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Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1789, 8 November 1862, Page 3

The Duke op Wellington's Recollections of Pitt. — I did not think he would have died so soon. He died in January, 1806 ; and I met him at Lord Cainden's in Kent, and I think he did not seem ill, in the November previous. He was extremely lively, and in good spirits. It is true that he was by way of being an invalid at that time. A great dear was always said about hit taking his rides — for he used then to ride eighteen or twenty miles every day— and great pains were taken to send forward his luncheon, bottled porter, I think, and getting him a beef stake or mutton chop ready at some. : place , fixed . beforehand. Th^t place was always mentioned to the party, so that those kept at home in the morning might join the ride there if they pleased. On coining home from these rides, they used to put on dry clothes, and to hold a Cabinet, except me, and I think, the Duke of Montrose. . At dinner Mr. Pitt drank little wine ; but it was at that time the fashion to sup, and he then too.k a great deal of port wine and water. In the same month I also met Mr. Pitt at the Lord Mayor's dinner. He did not seem ill. On that occasion I remember he returned thanks in one of the beat and neatest speeches I ever heard in my life. It was in a very few words. The Lord Mayor had \ proposed his health as one who had been the saviour of England, and would be the saviour of the rest of Europe. Mr. Pitt then got up, disclaimed the compliment as applied to himself, and added, "England has saved herself by her exertions, and the rest of Europe will be saved by her example." That was all ; he was scarcely up two minutes, yet nothing could be more perfect. I remember another curious thing at that dinner. Erskine was there. Now Mr. Pitt had always over Ere* kine a great ascendancy— the ascendancy of terror. Sometimes, in the House of Commons, he could keep Erskine in check by merely putting out his hand or making a note. At this dinner, Erskine's health having been drunk, and Ersksna rising to return thanks, Pitt held up his finger, and said to him across the table, " Erskine I remember that they are drinking your health as a distinguished colonel of Volunteers." Erskine, who had intended, as we heard, to go*, ofl upon Kights of Juries, the State Trials, and other political points, was quite put out; he was awed like a schoolboy at school, and in his speech kept strictly within the limits enjoined him. — Stanhope's Life of Pitt. ~ » Angling Extraordinaby. — The Hon. Mr.Denison, brother of the Speaker of the House of Commons, who ha 3 been stay ing in the Caledonian Hotel for some time past, had a tough battle with a large salmon on Friday and Saturday last, August 15 and 16, in the Holm Pool, and in which he experienced the worst of the encounter. About 6 in the evening, whilst fishing at this part of the 1 Ness, he hooked a salmon; which he knew to be of immense size. The fish at once turned tail, and ran down the river, pursued by the angler .. and an assistant; He took refuge in deep water, and the line being hauled in, an attempt was made to seize him with the gaffV but in vain, for in a moment he had darted off^in the contrary direction, and coming to a stop, lay sultrily at the bottom of the water. The gaff was egain tried, but with a similar result.. Tiu3.gani9,;contiuued till evening set in, the pursuit of the-saimon-beinsr joined in by a brother angler, but all the efforts, used were in vain. Determined not to lose the prise if possible-, Mr. Denisoujcept the fish on h I*B line during the whole night^ Vid'diCflOpole hold of it till 4 o'clock on Saturday mornings jft| =tvS»ioh nour, in making one of its *udden,. J u'arts,-jiia line, in Tunning out,. got entangled about the person of the angler,, broke in twain: and the fish." was free after a battle often hours j The fishes believed to.be Cone of the largest; ever teen in tt^Ness, and could,not be less than solb. iv Advertiser, ■•■ ■; (.:£ ' r A