Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/51

Rh chiefs of the Ministry. On the 19th of April it was resolved—"That this committee, sensible of the baneful influence from whence the late administration derived the power and support which enabled them to persist in measures to the utmost degree disgraceful and ruinous to the nation, do expect from the same spirit and constancy with which the public cause has been maintained against a Ministry existing by Parliamentary corruption, a full and permanent security against undue influence by the establishment of such constitutional reforms in the Commons House of Parliament as shall restore to it its purity, and cause it to be a real representative of the people." At the same time, the necessity of continued outside agitation was proclaimed by an invitation to other committees of cities and counties "to correspond upon the proper means of encouraging and strengthening the expected movements of the Parliamentary friends of reformation by the authority of the collective body of the people."

Nor was it without hope that this call for public support was made, for although the Ministry would not touch the question of reform, it was now taken up by one who, by his connections no less than his abilities, began to fill that position in politics which was destined to become so striking in importance and so tragical to himself and his country in result. William Pitt inherited much of the oratorical power, all the self-reliance, and at first something of the popular enthusiasm of his great father. On the 7th of May, in this year, he moved in the Commons for a committee to inquire into the state of the representation in Parliament, and to report to the House their observations thereon. His principal object was to abolish rotten boroughs, and establish equal representation. Although Fox was in the Ministry which refused to act in this direction, he supported Pitt's motion, as did also Sheridan and Sir George Saville. But Burke and Townshend opposed, and the dead weight of the Whig following was cast in the same scale, and Pitt was defeated, although by a majority of only twenty. The committee at once met. They thanked Fox for his support of the resolution, and resolved—"that Alderman Saw-