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Famed for his masterful oratory and fearless criticism of parliamentary opponents, William Pitt the Elder (1708-78) distinguished himself through the strong leadership he provided during Britain's struggle against France in the Seven Years' War. Edited by his great-grandsons and first published between 1838 and 1840, this four-volume collection presents nearly forty years' worth of letters to and from the great statesman. Each volume also contains a useful list of the principal officers of state for the period covered, along with facsimile plates of letters and signatures by some of Pitt's eminent correspondents. Volume 4 (1840) covers the period from November 1770 until Pitt's death in May 1778. Despite his retirement and deteriorating health, he continued to take an active interest in politics, writing to his many correspondents on a wide range of subjects, notably the unfolding American Revolution.

Statesmen --- Great Britain --- Politics and government --- Pitt, William, --- Chatham, William Pitt, --- P--tt, --- P., W. --- Pitt, Uilʹi︠a︡m, --- Uilʹi︠a︡m Pitt, --- W. P. --- Celebrated commoner,

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Famed for his masterful oratory and fearless criticism of parliamentary opponents, William Pitt the Elder (1708-78) distinguished himself through the strong leadership he provided during Britain's struggle against France in the Seven Years' War. Edited by his great-grandsons and first published between 1838 and 1840, this four-volume collection presents nearly forty years' worth of letters to and from the great statesman. Each volume also contains a useful list of the principal officers of state for the period covered, along with facsimile plates of letters and signatures by some of Pitt's eminent correspondents. Volume 1 (1838) covers the period 1741-59, although most of the letters date from 1754 onwards. Pitt's early political career saw him launch attacks on Sir Robert Walpole, contributing to the latter's resignation in 1742. Once Pitt had himself taken up the reins of power, the annus mirabilis of 1759 marked a high point of his wartime strategy.

Statesmen --- Great Britain --- Politics and government --- Pitt, William, --- Chatham, William Pitt, --- P--tt, --- P., W. --- Pitt, Uilʹi︠a︡m, --- Uilʹi︠a︡m Pitt, --- W. P. --- Celebrated commoner,

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'Our Bells are worn threadbare with ringing for victory', wrote Horace Walpole after receiving news of Wolfe's victory at Quebec in October 1759. Traditional accounts of the Seven Years' War have emphasized the contribution of the Elder Pitt to the success of Britain in Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, India and the Far East. The Bells of Victory argues that such a view is misguided and that, far from exercising single-handed control, Pitt's influence was necessarily circumscribed. The margin between military success and failure was extremely small, and the British authorities worked within constraints imposed by constitutional propriety and political expediency. Effective government action was the result of teamwork by many individuals in the diverse fields of diplomacy, politics, finance, the army, navy, ordnance and commissariat.

Anglo-French War, 1755-1763. --- Seven Years' War, 1756-1763 --- Pitt, William, --- Newcastle, Thomas Pelham-Holles, --- Holles, Thomas Pelham-, --- Newcastle-under-Lyme, Thomas Pelham-Holles, --- Newcastle-under-Lyne, Thomas Pelham-Holles, --- Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Thomas Pelham-Holles, --- Pelham-Holles, Thomas, --- Chatham, William Pitt, --- P--tt, --- P., W. --- Pitt, Uilʹi︠a︡m, --- Uilʹi︠a︡m Pitt, --- W. P. --- Celebrated commoner, --- Great Britain --- Politics and government --- Arts and Humanities --- History