He also reverted to his early taste for classical literature.
During his long journeys, and at nights when tortured by the gout, he amused himself by making Latin verses; though the only line of his that has been preserved was that intended to designate the portrait of Benjamin Franklin: "Eripuit caelo fulmen, sceptrumque tyrannis." Among more recent French statesmen--with whom, however, literature has been their profession as much as politics--may be mentioned De Tocqueville, Thiers, Guizot, and Lamartine, while Napoleon III.
challenged a place in the Academy by his 'Life of Caesar.' Literature has also been the chief solace of our greatest English statesmen.

When Pitt retired from office, like his great contemporary Fox, he reverted with delight to the study of the Greek and Roman classics.

Indeed, Grenville considered Pitt the best Greek scholar he had ever known.

Canning and Wellesley, when in retirement, occupied themselves in translating the odes and satires of Horace.

Canning's passion for literature entered into all his pursuits, and gave a colour to his whole life.