The Speeches of the Right Honourable William Pitt, in the House of Commons, Volume 1 |
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amount appointed argument assertion attention bill boroughs Britain charge circumstances commerce commissioners committee conduct consequence consideration considered constitution crown danger debt declared dissolution of parliament duty effect England equal established executive government exercise existed favour France French fund give ground happy heir apparent high bailiff honourable friend house of commons idea impeachment important India interests Ireland justice king legislature liberty Lord John Cavendish Lord North Majesty Majesty's manufactures means measure ment ministers motion nation nature necessary necessity noble lord object opinion parliament peace persons Pitt present Prince of Wales principles proceeding produce proposed proposition prove question reason reform resolution respect revenue right ho right honourable gentleman royal authority sentiments shew situation slave-trade sovereign taxes test laws thought tion trade treaty trusted vote whole wish writ
Popular passages
Page 97 - ... keep the word of promise to the ear, and break it to the hope" — we have presumed to court the assistance of the friends of the drama to strengthen our infant institution.
Page 425 - That an humble address be presented to His Majesty, to return His Majesty the thanks of this House for his most gracious message to this House, signified by His Grace the Lord-lieutenant.
Page 14 - Nay, I will say more — flattered and encouraged by the Right Honourable Gentleman's panegyric on my talents, if ever I again engage in the compositions he alludes to, I may be tempted to an act of presumption — to attempt an improvement on one of Ben Jonson's best characters, the character of the Angry Boy in the Alchemist'
Page 294 - His conviction of the evils which may arise to the King's interests, to the peace and happiness of the royal family, and to the safety and welfare of the nation, from the government of the country remaining longer in its...
Page 375 - ... annually taken off ! There is something in the horror of it that surpasses all the bounds of imagination. Admitting that there exists in Africa something like to courts of justice ; yet what an office of humiliation and meanness is it in us, to take upon ourselves to carry into execution the partial, the cruel, iniquitous sentences of such courts, as if we also were strangers to all religion, and to the first principles of justice ! But that country, it is said, has been in some degree civilized,...
Page 405 - We will make a descent on the island — We will lodge there fifty thousand caps of liberty — We will plant there the sacred tree, and we will stretch out our arms to our republican brethren — the tyranny of their government will soon be destroyed...
Page 241 - To suppose that any nation could be unalterably the enemy of another was weak and childish. It had neither its foundation in the experience of nations, nor in the history of man. It was a libel on the constitution of political societies, and supposed the existence of diabolical malice in the original frame of man.
Page 387 - British civilization, of British laws, and British liberty, might at this hour have been little superior, either in morals, in knowledge, or refinement, to the rude inhabitants of the coast of Guinea. If then we feel that this perpetual confinement in the fetters of brutal ignorance would have been the greatest calamity which could have befallen us ; if we view with gratitude and exultation the contrast between the peculiar blessings we enjoy, and the wretchedness of the ancient inhabitants of Britain...
Page 387 - If we listen to the voice of reason and duty, and pursue this night the line of conduct which they prescribe, some of us may live to see a reverse of that picture from which we now turn our eyes with shame and regret. We may live to behold the natives of Africa engaged in the calm occupations of industry, in the pursuits of a just and legitimate commerce.
Page 292 - ... disconnecting the authority to command service, from the power of animating it by reward ; and for allotting to the Prince all the invidious duties of government, without the means of softening them to the public, by any one act of grace, favour, or benignity.