The Sun.
London, England, 1832-05-31 00:00:00

THE PITT CLUB.

Yesterday evening the Triennial Festival of the birth.,
day of William Pitt was cele. rated at Merchant Toilets°
Hall, the Duke of Wellington in the Chair, supported by
the Duke of Buccleucli, Lord Londonderry, the Duke of
Gordon, Lord Harewood, the Earl of Wirichilse 1, the Duke
of Rutland, Lord Eldon, Marquess of Salisbury, Earl
Wicklow, Lord Glengall, the E irl of Aberdeen, Lord
Skelmersdale, and a great many others. About four
hundred sat down to dinner.
A great crowd had collected in the neighbourhood of
the Hall, and on the arrival of the guests assailed them
with loud hisses, &c.
After the removal of the cloth the Duke of WELLINc-
TON rose to propose " The Health of the King," and the
toast was received with the most enthusiastic cheering.
" God save the King" was then sung by the profes-
sional men engaged for the occasion. The lines "
ne defend our laws," and " Confound their politics,"
were received with loud and long continued cheering, the
.vhole company joining in the chorus, with the waving of
handkerchiefs, &c.

The next toast was " The Queen," and it was received
with, if possible, more vehement acclamations.
The Duke of WELLINGTON next proposed " The health
of the Princess Victoria and the rest of the Royal Family."
—(Great cheering.)
The CHAIRMAN then rose and said, it was usual for
those filling the situation he that day held, to call atten'
:ion to the topics of the day, and to the acts sef the humor,
ttl person whose birthday. they were called upon to cele-
brate. He would avoid, however, as much as possible,
couching on the topics of the day. However much those
who heard him might differ from him, he considered it hie
duty to call the attention of the comp.:ny to sAne acts of
that great man's life, and to his conduct, and to leave
those present to draw their own conclusions of that con-
duct.—(Cheers.) Mr. Pitt was called upon to conduct
the supreme power of this great country, at an age "then
others were usually more in the course of education, os'
taking pleasure. He accepted office at a time of the
greatest difficulty and emergency. All Europe and Asia
were hostile to this country, as well as America ; and ft
could net be denied that greater party violence prevailed
than at any time since.—(Cbeers.) His firmness, how-
ever, and the confidence of his Sovereign—(cheers)
enabled him in a short time to restore confidence and
union in the councils of the nation—(Cheers)—and pros-
rrity and happiness to the country.—(Loud cheering.)
By the revival of our resources that great man was enabled
to meet the difficulties placed in his way, which were, the
first French revolution, the stoppage of the Bank, the
mutiny in the Navy, the Irish rebellion, and the establish-
ment of Revolutionary Governments.—(Cheers.) nom
all these difficulties Mr. Pitt brought out this country
with honour. At this time it was impossible to maintain
peace. This was agreed to among the most violent par-
tisans of the day.—(Loud cheering.) Mr. Pitt found
resources to cope with these difficulties—(Cheers)—and
brought the contest to a satisfactory conclusion—(Cheers)
—a conclusion honourable to this, country. All present,
recollected the happiness of those days ; the oaly alloy was
that that great man had not lived to see the conclusion of
nis labours.—(Cheers.) He then gave—" The Memory
of William Pitt."
The toast was drunk in silence,

Toe next toast was—" Tne Army and Navy."—
(Cheers.) The❑ followed—" The House of Brunswick,
and may they never forget the principles that placed theta
on the throne.—(Great cheering.)
The next toast was—" Protestant Ascendency.
(Great cheering.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON then rose to propose the
toast—" May the principles of Mr. Pitt always animate
the Councils of this great Nation."—(Great cheering.) It
was usual on this occasion to say a few words respecting
the principles of Mr. Pitt. They may, however, be ga-
thered from his actions. He was an ardent lover of the
King and of the laws of the country, and of the liberty
of the people.—(Cheers.) He was devoted in the cause of
the country. In peace he cultiv tted trade with the Fo-
reign Powers; he protected agriculture; and though, in all
his comprehensive pl ,ns he was not successful, he exercised
the powers of his great mind in promoting the interests of
his country. The principles of that great man would pre-
vail, and God send that that period may come soon.
The toast was drunk with great cheering.
Song, " The Pilot that weathered the Storm."
" The health of the Master and Wardens of the
Merchant and Tailors' Company" was then drunk ; and
the MASTER, in returning thanks, said, that he and the
coenpiny were proud of such guests, and were happy the
most straight forward man of the age was in the chair.._
(Loud cheers )

