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named Wilson； and those studies； though often interrupted by illness； were
prosecuted with extraordinary success。 Before the lad had completed his
fifteenth year； his knowledge both of the ancient languages and of
mathematics was such as very few men of eighteen then carried up to
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college。 He was therefore sent； towards the close of the year 1773； to
Pembroke Hall； in the university of Cambridge。 So young a student
required much more than the ordinary care which a college tutor bestows
on undergraduates。 The governor； to whom the direction of William's
academical life was confided； was a bachelor of arts named Pretyman；
who had been senior wrangler in the preceding year； and who； though not
a man of prepossessing appearance or brilliant parts； was eminently acute
and laborious； a sound scholar； and an excellent geometrician。 At
Cambridge； Pretyman was； during more than two years； the inseparable
companion； and indeed almost the only companion of his pupil。 A close
and lasting friendship sprang up between the pair。 The disciple was able；
before he completed his twenty…eighth year； to make his preceptor Bishop
of Lincoln and Dean of St Paul's； and the preceptor showed his gratitude
by writing a life of the disciple； which enjoys the distinction of being the
worst biographical work of its size in the world。
Pitt； till he graduated； had scarcely one acquaintance； attended chapel
regularly morning and evening； dined every day in hall； and never went to
a single evening party。 At seventeen； he was admitted； after the bad
fashion of those times； by right of birth； without any examination； to the
degree of the Master of Arts。 But he continued during some years to reside
at college； and to apply himself vigorously； under Pretyman's direction； to
the studies of the place； while mixing freely in the best academic society。
The stock of learning which Pitt laid in during this part of his life was
certainly very extraordinary。 In fact； it was all that he ever possessed； for
he very early became too busy to have any spare time for books。 The work
in which he took the greatest delight was Newton's Principia。 His liking
for mathematics； indeed； amounted to a passion； which； in the opinion of
his instructors； themselves distinguished mathematicians； required to be
checked rather than encouraged。 The acuteness and readiness with which
he solved problems was pronounced by one of the ablest of the moderators；
who in those days presided over the disputations in the schools； and
conducted the examinations of the Senate House； to be unrivalled in the
university。 Nor was the youth's proficiency in classical learning less
remarkable。 In one respect； indeed； he appeared to disadvantage when
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compared with even second…rate and third…rate men from public schools。
He had never； while under Wilson's care； been in the habit of composing in
the ancient languages： and he therefore never acquired that knack of
versification which is sometimes possessed by clever boys whose
knowledge of the language and literature of Greece and Rome is very
superficial。 It would have been utterly out of his power to produce such
charming elegiac lines as those in which Wellesley bade farewell to Eton；
or such Virgilian hexameters as those in which Canning described the
pilgrimage to Mecca。 But it may be doubted whether any scholar has ever；
at twenty； had a more solid and profound knowledge of the two great
tongues of the old civilised world。 The facility with which he penetrated
the meaning of the most intricate sentences in the Attic writers astonished
veteran critics。 He had set his heart on being intimately acquainted with all
the extant poetry of Greece； and was not satisfied till he had mastered
Lycophron's Cassandra； the most obscure work in the whole range of
ancient literature。 This strange rhapsody； the difficulties of which have
perplexed and repelled many excellent scholars； 〃he read；〃 says his
preceptor； 〃with an ease at first sight； which； if I had not witnessed it； I
should have thought beyond the compass of human intellect。〃
To modern literature Pitt paid comparatively little attention。 He knew
no living language except French； and French he knew very imperfectly。
With a few of the best English writers he was intimate； particularly with
Shakspeare and Milton。 The debate in Pandemonium was； as it well
deserved to be； one of his favourite passages； and his early friends used to
talk； long after his death； of the just emphasis and the melodious cadence
with which they had heard him recite the incomparable speech of Belial。
He had indeed been carefully trained from infancy in the art of managing
his voice； a voice naturally clear and deep…toned。 His father； whose oratory
owed no small part of its effect to that art； had been a most skilful and
judicious instructor。 At a later period； the wits of Brookes's； irritated by
observing； night after night； how powerfully Pitt's sonorous elocution
fascinated the rows of country gentlemen； reproached him with having
been 〃taught by his dad on a stool。〃
His education； indeed； was well adapted to form a great parliamentary
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speaker。 One argument often urged against those classical studies which
occupy so large apart of the early life of every gentleman bred in the south
of our island is； that they prevent him from acquiring a command of his
mother tongue； and that it is not unusual to meet with a youth of excellent
parts； who writes Ciceronian Latin prose and Horatian Latin Alcaics； but
who would find it impossible to express his thoughts in pure； perspicuous；
and forcible English。 There may perhaps be some truth in this observation。
But the classical studies of Pitt were carried on in a peculiar manner； and
had the effect of enriching his English vocabulary； and of making him
wonderfully expe