cil Wray; but it would rather appear
that it was from the enmity which he bore to his rival, Fox. This,
indeed, is borne out by the debates on the subject, for the speeches of
Pitt teem with bitter invective against his opponent; which, perhaps,
may have been a leading cause in the change of sentiments that took
place among the young premier's friends. There is in the nature of
man, enlightened by education, an utter abhorrence to the spirit of
persecution; and it must be confessed that Pitt exhibited much of that
spirit in this affair of the Westminster scrutiny. And that Fox was
looked upon in the light of a martyr is evident from the words of Pitt
himself. In one of his speeches, having accused his rival of filling his
speech with everything that was personal, inflammatory, and invidious,
he remarked:--"I am not surprised if he should pretend to be the butt
of ministerial persecution; and if, by striving to excite the public
compassion, he should seek to reinstate himself in that popularity which
he once enjoyed, but which he so unhappily has forfeited. For it is the
best and most ordinary resource of these political apostates to
court, to offer themselves to persecution for the sake of the popular
predilection and pity which usually fall upon persecuted men; it becomes
worth their while to suffer, for a time, political martyrdom, for the
sake of the canonization that awaits the suffering martyr; and I make no
doubt the right honourable gentleman has so much penetration, and at the
same time so much passive virtue about him, that he would be glad not
only to seem a poor, injured, persecuted man, but he would gladly seek
an opportunity of even really suffering a little persecution, if it be
possible to find such an opportunity." In this extract is at once seen
the animus by which Pitt was actuated in this contest; and the light in
which the house and the public were disposed to look upon the object of
his unseeming vindictiveness. A generous conqueror never persecutes, or
exults over a fallen enemy.

PITT'S REFORM BILL.

These petty and unworthy proceedings were followed by a subject more
worthy the attention of the statesman. Pitt had twice failed in his
attempts to reform the house of commons, but, notwithstanding, he
still determined to persevere, having pledged himself "as a man and a
minister," to promote this great cause. He renewed the subject on the
18th of April, when he brought forward a plan of refor