"like a candle burning out"

A Blog about the Life and Times of William Pitt the Younger (and George IV)

[pitt-able]

George Washington to Queen Charlotte

This page of the copy letter book of Queen Charlotte, Consort of King George III shows a letter written by George Washington as President of the United States. The clear focus of this letter is to communicate a spirit of friendship and goodwill between the two nations.

To Our Good Friend. The Queen of Great Britain. Madam Our good Friend. This letter will be delivered to you by Rufus King one of Our distinguished Citizens, whom I have named Minister Plenipotentiary to reside near the Person of Your Royal Consort. My knowledge of his good qualities gives me full confidence that he will so conduct himself as to merit your esteem and I pray that you yield entire Credence to the assurances which he will give you of Our Friendship and that God may always have you Madam Our Good Friend in His holy keeping. Written at Philadelphia this seventh day of June 1796 Go. Washington. By the President. Timothy Pickering Secretary of State.

Georgian Papers Program, Copy Letter Book of Queen Charlotte, 1782-1806, GEO/ADD/41/218-469 (26/07/2026).

[imagineyourhistoricalfigure]

Imagine your favorite historical figure as a ghost next to a statue of themselves and complaining about it

[captainknell]

Ghostly Napoleon is unhappy

[joachimnapoleon]

Napoleon finding out that statue ended up in Wellington’s house would’ve had him spinning in his tomb like a turbine.

[pitt-able]

Brummell and the Duchess of York

I started reading Death on a Silver Tray by Rosemary Stevens. The story takes place in Georgian England and apparently is some sort of Sherlock Holmes style mystery novel with Beau Brummell as Sherlock Holmes. His partner during his investigations – you will never guess it – Friederike Duchess of York and Albany.

I fear, based on the set-up alone, that this is going to be a very bad book, but who knows, maybe the book surprises me …

[emforsters-deactivated20180309]

George III And His Sons Personals, excuse me wile I hit my head against the wall for making such a dumb thing.

This morning when I discovered that Twitter account due to this post I was like “Good Lord, they are sooo Prinny & Co if they were on craigslist”.

[decadentdeath]

AMAZING

[pitt-able]

That is the best thing I have seen in a long time!

[pitt-able]

King George III to his sister on the Death of their Mother

Dear Sister It is with a heavy heart I take up my pen to acquaint You that my Mother after a long and painful illness near Eleven Months died this morning at a little before Six, She was perfectly Sensible to the last and either from fortitude would not pretend to know Her danger, or from natural spirits was ignorant of it. To the last hour [she] was anxious to hear from You whose misfortune certainly have some days shortened Her life. I am grieved at thinking that this letter will be delivered to You at Cronenburgh [Kronborg] instead of

King George III informs his exiled sister Caroline Matilde, Queen of Denmark and Norway of the death of their mother, February 8, 1772. GEO/MAIN/15956.

[pitt-able]

The Growth of the Royal Children from 1772 to 1773

Memorandum concerning the growth of Royal Children, dated August 15, 1773. GEO/MAIN/16006.

[pitt-able]

The Godparents of some of the Children of King George III and Queen Charlotte

The Prince of Wales was named George Augustus Frederick Godfathers Duke of Cumberland, and Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Godmother Princess Dowager of Wales. Prince Frederick Godfathers Duke of York, and Duke of Saxe Gotha. Godmother Princess Amelia. Prince William Henry Godfathers Duke of Gloucester and Duke of Cumberland. Godmother Hereditary Princess of Brunswick Princess Royal named Charlotte Matilda Godfather King of Denmark Godmother Queen of Denmark and Princess Louisa. Prince Edward Godfather Hereditary Prince of Brunswick and Prince Charles of Mecklenburg Strelitz. Godmother Landgravine of Hesse Cassel (?) Princess Augusta Godfather Prince of Orange Godmothers Duchess of Sace Weissenfels Princess Christiana of Mecklenburg Strelitz Princess Elizabteh Godfather Hereditary Prince of Hesse Cassel Godmothers Princess Royal of Sweden, Princess of Nassau Walburg

Memorandum relating to godparents of the royal children, dated 1770. GEO/MAIN/15897-15897A.

[pitt-able]

I admit that I had not had the time to watch any of these episodes yet - but Arte does very solid work most of the time and I am hopeful here (there should also be French versions on YouTube).

