ent representatives, that which
was declared to be necessary by their predecessors: if the present
parliament neglected to accomplish what the previous parliament had
designed, all the evil consequences would be charged upon them; and
while the resolutions of the 6th of April would stand upon their
journals as public monuments of exculpation to their predecessors,
they would likewise stand as public monuments of disgrace to them. The
fallacy of M. Neckar's financial measures in France was not yet made
manifest, and Burke again applauded the economical achievements of that
statesman, and held up the example of France, both as a warning and an
encouragement. In conclusion he moved, "That leave be given to bring in
a bill for the better regulation of his majesty's civil establishments
and of certain public offices; for the limitation of pensions and the
suppression of sundry useless expenses and inconvenient places, and for
applying the monies saved thereby to the public service." This motion
was seconded by Mr. Duncombe, and leave was given to bring in the bill
without opposition; Lord North declaring that he would reserve his
objections to the second reading. The second reading took place on
the 26th of February, when there was a long and animated debate on
the measure. One of the most remarkable speeches on this occasion was
delivered by the Hon. William Pitt, second son of the late Earl of
Chatham, who now spoke for the first time in the house of commons.
William Pitt, on whom the mantle of his father seems to have fallen,
announced himself as an ardent reformer and lover of strict economy. One
great object, he said, of all the petitions which had been presented,
was a recommendation of economy in the public expenditure, and the
design of the present bill was to carry these wishes into effect. The
bill had still another object more important in view, and that was the
reduction of the influence of the crown; an influence which was the more
to be dreaded, because more secret in its attacks, and more concealed in
its operations than the power of prerogative. Pitt then adverted to
the objections which had been made to the bill, and which he termed
extraordinary, inasmuch as it only proposed to bring about L200,000 into
the public coffers; an insignificant sum when compared with the millions
annually expended. He continued:--"What then is the conclusion we are
left to deduce? The calamities of the present crisis are too great