The first entry into public life of William Pitt, as related by Earl Stanhope, is characteristic of the easy mode of procedure in those days, when a great man had merely to name his friends, and his tenants elected them. “Hitherto,” wrote Sir George Savile in 1780, “I have been elected in Lord Rockingham’s dining-room. Now I am returned by my constituents.” The spirit of the country, it was asserted, was rising at that period, but in 1780, it was still manifest that the territorial magnates and the monopolists of the borough franchises had their “own sweet will.” Pitt’s early friend, the eldest son of that Granby who had been an attached follower of Lord Chatham, had, mindful of this hereditary friendship, sought the acquaintance of William Pitt at the beginning of the latter’s career at Cambridge. Granby was five years Pitt’s senior; he became one of the members for Cambridge University, and in 1779 had the fortune to succeed his grandfather as Duke of Rutland. On Pitt’s coming to London, to commence his career, the young men became intimate, and the warm attachment between them, which continued during the whole of the duke’s life, was the cause of the early advancement of the son of the great Commoner. Owing to the Duke of Rutland’s solicitude to see Pitt in parliament, he spoke upon the subject to Sir James Lowther, another ally of his house, and the owner of most extensive borough influence. Sir James quickly caught the idea, and proposed to avail himself of a double return for one of his boroughs to bring the friend of his friend into parliament. The duke mentioned the offer to Pitt; and Pitt, who was writing on the same day to his mother, Lady Chatham, added a few lines in haste to let her know. But it was not until he had seen Sir James himself that he was able to express his entire satisfaction at the prospect now before him. “Lincoln’s Inn, Thursday Night, Nov., 1780. “MY DEAR MOTHER, “I can now inform you that I have seen Sir James Lowther, who has repeated to me the offer he had before made, and in the handsomest manner. Judging from my father’s principles, he concludes that mine would be agreeable to his own, and on that ground--to me of all others the most agreeable--to bring me in. No kind of condition was mentioned, but that if ever our lines of conduct should become opposite, I should give him an opportunity of choosing another person. On such liberal terms I could certainly not hesitate to accept the proposal, than which nothing could be in any respect more agreeable. Appleby is the place I am to represent, and the election will be made (probably in a week or ten days) without my having any trouble, or even visiting my constituents. I shall be in time to be spectator and auditor _at least_ of the important scene after the holidays. I would not defer confirming to you this intelligence, which I believe you will not be sorry to hear.”