ESSAY S. ESSAY I. WRITTEN IN THE YEAR M.DCC.LX. WE E know not a character of antiquity which can be produced as a rival to that of the prefent Minister *. His eloquence, integrity, and zeal for the interests of the commonwealth, may have been equalled by feveral individuals both of Greece and Rome; but the vigour, fagacity, and fuccefs with which he has exerted those qualities, are unprecedented;, and his universal popularity in a free *The Right Hon. W. PITT, Efq. then one of his MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARIES of STATE, and afterwards created EARL OF CHATHAM, father of the present CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER. VOL. II.. B ftate, ftate, which had been long divided by inveterate factions, is altogether without example. WERE We obliged to find a parallel between him and fome diftinguished character of the ancient republics, we fhould compare him to the Two Brothers the GRACCHI, the illuftrious advocates of the Roman people, and the moft fhining ornaments of a polifhed commonwealth. We would compare him to both the Brothers, becaufe the virtues and accomplishments of both feem united in his character. TIBERIUS GRACCHUS and CAIUS GRACCHUS were of the Sempronian family, which, though Plebeian, was eminent, worthy, and honourable, and allied to the most noble houses of Rome. Both Brothers were actuated by the fame warm zeal for the interest of their fellow-citizens; and fo extraordinary were their talents, that, had they flourished at the fame period of time, their united endeavours musft have furmounted all oppofition: but Caius, being the junior by nine years, could not co-operate with his brother Tiberius in the great scheme he had projected in behalf of the common people; and he afterwards adopted his plan without fuccefs. Each made his efforts feparately, and both perished in the fame attempt, through the jealousy and resentment of the patri ci ans. cians. Their enemies accufed them of ambition : but the imputation was unjust. In reviving the Licinian law for the divifion of lands, they were folely animated and influenced by a principle of patriot humanity, which indeed glowed to a degree of enthusiasm. VELLEIUS PATERCULUS, that elegant fycophant of arbitrary power, is forced to acknowledge, that, bating their supposed design against the conftitution of their country, their morals were unblemished, and their lives irreproachable. He owns their genius was fublime, and that their engagements were facred: in a word, that they were adorned with all the virtues that human nature, in its greatest perfection, could acquire or poffefs. Yet there was an effential difference in the characters of these two celebrated Roman patriots. Tiberius was mild and compofed, of a winning address and gentle difpofition: when he harangued in public, he feemed to folicit, and indeed to fee * ὁ δὲ ἀδελφὸς αὐτῷ Γάιαν ἔν τινι βιβλίῳ γέγραφεν, εἰς Νομαλίαν πορευόμενον διὰ τῆς Τυῤῥηνας τὸν Τιβέριον, και τὴν ἐρημίαν τῆς χώρας ὁρώντα, καὶ τὰς γεωργόνας ἢ νέμονας οἰκέτας ἐπεισάκτως καὶ βαρβαρες, τότε πρῶτον ἐπὶ νῦν βαλέσθαι την μυρίων κακών άρξασαν αὐτοῖς πολιτείαν. τὴν δὲ πλείςην αὐτὸς ὁ δῆμον ὁρμὴν καὶ φιλοτιμίαν ἐξῆψε, προκαλέμενο διὰ γραμμάτων αὐτὸν ἐν τοαῖς καὶ τοίχοις καὶ μνήμασι γραφομένων, ἀναλαβεῖν τοῖς πένησι τὴν δημοσίαν χώραν. |