[empirearchives]

Historian Alice Loxton explaining this political satire of Napoleon and William Pitt the Younger, 1805, by James Gillray. Displayed at the London Original Print Fair.

She calls it “one of the most famous political cartoons ever made.”

[empirearchives]

Napoleonic caricatures from 1805

[pitt-able]

That is such a wild one ... 😅

[wordswithimages]

[lordansketil]

[permanenthistorydamage]

having friends who are also historians is important because you need to get together and drag dead people's terrible, terrible handwriting

[my-deer-friend]

Another thing_ do not write quite so fast, for there are sometimes words in your letters that the devil himself could not decipher

Francis Kinloch to Johannes von Müller, 23 April 1777

[pitt-able]

I am very glad to see you write without the assistance of a secretary. Perhaps however, you will not be able to read without the assistance of a decypherer. At least in compassion to your poor eyesight it is as well for me to try it no further.

William Pitt to William Wilberforce, July 31, 1782

A. M. Wilberforce, editor, Private Papers of William Wilberforce, T. Fisher Unwin, London, 1897, pp. 3-4.

[pitt-able]

As report might possibly carry to Burton an exaggerated account of my having been unwell (...)

There is one aspect of Pitt’s correspondence that I find incredibly endearing. Whenever he had been ill – and, starting maybe in early to mid-thirties, he was quite often ill. Some of these illnesses were trifles that passed quickly but sometimes he was seriously ill. The newspaper often reported about his health – he was Prime Minister after all and not also was his persona of public interest, his absence was also noted. Whenever he was recovered enough to write letters, his first order of business usually was to write to his mother and these letters were always along the lines of “I do not know what you heared about my health – BUT whatever it was, it was vastly exaggerated. I am fine, I am fine. I have always been fine. Nothing to worry about.”

[beyondthisdarkhouse]

I kind of love that one of Jane Austen's biggest fans was the Prince Regent (later George IV). She didn't think very well of the nobility in general, but she motherfucking hated him, a wastrel who very flagrantly cheated on his wife.

But he loved her writing, was the first recorded purchaser of Sense and Sensibility, and kept copies of her books in all his residences. She never made enough from her writing to live on during her lifetime, so this wasn't support she could casually toss aside. His librarian kept suggesting ideas for new books to her, which she turned down with exquisite politeness. Much to her aggravation, she found herself obliged to dedicate Emma to the man.

Local Novelist Is So Talented She Can't Beat Royal Patron Off With A Stick

[snoozingcat]

You can read more about this here

[beyondthisdarkhouse]

I've thought about it and this is so funny because a moral novelist having to civilly endure being patronized by a dissolute nobleman who loves but also totally doesn't get her books is exactly the kind of thing that would happen in a Jane Austen novel.

[defensivelee]

hey @pitt-able have you seen this

[pitt-able]

Thank you for the tag - and always feel free to do so. :-)

I actually did knew about this because Austen's actions here are legendary.

[pitt-able]

William Pitt’s "Records"

Pitt was the youngest Prime Minister to ever assume office (and he likely will be able to keep this distinction.) He was 24 years and 205 days old when he assumed office. The next oldest Prime Minister was Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton who was 33 years and 16 days old when he assumed office.

He was also the second longest serving Prime Minister with a total tenure of 18 years and 345 days before he died in office. Only Robert Walpole, Britain’s first Prime Minister served longer - with a tenure of 20 years and 315 days.

Pitt was however the longest inhabitant of Downing Street Number 10. While he spend pretty much all of his Premiership in Number 10 (there was some delay with moving in), Walpole only moved in during September of 1735 (his term ended on February 11, 1742). George II had offered Downing Street 10 as a private gift to Walpole in 1732 but he refused to accept unless Downing Street would become an official residence for office holders.

Speaking of dying in office, Pitt was one of seven Prime Ministers to die in office. (Which, might I add, means that 12.5% of all Prime Ministers (56, the current one not included) died in office. That is an eight of all office holders – and there is also a number of Ministers who died within weeks of leaving office.)

From these seven, he was the youngest to die in office for Pitt died aged 46 years and 240 days. Out of all Prime Ministers, there was only one who died younger. William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire, died aged 44 years and 147 days.

Pitt also was one of 17 men who had two or more terms as Prime Ministers. The record holder here is William Ewart Gladstone with four terms.

Pitt also has the dubious distinction of being the first Prime Minister to fight a duel while in office. The Duke of Wellington would later be the second and last Prime Minister to do so.

