The National Register.
London, England, 1819-06-07 00:00:00

' THE PITT CLUBS.

The societies which call themselves •" Pitt
Clubs," hare just held their customary meet-
ings in celebration of the birth-day of him
whose name they has borrowed as a sanction. In
'the few observations we have to offer on such to sub-
ject, we must begin by stating that we neither
claim the right, nor kel the iodination to 14ect to
any man, or lively of men, stewing by such means
their veneration for whet they deem to be splendid
virtues, or their respect for the nutmeg and memories
of those who possessed and displayed them. Nor,
again, are we disposed tiequestion their full liberty
to adopt whatever public principles they may ho-
nestly deem in their hearts and • unteciences to be
best. Still, however, eve have both the right, and
feel it to be our doter, when we see a set of persons,
professing one object, but in feet pursuing another,
plunging themselves, and trying to draw ethers other
them, into the grossest inconsistencies, both to dis-
cuss Sit..! value of •the principles thus acted on, and
to expose the folly of such a conduct. No one is ig-
norant, or even labours to conceal that the real
abject of the Pitt Clubs is simply the support of his
Majesty's present Ministers and all their measures,
it is, theretime, perfectly open to us to compare the
public policy of these Ministgrs, and the palitia3l
tenets of the Pitt Clubs, with the avowed opinions
wad political conduct of that distingeished individual
under the banner of whom they profess 'themselves
enlisted, and to whose name they pretend an anxiety
to do honour. When, howerer, we are about to
prefer this charge of inconsistency, it may be neces-
sary to premise that we do so upon the assumed
ground that he was an honest man, that he really
meant what be said, and sincerely wished that
whatever prineip!ee he professed should be fairly
noted on, and that whatever measures lie advocated
should be eaceitel eleid•thisussumption, we hope,
will be 'readily allowed us, because otherwise the
=raters of the Pitt Chits would have to confess that
they celebrated the birth-day of a monstrous and
guilty hypocrite, and paid their aderation at the
shrine of Bella], rather than in the temple of virtue.
In the first place, then, Mr. Pitt commenced hie
political life as a bold and strenuous assertor of the
rights cud lilierties of the people. His first speech in
Parliement n as in favour of Mr. Burke's bill tier re-
trenehment in the civil list. He resolutely opposed
both the principle, the conduct, and the continuance
of the American war. In the first session, also, he
lent his ulready powerfel aid to a bill for parlia-
mentary rerre, end sebseeuently, whilsta private
member, either supported or originated again and
neein the same important question. Even his ac-
ceptance of office did not induce him to abandon it.
lu 1.7:43, he brought thrward himself, as a Minister,
an eeprees and specific hi% for adding 100 members
to .the .eountieN, and abolishing a proportionate
neteii small and obnoxious boroughs; for admit-
ting the tywholders to an duality with the free-
Leiden:, and for extending the elective franchise its
populous limns to the whole body of householders.
This bill failed, but gill he (lid not despair. in
1785, when he thonght his strength utigmented, he
twin reesesd upon the Hens:: of Commons the pro-
itts•, •
the eeeediency, and the justice of e.refiam
in its representation, but was again destined to feel,
with how little chance or being listened to, a cor-
rupt body can hem exlierted to cleanse and purify
itself. Toe trial of fleeting:4, the King's illness, and
the stormy period of tie Frerch revolution, which
filled tip, with very little interval, Mr. Pitt's eventful
life, gate both to the ptblic ciind, and to his, tither
objects of still more cieniuntoling importance, and
'efficient to absorb the v,:hele miereiee of his soul;
but the Mr. llet; • original ideas of the justice and
necessity of re‘ortise.ere ever ehangeel, we believe
authority whatever can be fiemii; and if honour,
and conscience, and consistency, had any share in
his character, it is not tiereasiemble preseme
that, if now alive, his pleee would be umengst the
foremost of its supporters. Thu next great measure
of his life was the esteblislertent of a sinking fund,