THE Pitt Clubs have had no annual meeting, and this is construed by their enemies into proof that they are sinking into dissolution. It is not for us to assert the contrary; the reasons they have given for their conduct seem greatly deficient in validity, and we can scarcely concede that such bodies have real existence when they do not assemble. We wish it were not our duty to say that they have been some time defunct in regard to original object and due operation.

If Mr Pitt had been as much favoured by fortune as he was by nature, it would have been very superfluous, at this moment, to assert his fame as a statesman of the highest order-as the greatest Minister England ever possessed. But, alas! the adverse fate was his, from which genius of the first class seems only exempted in the exception. Living in times of war, his reputation, to the erring gaze of the world, depended, in a great measure, on the war's success, and, consequently, on the ability and conduct of foreign coadjutors; from this the failure threw its disgrace on him, which was produced by incapacity or treachery he could not prevent. His mighty powers formed the alliances, created the means, lighted up the enthusiasm of his country, smote his domestic foes-in a word, achieved, as far as his accountability extended, the most magnificent triumph; but he reaped from it only the consequences of defeat, through the defeat of others, for which he was not in reality responsible.

Though the battle was lost abroad, it was still won in its essential objects; but, unfortunately, this was not a matter to be noticed by the mass of mankind. The foreign disasters forced themselves, in exaggerated detail, on the sight of all; but the glorious and momentous victories at home were only defensive onesthey merely preserved what had before existed; therefore they were disregarded, save as things of cost and sacrifice.

The war compelled this great Minister to make his general policy subservient to it, and restricted him

to the path of unpopularity and obloquy. It imposed on him the repulsive duty of multiplying the public burdens, invading pecuniary profits, compelling sacrifices of all descriptions, and feeding the fury of party and faction. To give the utmost effect to this, he had an Opposition arrayed against him, powerful in talent, spirit, popular delusion, and discontent, means of every kind, and profligate contempt of the rules of honourable warfare beyond example. It has, therefore, naturally happened that Mr Pitt's reputation has suffered great injustice. He, however, left sufficient behind him to enable the historian to shew the magnitude of his powers, and give to his fame its deserved brilliancy.

The Minister whose name towered above those of such contemporaries as he possessed in Parliament, and filled Europe as that of the unconquerable opponent of such men as ruled France-who, in spite of almost every conceivable impediment and misfortune, triumphantly defended his country against such foreign confederacies as assailed her, smote such an Opposition as he had to contend with, crushed such a spirit as then possessed the nation, provided the resources for such a war, and surmounted such mighty and unprecedented difficulties as at every step encountered him-could not have been other than one of transcendent powers. That Mr Pitt was a master in foreign policy, is abundantly proved by his labours, and the influence he possessed abroad; his pre-eminence as a financier is generally acknowledged; in respect of manufactures and trade, it was the common remark of the deputations of men of business who conferred with him, that he was better acquainted with their respective trades than themselves; and that he equally excelled in general domestic policy, is established by his measures and the lead which he took on every question. As an orator we have only to look at those whom he surpassed as colleagues, or overthrew as opponents. Mr Canning stated not long before his death, that he was, as a debater, worth any ten who were

then in the House of Commons. None but a man of the very highest political genius could have been thus eminent in all the departments of the science of government.

Can such a man be found amidst all who ever filled office, or shone in Parliament? Compared with his father, Fox, Burke, or Canning, he stands, in creative and executive ability, variety of powers, and all the more solid and rare characteristics of the statesman, the proud superior. Men may be named among them, on whom the title of great has been bestowed more bountifully; but not one who was tested with such terrible severity, or who raised in a life of tempests and battle such gigantic memorials of his greatness.

His reputation is, indeed, rapidly rising to the lofty pre-eminence which belongs to it: neglected by his friends, it is receiving the testimony of his former enemies and traducers. The Whig, who not many years ago publicly wished the words to be engraven on his tomb-" Here lies the enemy of William Pitt,"-now quotes him as an authority, and avows, that he agrees in general principle with those who call themselves his followers. The reformer declares he is treading the steps of Pitt. The man of free trade asserts he is carry ing into effect Pitt's intentions; and the general innovator defends himself on the ground that he is only doing what Pitt attempted or wished to do, Tory, Whig, and Li beral-all parties shelter themselves under his name, and actually or in effect call themselves his disciples. It is not necessary for us to vindicate him from the charges contained in this, or to use it in illustration of the turpitude of party; it is equally unnecessary for us to enlarge on the conclusive evidence it affords in favour of his transcendent powers.

Unpardonable should we be, were we to speak no farther in his praise. Mr Pitt's patriotism equalled his talents. He was an Englishman, the minister of his native land, and his enthusiastic affection for England, and her institutions, glowed in every speech, and governed every action. His interest saw hers alone; his ambition could only gratify itself by labouring for her greatness; for her he provoked every aspersion, braved

every peril, and sacrificed every thing. His integrity equalled his patriotism. It would be small praise to say, he was incapable of the revolting apostasy and treason, the grovelling hypocrisy, intrigue, and corruption, which now so greatly abound; the pride alone of a less haughty man would have been sufficient to protect him from the iniquity and degradation. But his honesty on every point was so pure and self-evident, that calumny never dared to attempt to sully it. Tempted, provoked, and coerced,-placed in such circumstances, that disregard of principle would often have been fair retaliation, and in its effects a virtue; nothing could make him swerve from the stern and chival rous spirit of Old English honour. No leading public man can be found in English history, whose life as a whole equalled his in demonstrations of undeviating, exalted patriotism; and whose patriotism equalled his in unconquerable disdain of all but the most righteous means.

Eternal reverence to the memory of William Pitt!-and it will be given, by that England for which he lived and died.

The Pitt Clubs were formed to support the general principles and system by which he was governed; and in motive they were worthy of him and his country. Unlike the Whig and some other associations, they were intended to uphold, not party without reference to creed, but creed without reference to party; they had for their object to maintain every thing which was sacred and precious to the empire. Such institutions would be invaluable if they could be preserved in spirit and intention from degeneracy; but experience seems to shew that this is any thing rather than possible.

If even they exclude the heads of party, the ruling men in them can scarcely be other than subject to such heads; and in consequence party is enabled either to make them its tools, or to neutralize them. The Brunswick Clubs of Ireland were formed to withstand a single change, and they were free from connexion with both the Ministry and Opposition. Nevertheless, when the Ministry introduced the change, they. were practically dissolved: England