The CHAIRMAN then rose, and said, it was usual at
these meetings to have some Members of the Government
present, but they were net then so fortunate.—(Laughter.)
They had present, however, some of those who had served
with Mr. Pitt, and he proposed their health.--(Cheers.)
Marquess CAMDEN returned thanks ; and proposed
" The health of the Duke of Wellington," which was most
enthusiastically received.
The Duke of WELLINGTON briefly returned thanks.
On " The Health of the Earl of Eldon" being drunk,
his Lordship returned thanks, and said, he had felt it his
duty to attend these meetings, in order to forward the
principles of that great man, to which he was pledged.--
(Cheers.) He considered, notwithstanding what had
been said of the country, that the people were happy ; and
he should, for one, never consent to any change that would
endanger the present order of things.—(Cheers.)
Several other toasts were drunk, when the Duke of
Wellington and other persons of note lift the Hall. They
were assailed with hisses, &c. from a crowd of persons
Who had collected in the vicinity.

WATCHMEN IN SCHEDULE A.--(From a
Correspondent.)—At a Common Council, to be holden to-
morrow, the expediency of finally dispersing this band is
to be considered. It seems to be a mere question of pa-
tronage in reality. The Court of Aldermen, it is said,
are to offer 5,0001. per annum out of the corporation
funds for the right of appointing about 300 policemen,
which will make a total of 400 men to do the day and
night duty. The appointment now rests in the hands of
the Common Councilmen of each Ward, on the recom-
mendation of the inhabitants. To catch the favour of the
citizens at large, the Aldermen promise an amazing reduc-
tion of expense, which they will effect by making 230 men
do what is now done by above 500 watchmen, and by re-
placing 140 patrols and inspectors by 30 police sergeants.
BERKSHIRE ELECTION.—Mr. HALLETT iS
stated to have been very successful in his canvass in this
county, and no doubt appears to be entertained of Ins
success provided the subscription does not fail him, and
his opponent thus overpower him by superior length of
purse. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT has been canvassing for
Nlr. HALLETT in the neighbourhood of Wokinghain with
great success.

to an old
On Monday last, a labouring man, named
crueltyG ° s R r
' tow ashifsud teilayucgohmmit
r, ategcled to
about Dover 01,
years, charged Irnge keeping
with
4
her in a state bordering on starvation, upon a very short
l ai
bedstead upwards of nine weeks, till she Waif discovered on
Saturday last in a most emaciated state of illness, and
taken under the protection of the parish office's. A
allowance of bread and water, chained by the leg
number of women took the unnatur,d parent forcibly to
the sea, and after giving him several duckii,gs, Allow,'
itim to escape. Ile was afterwards ulcer' into custody,
and handed over to the gaolcr......h.faidatone Gazette,

