war to defend Holland, to prevent the aggrandisement of France; we suffered Holland to become a province, and France to acquire a power unprecedented in the annals of modern Europe: but where Britain fought alone, and where the counsels of her mimisters, as well as the efforts of her champions could fully operate, she was uniformly victorious: if, therefore, war was necessary, as far as Mr. Pitt's talents could operate, it was successful: his plans animating the spirit, invigorating the energy, and promoting the resources of the country, were unquestionably efficient. During his belligerent administration, Britain was instigated to efforts, which she had never before exhibited. After a contest which reduced the other contending nations to be dependents on France, Britain alone preserved her power and importance. One of the most alarming evils with which Mr. Pitt had to contend, was intestine disaffection, arising from the contagion of revolutionary principles: the means which were employed to repress such agitators, were in Britain completely successful, and sedition was restrained before it ripened into treason. In vigorously pursuing an object right within certain bounds, it is extremely difficult not to overstep the limits. The extravagant projects of the corresponding societies required vigilance and counteraction, but it appeared that both ministers and parliament misapprehended the case in supposing such machinations to be treason by the English law to prohibit the daily utterance of inflammatory lectures, was certainly necessary in the state of the popular mind: but the laws for imposing the restrictions probably outwent the professed purpose. The watchfulness of government respecting Ireland, brought to a premature explosion the rebellion, that might have proved tremendous had it been allowed time to be fully charged. Not satisfied with efficacious remedy.to existing evil, Mr. Pitt extended his policy to preventives, and endeavoured by union to identify the sentiments as well as the interest of the Irish and British. The union between Britain and Ireland, one of the most momentous measures of Mr. Pitt, even as present effects, will probably, in future ages, be much more distinguished, when the consequences of British and Irish connection are experimentally ascertained, as are now the consequences of English and Scottish.

"Persons who deny the necessity or prudence of the war, may probably little value the abilities which it has called forth; and if they give credit to Mr. Pitt for genius and energy, may deny him wisdom, and assert, that for the last eight years his great powers

were employed in remedying evils, which he might have before prevented this, however, is a mere matter of opinion, that resolves itself into the original expediency of the war, combined with the opportunities of afterwards making peace. It is less the province of the historian to obtrude upon his readers his own judgment, than to furnish to them facts on which to ground theirs : without therefore presuming to solve so very contested a question, I cannot help declaring my thorough conviction, founded on an impartial and accurate view of his whole conduct, that Mr. Pitt, in advising the commencement of the war, and at various stages of its continuance, acted conscientiously, and according to the best of his judgment; and sought the benefit of his King and country, whose affairs he so long administered. Whether unbiassed posterity shall regard the war of 1793 as a necessary or unnecessary measure, peace in 1796 and in 1800 as attainable or not attainable, they must account Mr. Pitt, in the whole series of his administration, a statesman of great ability and strength of mind, who rendered momentous services to his country; and must allow, that never was the force of the British character tried by such dangers, or graced by more splendid achievements, than under the administration of William Pitt."

On the death of the great Earl of Chatham, the dignity went to his eldest son, JOHN, SECOND AND PRESENT EARL.

His Lordship was born September 10th, 1756, and was brought up in the army, in which he served during the American war; and is now a lieutenant-general, and colonel of the fourth regiment of foot. In 1788, he was made first lord of the admiralty, in which office he continued till December 1794. In 1796, he was made president of the council, which he held till 1801, when he was appointed master-general of the ordnance, which he held till February 1806. He married, in 1783, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas, late Viscount Sydney, but has no issue. His Lordship was re-appointed master general of the ordnance, in 1807.

Titles. John Pitt, Earl of Chatham, and Viscount Pitt.

Creations. Viscount Pitt, of Burton Pynsent, in the county of Somerset, and Earl of Chatham, in the county of Kent, July 30th, 1766, 6 Geo. III.

Arms. Sable, a fess chequé, Or, and Azure, between three Bezants.

Crest. On a wreath, a crane close, proper, beaked, and

membered, Or, holding his dexter foot upon an anchor, erect, Or; which crest was assigned to William, the first Earl of Chatham, and his descendants lawfully begotten, by grant dated October 24th, 1761.

Supporters. On the dexter side, a lion guardant, charged on the breast with an acorn, slipt and leaved, proper; on the sinister, a buck, proper, attired, Or; plain, collared, and chained, Sable. Motto. Benigno numine.

Chief Seats.

LAWRENCE Bathurst, citizen of Canterbury, in the reign of King Henry VI. held lands there, and at Cranbrooke in Kent, b and had lands in Staplehurst in Kent, and left issue three sons. First, Edward, ancestor to the Earls Bathurst.

