ome sixty others; but Fox refused to join.
Their profession of faith was more moderate than that of Hardy's Club;
it emphasized the need of avoiding innovation and of restoring the
constitution to its original purity.[39] This was in the spirit of the
Associations of 1780; but the new club was far less characteristic of
the times than the clubs of working men described above.

The appearance of Paine's "Rights of Man" (Part II), the founding of
these societies, and the outbreak of war between France and Austria in
April 1792 made a deep impression on Pitt. He opposed a notice of a
motion of Reform for the following session, brought forward by Grey on
30th April. While affirming his continued interest in that subject, Pitt
deprecated its introduction at that time as involving the risk of
anarchy.

My object [he continued] always has been, and is now more
particularly so, to give permanence to that which we actually
enjoy rather than remove subsisting grievances.... I once
thought, and still think, upon the point of the representation
of the Commons, that, if some mode could be adopted by which the
people could have any additional security for a continuance of
the blessings which they now enjoy, it would be an improvement
in the constitution of this country. That was the extent of my
object. Further I never wished to go; and if this can be
obtained without the risk of losing what we have, I should think
it wise to make the experiment. When I say this, it is not
because I believe there is any existing grievance in this
country that is felt at this hour.

At the end of the American War (he continued) when bankruptcy seemed
imminent, he believed Reform to be necessary in order to restore public
confidence and remedy certain notorious grievances. Even then very many
moderate men opposed his efforts as involving danger to the State. How
much more would they deprecate sweeping proposals which rightly aroused
general apprehension? He then censured the action of certain members of
the House in joining an Association (the "Friends of the People") which
was supported by those who aimed at the overthrowing of hereditary
monarchy, titles of nobility, and all ideas of subordination. He would
oppose all proposals for Reform rather than run the risk of changes so
sweeping.--"All, all may be lost by an indiscreet attempt upon the
subject." Clearly, Pitt was about to join the ranks of