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS

The Globe appears thoroughly inoculated midi
the kind interest taken by Lord Palmerston it,
the fortunes of our Tory Diplomatists, and to
share all his confitlingness in their zeal in behalf
°fa Whig Ministry. We are told of the great
sacrifice of time and money at which our diplo-
matic functionaries are trained to diplomacy as
a profession, and of the inadequate reintineration
which in many cases the utmost advancement
affords for such sacrifices. We are also reminded
that the individuals alluded to are almost uni-
versally persons of the highest station and most
unexceptionable character, and tauntingly asked
if we think it likely that these should be persons
who would disgrace themselves, and blast their
prospects, for the mere purpose of gratifying
their political predilections ? With respect to
blasting their prospects, we may admit, without
difficulty, that they will not do what they be-
lieve will blast their prospects. But then we
must know what their prospects are, and whether
their prospects exactly lie in the same direction
with the prospects of a Whig Ministry. The
Tories are certainly greatly indebted to Lord
Palmerston for the kind consideration which lie
has for the sacrifices of time and money which
they have made in qualifying themselves for the
ill-requited profession of diplomacy. But the
public are entitled to ask what national advant-
age is obtained by the employment of this numer-
ous army of persons of high station at the Courts
of Europe, great and small, at all equivalent to
the enormous expenditure entailed thereby on the
nation? We had thought. under aWhig Ministry,
the only consideration was to be the public
good, and not the finding places for Tories of
high station. In all professions a training. is
necessary, and often an expensive training; but
how many physicians, lawyers, and other pro-
fessional men do not succeed after all this train-
ing ! And why is the country to be saddled for
ever with the maintenance of all those persons:of
high state, who have betaken themselves to di-
plomacy ? Lord Palmerston's principles, as
expounded in the Globe, seem to be that a Go-
vernment is best carried on by the instrumentality
of those who, in opinion, are opposed to it. We
are to have Tory Lord Lieutenants, anti Tory
Magistrates; the army is to be intrusted to
Tories—the diplomacy is to be intrusted to
Tories. We must not fasten a stigma upon the
British character "by proclaiming to every
nation of Europe, that an English Gentleman` is
not fit to be trusted—that his official integrity
depends upon his political opinions, and that his
duty to his country ranks, in his estimation, only
after his obligations to his party." But why be
so anxious fbr Parliamentary Reform, if it be So
necessary, for the sake of the British character,
to repose blind confidence in Tory gentlemen of
high station ? The House of Commons has
generally consisted of gentlemen of good station,
who, notwithstanding, continued to abuse the
trust, to their own advantage ; and the conviction
that men of the best character are not to he
blindly trusted in such a case, has led to the
general desire for Reform. If, as Lord Palmer-
ston's ads orate contends, the utmost confidence
ought to be reposed in Tory functionaries, the
public may ask, why the same confidence may
not be reposed in a Tory Government ?,
But e contend that the heads of a Government
are not entitled, in the disposal of the patronage
of a nation, to bestow it on their opponents.
They thereby impair the means of conducting
the Government with due energy and vigotir.
if it be necessary to expend the revenues of tie
nation in the maintenance of a diplomatic esta-
blishment at the Court of every petty State of
Germany, Italy, &c., this money ought to be
chiefly given to those who support the Ministry.
Why are Whigs and Reformers to be called on
to make all the sacrifices, while they see all the
rewards bestowed on their opponents ? We do
not mean to contend that a Tory will in all cases
abuse the confidence reposed in him by a Whig
Government ; but, on the other hand, the doe-
trine of Lord Palmerston, that men of high sta-
tion will not allow their abstract opinions to in-
fluence their conduct while serving under a Go-
vernment acting on a system of which they disap-
prove, may be carried a great deal too far. We
have seen how anxiously Lord Aberdeen, the
Duke of Wellington, &c., laboured to involve this
country with France, and to impede the settlement
of the affairs of the Netherlands, Portugal, &c.
Are we sure that the abstract opinions of the
Tory diplomatists may not occasionally include
them in gratitude to those to whom they owe
their appointments to furnish them with infor-
mation calculated to further their views ? Be-
sides, supposing no downright treachery of this
kind, political opinions, if heartily embraced,
arc seldom so abstract as to be without their in:-
fluence in practice in the mode of serving a cause..
Do we not know that the dislike of the Tories
to reform and improvement is not confined to
this country ?—that they are opposed to the
cause of civil and religious liberty all over th
world ? Can these men exert themselves cordi

ally in furthering that cause ? Are they so far,
too, masters of themselves, that they never at
the Courts at which they arc stationed give ex-
pression to the hopes they entertain that their
friends will regain power ? If they have this
mastery, it is more than is possessed by the
persons by whom the Government offices at home
are filled, who, under the very nose of Minis-
ters, make no secret of their dislike to them,
and act as if they were not accountable to them.
We repeat, all this kindness and consideration
for the "ory gentlemen in the diplomatic corps
may obtain for Lout Palmerston the praise of
great liberality from his opponents, but it is not
calculated to benefit his Government or to satisfy

the country.—Morning Chronicle.
The Reforming Public—that is to say, nine-
teen-twentieths of all persons of property, and
ninety-nine of every hundred of the people of
Great Britain and Ireland—jealously watch the
secret influence now in active operation at Court.
When they see the political constitution of the
Household, and acutely discern the personal
motions of the Duke of Cumberland, they can-
not but forbode future political difficulties of no
ordinary moment. We know that there are

many well-meaning persons who will exclaim
" be quiet till the Reform Bills are passed, or
those great vital measures for the amendment of
the representation will be endangered." We
cannot but smile at these weak fears. How
little can such timid and smooth sailing gentle-
men know of their country and the state of pub-
lic opinion ! We boldly say that no power in
the kingdom call now control the voice of the
people. The thunder of the people for Reform,
the liOtning of their just and despised indigna-
tion, have decreed that the Ministerial measures

shall pass into law ; and as well might the bo-
roughmongers, or any other political mongers,
vainly labour to stop up the cataracts of Niagara
as to stem the torrent of popular determination
on the vital subject of Parliamentary Reform.
The people do not like the " signs of the times."