Considering that Pitt’s income as minister was L6,000 a year, and that he derived an additional L3,000 a year from the Lord Wardenship of the Cinque Ports, his pecuniary troubles may seem hard to explain.  He had no family, and no expensive tastes.  But he was so intent upon the national exchequer that he neglected his private accounts, with the consequence that he was plundered by his domestics.  His expenses were not checked, and his debts continued to grow.

IV.—­Resignation

In the year 1800 Pitt was able to achieve a momentous change in the affairs of Ireland.  The chronic discontent of that country, largely due to the resentment of the Catholics at their exclusion from the rights of citizenship, had been fanned by the importation of revolutionary ideas; and there were hopes, once or twice on the point of realisation, of a French invasion of the island.  In 1798 a rebellion broke out, but was suppressed with promptness, and, it must be added, in many instances with cruelty.  But to Pitt the suppression of the insurrection was only the first part of his duty.  He thought that to revert to the old system would be a most shallow policy.  A new, and comprehensive, and healing method must be tried—­an Act of Union, which should raise the minds of Irishmen from local to imperial aims—­which should blend the two legislatures, and, if possible, also the two nations, in one.

In 1800 the project was fulfilled—­not without fierce resistance in the Irish Parliament, and not without a certain distribution of favours to those for whose support the government was anxious; although the allegations made on this subject seem to be exaggerated.  Having accomplished the union, Pitt laid plans for a further reform which led, early in the following year, to his retirement from office.

He proposed the emancipation of the Catholics by the substitution of a political for the religious test of fitness for citizenship.  Although the Anglican bishops and clergy and many laymen were strongly opposed to Catholic emancipation, Pitt would probably have been able to carry his scheme had it not been for royal antagonism.  The king believed, erroneously but passionately, that by consenting to such a measure he would violate his coronation oath.

His majesty expressed his opinions on the subject so publicly and so vehemently that on January 31, 1801, Pitt felt compelled to ask leave to resign unless he were allowed to pursue his course on the Catholic question.  The king required the abandonment of the scheme, and on February 3 Pitt resigned office.  Thus abruptly ended his renowned administration of more than seventeen years.