] The Bishop also describes him as gaining ground until
Monday the 13th. On that day he went out in his coach in the morning,
but in the evening Lords Castlereagh and Hawkesbury, having obtained
permission from the physicians to interview their chief, communicated
news which had a most agitating effect. Pitt afterwards assured the
Bishop "that he felt during that conversation some sensation in his
stomach which he feared it might be difficult to remove."[777] It is
surprising that the physicians allowed an inter