Local Notes and Queries: … Notes: … William Pitt at Burton Pynsent – Describing Pitt’s life, Lord Macaulay writes: — “In expense, indeed he vied, during this part of his career, with the wealthiest of the conquerors of Bengal and Tanjore. At Burton Pynsent he ordered a great extent of ground to be planted with cedars. Cedars enough for the purpose could not be found in Somersetshire. They were, therefore, collected in London and sent down by land carriage. Relays of labourers were hired, and the work went on all night by torchlight. No man could be more abstemious than Pitt, yet the profusion of his kitchen was a wonder even to epicures. Several dinners were always dressing, for his appetite was capricious and fanciful and at whatever moment he felt inclined to eat, he expected a meal be instantly ready on the table.”
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