Volume 1

Records of my life / By the late John Taylor, esquire.

John Taylor

Date:: 1832

Credit: Records of my life / By the late John Taylor, esquire. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$CHAPTER X. t ft * n ? ft 4 * t ., \ . The Earl of Chatham. I once, and only once, saw this noble statesman, happening to be present in the House of Lords when he appeared there for the last time. Earl Temple came first, and a whisper quickly spread among the people before the bar, importing that “ as the Jackall was come, the Lion might soon be expected.’’ The venerable Earl of Chatham arrived soon after. He was dressed in a suit of black, which by no means appeared to be new. There was nothing remarkably dignified in his form altogether, but, old as he appeared, there was a grandeur in his features, though they evidently indi¬ cated the languor of sickness. He arose feebly, and his speech at first was weak, but became stronger as he proceeded. The subject was our war with Ame¬ rica. Young as I was, I was struck by the force of his language and the variety of his expressions. He said, “ have we resisted Gallic invasions, Scottish irruptions, British insurrections, Danish intrusions, Irish rebellions,” and mentioned other attacks upon this country, varying his epithets on every similar occasion. I accompanied my friend Mr. Richardson at this time, and we both agreed as to the several terms which he had adopted. When he had closed his speech, apparently more from fatigue than from having fully expressed his sentiments, the Duke of Richmond rose and an¬ swered him with great violence, partly resulting$

Records of my life / By the late John Taylor, esquire.

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