The Sun.
London, England, 1823-06-20 00:00:00

TILE PITT SYSTEM.

Silt--'There is a very industrious endeavouring
at present, among a certain party, to persuade the public that
Ministers are receding from some of the most decided principles
upon which the British Government has acted, ever since the
first accession of Mr. Pitt to office. Give me leave to examine
this allegation.

It supposes two things, viz. That the Pitt system, as it is
called, was something new and different from the previous
habit of the Government; and that it has been recently dis-
covered by the Ministerial party to have been erroneous. The
Whigs take credit to themselves for having always seen its
erons ; and are mighty vaunting at the alleged change. I shall
therefore divide what I mean to say on the subject into two
parts ; and in the end I may administer a little birch to the
Whigs, for their Impudence in making—but that is their cus-
tom—an unfounded allegation.

In the first place, then, I do, contend thit there was nothing
new introduced by Mr. Pitt into the system according to which
the country had been long governed ; but at the close of the
American war new circumstances came into operation, and
the effect of them did induce a change, which must have taken
Place had the Minister of the day been the Great Mogul. kilt
flattering to statesmen to be thought the movers of the world ;
they are, howeVer, but the cogs of the wheels ; the machinery
works and winds itself among the people ; and ministers are
more or less enlightened, just in proportion as they discern
the tendencies of public opinion, and square themselves ac.
cording] y.

That Mr. Pitt, in his measures, was supported by a large
he
estimate
s ll
a tentitlede of public to b e
opinion
haaltviiiontg,gfioirmthedis awpilrletbtey
seedily
but
granted, it may nevertheless be said, and it is so said, that his
Measures were not wisely conceived with relation to the deve-
lopment of circumstances. It is chiefly with respect to them
that I propose to conduct my inquiry.
Prior to the American war, the administration of public af-
fairs was considered as the natural inheritance, property, and
office of the higher classes. The people looked up to the nobi-
lity and the great families as the appointed guardians of the
state. But the causes of that war, and the questions which it
elicited, had made them doubtful in many cases of the disin-
terestedness of their officers • and it must be admitted, that
many enormous abuses had from time to time been committed
by different adMinistrations ; in so much, that at the period of
which I em speaking, the necessity of a reform somewhere was
very generally felt and. required. Then, as now, a change in
the constitution of the House of Commons was deemed the
most effective remedy, and Mr. Pitt, like many others in his
green years, thought so too ; but, on acquiring office, he saw
that Parliament, as it stood, was adequate to the accomplish-
ment of all that the state of things demanded, and he tare-
. nuouily endeavoured to manifest this, by introducing
.a
series
of measures which had for their object to increase and st n iplify
the checks on official disbursements, and to improve the collec-
tion of the revenue. In so far, therefore, if there be any thing
1 an efficient
new in following public opinion t and in aPp-y-nis
remedy to public evils, undoobtedly it may be said, that the
principles with which Mr. Pitt conducted his administration, in
its earlier stages, were peculiar to himself. The true question,
however, is, whether the abuses in the public expenditure, and
in the collection of the revenue, were the evils that required re-
formation ; and, if they were, whether Mr. Pitt acted well or
wisely in trying to accomplish this reformation through the
means of the ancient and existing frame of things, rather than
by following out his juvenile scheme of changing the constitu-
tion of the douse of Commons. I think he did act wisely—
he may not perhaps have carried his system of checks far
'lt but he did sufficient to show that the House of Corn-
enon , •
mons, as it is constituted, is so far under the influence of,
and in obedience to, the voice of the country, that it esca-
pable of instituting all reformations which may be requi-
site in what relates to the Exchequer, and to the de-
partments connected with it. Moreover, I also think
that abuses in these departments were the main gievances then
complained of.
Now, Sir, 1 should like to know if there has of late been any
thing admitted by any of his s Majesty' Ministers, of the
slightest tendency to show that they do not think the Heuse of
Commons as at present constituted, adequate to supply a re-
medy to all existing abuses. If there have been no such ad-
mission=and there has been none—how can it be said that they
are receding from the principlts of the Pitt system ? It is true,
that just after Mr. Pitt had brought his system into action, a
great revolution arose in the theoretic dogmas of politics, and
that out of the events which occurred in Franee, circumstances
were evolved which obliged Mr. Pitt to set himself against any
change whatever in the frame of Government, and, above all,
in the consitution of Parliament. He considered the evils with
which the dissolution of soceity in France at that time me-
naced the world, to be so overwhelming, that he was afraid to
remove any, even the Oldest abuses, lest he should open some
vent that would give entrance to anarchy. But when the
chaos subsided, will it he said, that had Mr. Pitt survived the
storm, he would not have resumed the improvements in those
departments with_ which he commenced his official career ?
The storm has snbsided, and his successors are just doing
what he would leave done—reducing the establishments,
and improving the methods of managing the revenue—
In what relates to the reduction, I think they have pro-
ceeded too fast—but that it mere matter of opinion.—How,'
then can it be said, that in adapting their measures to the
changes which have taken place in the circumstances of the
country and of the world, they recede from any principle of the
Pitt system ?—a system that may be fairly described as one
'which professes. to govern the country according to the wants
and tendencies of the time.,
But, say those who are now so busily representing the,
practical wisdom of that system as departed from, there is a
• greater disposition in the Cabinet at present to attend to the.
public opinion than there was during Mr. Pitt's administra-
tion. This is not the case. The grand characteristic of the
Pitt system is deference to public opinion ; but it happened,
during the greater part of 111 r. Pitt's time, and till the latter
years of the war, that the nation was very much divided in
opinion upon several great doctrinal questions, and that the
1 party, siding with the majority, was necessarily at varis
ante with the minority.. Now the country is more unanimous,
And the Pitt system is accordingly more in unison with the
general voice-,sand Ministers, in consequence, are necessarily,
more: popular, not by, any change in themselves, but,by the
change which has taken place in the circumstances of the
world.
I am, however, aware, that many of those who are now 84
• loquacious about abandonment of the Pitt system, dwell

