The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-06-05 00:00:00

THE PITT CLUB.

The triennial commemoration of the birth of William Pitt
was celebrated at Merchant Tailors' Hall, London, on Friday
last. About .400 gentlemen were present, among whom genie
of the most distinguished statesmen of the day, and members of
both houses of parliament, were numbered: The chair was
taken by the Lord Viscount Mahon, who, in the course of his
speech, au proposing "The immortal memory of William
vitt," took occasion to draw a contrast between conservative
and radical liberality. His lordship said, "The attribute of
liberality we all know has been of late- years assumed by the
revolutionary party, with as much right and reason as in for-
mer times that of free thinkers, implying legitimate freedom of
thought, was assumed by the real, if not openly avowed, enemies
of religion. (Cheers.) But in the same way as the people of
England have shown tnat they are not inipbsecl on by the name,
taking those for the true frieuds.of religion merely because they
choose to call themselves freethinkers, so will they not regard
the conservatives otherwise than as their friends, although their
enemies would vainly ariogate to themselves the boastful ap-
pellation of liberals. (Cheers.) If I were asked which of the
two parties, as represented for example at this moment in the
House of Commons, with Sir Robert Peel and Lord Stanley on
the one side (lotid,chee.r.s), with -Lord John Russell and Mr.
O'Connell on the other (loud laughter),—if I were asked which
of the two parties so represented is most fairly entitled to the
designation of liberal, I should, without one moment's doubt or
hesitancy, say the conservatives. (Loud cheers.) 'With re-
spect to foreign policy, what, I ask, can be .noie fitting and
liberal than the opinions We entertain ? Contemplating, as we
do, the liberation of Spain and Portugal,. without any selfish,
narrow, and grasping policy ? (Cheers.) What can be fdunded
on more liberal principles than our ideas as to vested rights?
(Cheers.) We do not wish to bring iuto controversy the origin
of property; our object is to extend protection to all property.
(Cheers.) But at the same time where there is any trust im-
plied in the property or privilege, we will take measures to have
it fully, diligently, properly, and beneficially exercised. (Loud
cheers.) Is this liberal? or is it more liberal to consider nothing
settled, to keep alive perpetual agitation, and to throw unceas-
ing doubt and disgust.on the holders of all property, whether
lay or clerical? (Cheers.) Then again can anything be founfled
. on more enlarged, comprehensive, and liberal principles than
the idea of an established church? (Chects.) Con Sider fur one
moment the principle of an established church. Is it not a reli-
gious establishment supported by the rich, for the benefit chiefly
of the poor? " (Cheers.) Supposing that establishment were
overthrown, who would be the gainers? Would it be the pea-
sant who loses his church, or the landlord raising his rents ?
(Cheers.) Can there be anything less entitled to the praise of
being liberal than what is called the voluntary principle, tending
as it does to depriYe clergy Men of all dignity of mind, of all in-
dependence of station, and to make their flocks, in the same
proportion, loose all respect for them ? Wei on the contrary,
gentlemen, are coo viuced that a protestant church establish-
ment is one great cause-of the successful industry,. the character,
the happiness, of this country; and therefore are We deter Mined
to maintain and defend-it to the'utmost of our power. (Loud
and protracted cheering.)
In giving "Protestant ascendancy," the,chairman expressed
the high gratification he felt, knowing, as he did, that no
union of sentiment or feeling could possibly prevail upon that
subjeCt. (Cheers.) All, he knew, would concur in it, imply-
, ing, as it did, their de:erminatiou to uphold the protestant
church (cheers); to uphold it wherever it was attacked, whether
in England itself, or in its more vulnerable point—in Ireland.
(Loud acclamations.) At the same time he would say, that iu
supporting that church, he looked for no small assistance from
the hands of many protestant dissenters themselves. (Cheers.)
He was well acquainted with the feelings of many of that body,
and he was persuaded that though differing on points of doc-
trine, many of them were yet aliVe to the inestimable benefits
of a national religious establishment. (Cheers.) The noble
lord particularly instanced the quakers as a must respectable
and important body, who, as Paley had stated, could not, he
thought, well exist but in a country where a church establish-
ment was supported. He knew that they might reckon on the
kind assistance in the good work of many more of their dis-
senting brethren. (Loud cheering.)
Lord Eldon was from illness unable to attend, from which,
however, we are happy to state he is said to be r.covering.
The chairman, in proposing the venerable earl's health, read
an extract from a letter from his lordship, which we subjoin:--
" I grieve extremely that I should be absent from the meeting,
and•that I shall not be able, according to the kind permission
which the Meeting, for years has given me, to propose the con-
cluding toast, ' Perpetuity and prosperity to the Pitt Club.'
Far advanced in years as I am, I will, as long as I am per-
mitted, entertain the hope that I may be able hereafter to be in
attendance to enounce what is the wish of my heart, that that -
body may enjoy prosperity and perpetuity." (Cheers.)