Second, Robert, of Horsmanden in Kent; and,

Third, John, who had lands in Staplehurst, by gift of his father; ancestor to those of Odiham and Crundal in Hants.

ROBERT, of Horsmonden, second son, had issue by his first wife, a daughter of William Saunders, two sons; first, John; and second, Paul, of Bathurst-street, in Nordiam, Sussex, who in right of his wife Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Edward Horden, of Horden and Finchcocks in Kent, clerk of the board of

. This family was originally seated in Sussex, at a place called Bathurst, not far from Battle abbey, of which they were dispossessed, and the castle demolished, in the troublesome times of the dispute between the houses of York and Lancaster; and nothing now remains but a wood, called Bathurst wood, where may be found some of the ruins.

b According to Hasted, they were clothiers. "The occupation of clothier," says he, "was of considerable consequence in those times, and was exercised by persons, who possessed most of the landed property in the Weald, insomuch that almost all the ancient families of these parts, now of large estates, and genteel rank in life, and some of them ennobled by titles, are sprung from, and owe their fortunes to ancestors, who have used this great staple manufacture, now almost unknown here. Among others, the Bathursts, Ongleys, Courthopes, Maplesdons, Gibbons, Westons, Plumers, Austens, Dunkes, and Stringers. They were usually called from their dress, The Grey Coats of Kent, and were a body so numerous and united, that at county elections whoever had their votes and interest, was almost certain of being elected." Hasted, vol. iii. p. 48.

Green Cloth to King Edward VI. Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, enjoyed the manor of Finchcocks, in the parish of Goudhurst, which descended to Edward, his eldest son and heir, who * left issue four sons; 1. Thomas Bathurst, of Finchcocks, Esq. who died young; 2. Edward Bathurst, of Finchcocks, Esq. gentleman harbinger to King Charles I.; 3. William Bathurst, merchant and alderman of London, whose son, Sir Henry Bathurst, Knt. of Edmonton, in Middlesex, married Catharine, daughter to Sir Thomas Wolstenholme, Bart. and had no issue; but left a sole sister and heir, Katherine, who married John Ent, Esq. third son of Sir George Ent, the celebrated Physician, but left no issue; and, 4. Richard Bathurst, a clergyman, who left only a daughter. The rest were all married, and left issue.

JOHN Bathurst, elder brother to Paul Bathurst, was of Horsmonden, in Kent, and left issue, by Mary his wife, daughter of Edward Dodge, of Wrotham, in Kent (who, surviving her husband, John Bathurst, was afterwards married to Francis Champneys, Esq.); Robert, his son and heir, who purchased the manor and town of Lechlade, in Gloucestershire, in the 4th year of King

e Richard, second son, was Avenor to the King, and left issue; and Thomas, third son, died without issue.

d His wife was Natharetha, sister of Sir Edward Leveson, of Haling, Knt.

e He died in 1657, having had by Matilda his wife, daughter of John Hooper, of Stockbury, Esq. eight sons, and two daughters; of whom there survived, 1. Edward. 2. John, who died in 1726, without issue. 3. Thomas. 4. William. 5. Charles. 6. Richard. 7. Elizabeth, who died unmarried in 1711. And, 8. Frances. Edward, eldest son, was of Finchcocks, Esq. and married Judith, daughter of Robert Oliver, of Leyborne, by whom he had no issue. He died on June 9th, 1690, æt. 52; and passing by his next brother, John, who had displeased him, devised Finchcocks, with the estate belonging to it, to his brother, Thomas Bathurst, Esq. who, as well as all the rest of his brothers and sisters, except William, died unmarried. He devised this estate to his brother Edward, only son of his younger brother, William Bathurst, of Wilmington, by Anne his wife, widow of Lancelot Bathurst, of Franks, Esq. This Edward rebuilt his seat at Finchcocks, at a great expence, in a very costly manner; and died August 1st, 1772, æt. 92, having been twice married, and had several children by each of his wives. His first wife was Elizabeth, third daughter and coheir of Stephen Stringer, of Triggs, in Goudhurst, Esq. who died in 1715, æt. 30; and by whom he had Edward, John, and Thomas; the former and latter of whom were Fellows of All Souls College, Oxford; and the latter, Rector of Welwyn, in Hertfordshire. The former left only a daughter, Dorothy. By his second wife, Edward the father, had Charles and Richard, &c. To Charles he alienated his seat at Fitchcocks, and he dying 1767, without issue, devised it to his brother, the Rev. Richard Bathurst. Hasted's Kent, III. 35.

f Brydges's Memoirs of King James's Peers. Postscript, LIX.