chiefly on two things, very different from those to which 4I have

adverted. They mean the change upon the sinking fund ; and
that change in policy by which the Government addresses itself
more to the popular sentiment than it did during the confusion,
of the war of the French Revolution. I shall be brief in my
remarks on the former ; but I may not be the less conclusive.
Do those who talk of the change in the sinking fund intend.
us to believe that Ministers 'have abandoned the principle of
reducing the national debt ? If they do not, what is it they
mean ? Is it not the fact that there has been a raging clamour
for a reduction of taxation, and of the national establishments ;
and that in deference to public opinion on these points Mini-
sters have adopted the principle of a definite sinking fund, in-
stead of a general appropriation of surplus ? that is to say, they
have now considered the sinking fund as a portion, if I may
use the expression, of the national expenditure ; and seem to
have agreed that it, shall be regulated accordingly, viz, that
means shall be found in the revenue to supply it to the extent,
of five millions annually. What principle of difference does
this modification imply, to justify either the allegation of change,
or the assertion, that in making the modification a doubt is
conveyed of the wisdom of the Pitt system ?—a system which
commenced its career with the simplification of the public ac.
counts ; and when in fact all the alteration which has been
made is but the introduction of a greater degree of simplicity—
for the benefit of my friends the country gentlemen.
" Well, then," it may be said to me, " not to insist upon
the matter of the Sinking Fund—What do you say for that
change in policy ?" " Why, very little ; just nothing more,
than where is it ? In what does it consist ?"

That moral earthquake, the French Revolution had thrown
down and shaken many of the bulwarks and most vene-
rable structures of society. During the alarm of that time,
while the charnels of the waters were changed—while kingdoms
were in panic, and the whole air filled with obscurity, and as it
were with a whirlwind, preservation was with the Pittsystem the
order of the day. It was no time then to think of calling in
carpenters to cobble locks and hinges within, when a storm was
raging without, that rendering it very doubtful if the edifice
would be able to weather the concussion—and because, in a
period of calamity, the Pitt party, disregarding the new-fledged
doctrines of the hour, reverted to the tried principles by which
society had, from the beginning, been held together, and had
gradually risen from Barbarity to Science ; shall it be said that
it did not consult the interests of the people, when in the plainest
verity it had left but the choice of two things, either to yield up all
a prey to individuals, who had no authority save only the delega-
tion of a temporary frenzy, or to endeavour to maintain those
institutions and classes, to which in their sober senses mankind
have in all ages ever shewed themselves sufficiently disposed
to do homage ?—But, " oh," say the changelirms, now you
are contradicting yourself, and telling us, that in thte most ma'
mentous period the Pitt party suspended its deference for pub-
lic opinion,—which deference you have just told us was one of
the grand features of the system."—l am doing no such thing.
I have told you that the public were divided in opinion during
the war of the French Revolution, and that the Pitt system
naturally sided with the majority. But it was some time be-
fore the sense of the majority could be obtained ; and Govern-
ment in the meanwhile was obliged to act from itself. In do.
ing so, it chose to adhere to the ancient doctrines and senti-
ments of the world ; and in so doing it acted wisely, for all
those who were the building worshippers of that Babel—" that
stupendous monument of human wisdom," as Mr. Fox called
the French Revolution, have recanted their political heresies.
Those who were, as Mr. Burke said, " beyond Aurora and the
Ganges" have returned home ;—the Pitt system was always in
Britain.