Pitt was one of only four Prime Ministers who never married.

While many, many Prime Minister had some type of kinship with each other, either by blood or by marriage, Pitt had some of the more direct relations to other Prime Ministers. He and his father, William Pitt the Elder (very conveniently named) were one of only two father-son-couples. The Young Pitt and Lord William Grenville were furthermore the only full cousins. Pitt and George Grenville were also one of two uncle-nephew-couples who filled the office of Prime Minister.

Last but not least, enjoy this lovely sentence from Wikipedia. The modern equivalent of over three Million … let that sink in.

[weirdchristmas]

[acrossthewavesoftime]

Not a strange Christmas card (and not “Victorian”, either), @weirdchristmas, but a satirical cartoon from February 1805!

The title is The Plumb-pudding in danger, or, State Epicures taking un Petit Souper by the famous cartoonist James Gillray.

Depicted are to the left, in the characteristically red uniform coat associated with the British army, Prime Minister William Pitt (the younger), and to the right, in a blue uniform coat, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

This image seems to be cropped, as the original is wider, depicting the back of the chairs of Pitt and Napoleon decorated with the heraldic animals representing their respective country, an attribution to Gillray in the upper left corner and in addition to this, the title to the right has been cut off.

Between Pitt and Napoleon, on a gold serving platter on the table stands an overlarge, steaming pudding, which both men are carving pieces off of. Pitt appears to use a large carving knife, wereas Napoleon uses his sword. Their golden plates are yet empty as they cut the pudding into pieces.

The pudding displays latitudes and longitudes as well as a stylised map. Napoleon cuts a smaller slice off the pudding than Pitt does, who cuts off half the pudding. Only a very small strip of it, depicting the British Isles, is left intact between the cuts the two men make. The phrases “Atlantic Ocean” and “Europe” show which portion of the world the men each claim for their country.

Gillray takes aim at the political situation in early 1805; while Britain, invested in its colonial ventures, claims half the world (labelled “Atlantic Ocean”) for itself and also thinks of itself as being the dominant sea power of the time, it allows Napoleon to strike close to home with only the channel separating Britain and France while Napoleon, then newly-crowned Emperor, aims to bring the entirety of continental Europe (labelled “Europe” on the pudding globe) under French control.

Dating to February 1805, the cartoon is by no means intended to be related to Christmas; pudding was, during the Georgian era, not a highly seasonally specific dish associated with a single holiday yet, and eaten throughout the year.

Have I forgotten anything, @pitt-able?

[pitt-able]

No, that is a wonderful summary and I have nothing more to add. Or maybe one thing; it is not at all impossible that Pitt himself owned a copy of the print. He was known to collect some of Gillray's prints, both works that featured and did not feature him.

[pitt-able]

She mourns (...) her faithful Pitt

This very ... patriotic, poem was published by The Gentleman’s Magazine in early 1806. It was written by the anonyms “B” to commemorate all the changes the end of 1805 and the begin of 1806 brought to the nation. While I find some of the stanzas a bit … questionable, some passengers sound rather nice.

The New-Born Year Eventful entrance of the new-born Year! Britannia mourns her bravest Hero Slain, Her NELSON coffin’d on the trophied bier, And borne in triumph to the sacred Fane. She mourns her ablest Statesman snatch’d away, Her faithful PITT, illustrious Chatham’s Son; Pitt, who asserted George’s royal sway, And of true Freedom’s truest friends was one. She mourns CORNWALLIS, India’s friend sincere, Who twice the Ocean cross’d that land to save; But, oh! Too far advanc’d in life’s career. He cross’d the Ocean for an Indian grave. Ill-omen’d entrance of the new-born Year! So pale desponding Senex faintly cries- Ill-omen’d? – Blot away that word of fear: For the bright gleams succeed to low’ring skies. Now gallant COLLINGWOOD protects our coast- He and his comrads train’ in NELSON’s school, Have learn’d this maxim each true Briton boasts That God for Britain the proud waves doth rule. Look ye for guardians of domestic life? Behold the Church, the Senate, and Bar- May these dispel our cares and curb our strife, And guide us through right paths whene’er we err! Bless’d be the counsel, whencefoer’er it springs, Whose zeal, combin’d with judgment, warmly glows, Which smooths the pillow of the best of Kings, And guards fair Britain from insulting foes. B.

The Gentleman's Magazine, 1806, 2:76, p. 255.