" Then what will you make of this new respect for the in-
ternal rights of nations ? How will your opinion of the Pitt
system harmonize with this reverence for the Spanish Constitu-
tionalists, and those remonstrances both to France and the Holy
Alliance, which have won such universal applause—nothing
of the kind ever took place under the Pitt system.—With tt
Monarchies were all in all."
My answer is shortly, that • it is nothing new ; that it is an
old British principle, and never was departed from. It is the
parent of our own iberties, and we have remonstrated with .
France and the Holy Alliance, because they are now setting up
a doctrine as dangerous to the peace of the world and the free-
dom of nations as itnyof the monstrosities of opinion broached '
by the jacobins of Paris. In a word, it is perfectly evident that
mankind will not be chained down from improving their political
condition, and that any attempt to do so will provoke
doctrinewars—
revolutionary
ily the
eo throne
divine o
fr
ti gh he
se': os t Charlesu
kingdoms
and this new-fangled fantasy of ligitimacy :among the Holy
therevo Fltiintiotnhairsyiiewaadr:
and.
Allies, if persevered in, will do as much for them. But could
the British Cabinet seeing the inevitable tendency of the
chartering theories of Louis the Eighteenth, and the meddling
propenaines of the Russian policy, with its Prussian and
Thhi s e
Austrian subalterns, do less than remonstrate ? To have done
more would have involved other considerations, which I shall
touch on at present. But the Pitt systent,of preservation
required
that they should do no less ; for the pretensions of
of the revolutionary dogmas of the National Conventiom
France and of the Holy Allies are as new and as unsound •as
any
But " add the changelings, " suppose we allow you so
much., wliat have you to say in defence of the Pitt system for
so resisting public opinion with respect to Parliamentary Re-
form ! How does that coincide with that deference of which
you have said so Much ?"
Ah, you Whigs ! have I caught you at last ? Then all this stuff'
of yours about the abandonment is mere cajolery, in the hope
that you may seduce 4inisters to yield themselves to some
of your tricks—by which the demagogues among you may get
into power and office, Your soft speaking, and your sweet
words, and your liberality—does it then come all but to that ?
However, not to birch your bottoms too sharply, I would say, in
the first place, that the defence of the Pitt system, and the aban-
donment of the principles of that system, are two very different
things; and with the former I have nothing to do—all I con.
saus
tend for is, that in no one thing has there yet been the slightest
intimation on the part of. Ministers to make the people doubt
the wisdom of that system, by which the country gained so
much glory, and rose to such pre-eminent wealth and prospe.
rity. Nor, until it is confessed by them, that they do not think
Parliament, as it is constituted, adequate to supply a remedy to
Parliament is is,
that an improvement in the con-
now much less necessary than it
was when Mr. Pitt came first into office. For although
all existing abuses, can it for an instant be said, that they have
permitted even the slightest occultation of the principles of
theirt
theret
iso
hyna oefm*
been ,lianei
s
there
(at prodigious o
existliiou sa
ma
mass
acquisitiono tse n v
nr ofe
pwr
ee a lt ht
nid although
t
ed
properly in the kingdom, as great, if not, greater,_ than the
represented, it yet happens that the vents of public opinion
have been in an equal degree multiplied. The uses of a repre-
sentation consist in enabling the executive to know what the
people want; and a single newspaper is worth, in this point cf
view, all the members fur the Aberdeen and Fife districts of
boroughs—with those of Westminster, Southwark, anti Win.
chelsea to boot—insomuch, that there never was a period in the
history of any nation when the means of knowing public opi-
nion were so extensive and efficient as they are in this country
at this time. And the practical effect of these means is, that
they partially tend to lessen the value of oral representations in
'Parliament. But there is no end to this subject, and its very
importance becomes a reason why I should not proceed fur..
ther with it at present.

BANDANA.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

BETTING-1400M, JUNE 19.--STATE, OF TIIE ODDS

DONCASTER
7 to 2 agst Sherwood
9 to 2 agst Tinker
7 to I agst Tanered

ST. LEGER.
10 to 1 agst Miss Fanny
26 to 1 agst Claude Lorraine
50 to 1 agst Ypsilanti.

JULY STAKES,

NEWMARKET.

4 to 1 agst Vourneen
9 to 2 agst c. out of Skipjsck's
dam

ft to 2 agst silt. to Guerilla
8 to I agst Laurel Leaf
10 to 1 agst 'rarandus..

BIRTHS.
On the 19th inst., at Munster House, Fulham, the Lady
Jane Laurence Peel, of a son and heir.
On the 17th inst., at Welwyn, Herta, the Lady of Henry
Fynes Clinton, Esq. M.P. of a daughter.

MARRIED.
On Thursday lasts at Halifax, Yorkshire, Mt. John Fuller,
Terrington St. John's, Norfolk,, to Harlot, daughter of Mr.
Haigh, of the former place.
Yesterday, at Streatham, George Chilton, of the Inner
Temple, Eaq., Barrister-at4w, to Misa Poore, gtand.daughter
of Georp \Vold; Eaq., of Balham.hill, and. cldtst sister of Sir
Edward Poore, Bart.
Yesterday; at St. Illary.la.bonne, by licence,, Mr. W. Sykes,
to 111iss.Eliza I3owtey.

DIED.
On Wednesday, at his house in Devonshire-street, Portland-
Place, Wni. Gordon, Esq„ of Carnpbelton, in the Stewartry
of
Kirkcudbright.
On the 19th inst., at Highgate, Miss Wagonf her er-
On Atonday evening test, in the 14th year ag Piss
e, 5
Charlotte Elizabeth Pownall, eldest daughter of afr. 3:13.
Pownall, of Kennington, Surr'eY•

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