permitted, could not fail to operate decifively in favour of the Minifter's nomination.

MR. FOX'S NEW INDIA BILL.

Mr. Fox rofe when this was adjutted, and moved for leave to bring in a new Bill for the better regulation and government of the atfairs of the East-India Company Mr. Fox again explained to the Houte, that he only defired to referve two of the principal parts of the old Bill, viz. that the feat of Government of India thould be at home, and that the fyftem fhould be permanent. All the reft he was willing to accommodate to the wishes, and the expectations, the hopes and the fears of thofe who had taken alarm at the former Bill, and thought it, upon the whole, too ftrong a meature. He defired nothing more than to preferve our territories in India and to refcue Thirty Millions of fubje&ts from oppreflion and injuice. He declared, he had no withes of a perfonal nature, and if wife and ethicacious means of guarding the patronage fo as to render it impoffible to have it brought into operation, with a view to influence, could be fugggested, he would readily agree to the adopting of fuch means, or come into any propolition that Gentlemen of either fide the Houle might propofe, to make the Bill fuch as fhould take away all caufe of alarm, and render the meafure unive-fally palatable. The two only points that he withed to have preferved, were thofe he had mentioned, and his fole reafon for withing for thofe, was, that he was convinced it was more fafe for this country, to have the administration of Eath Indian affairs at home, where it could be watched, than abroad, at to confiderable a distance as India, and because he was likewife convinced, that no fyftem of adminiftration, with regard to India, could prove of any real utility, tna depended on the pleasure of the Crown, and was not permanent. Mr. Fox concluded with making his motion.

Agreed to.

A great many members rofe and expreffed their fatisfaction at the right honourable Gentleman's declaring his willingness to accommodate his bill to the general withes of the Houfe.

EXPECTED DISSOLUTION.

Mr. Dempster addreffed Mr. Pitt on the idea of a diffolution, and hoped the right honourable Gentleman would give the House fatisfaction on a matter of fo much importance to every gentleman prefent.

There was now a general cry of Mr. Pite! Mr. Pitt! Mr. Put from all fides of the Houfe, but Mr. Pitt fat fill.

General Conway rofe and urged Mr. Pitt very warmly to fatisfy the Houfe, and on his continuing filent, he declared that while the members of that Houfe were doing their dety there, the Ministers agents were going about bribing.

This occationed a violent altercation between General Conway and Mr. Pist.

General Conway repeated his words, and faid, it was notorious that the winifterial rat catchers were abroad, and advited the right honourable gentleman for the fake of his own honour to fatisfy the House.

Mr. Pitt replied in a warm manner, urged the indecency of the General's charge, declared his refpect for the House, but that even that respect should not preval on him to do any thing inconfiftent with his duty; it was not incumbeat on him to answer to interrogatories put to him in fuch harth unpar- 1, liamentary language. He begged to tell t'e honourable General that he was the best judge of his own honour, and that he flood in ro need of advice how to act where his honour was concerned. After dwelling upon this with fome refeutment, he again complained of the diforderly and unparliamentary larguage of the honourable General, concluding with a Latin quotation, addreffed to that Gentleman, which if our ear caught it corectly, was this; in omnibus rebus - modeftia, et temperamento linguæ Adolefcens fenem dicerc. General Conway denied that his language had been either diforderly or unparliamentary.

Lord Delaval thewed the difference between Mr. Fox's and Mr. Pat's India bilis, and gave the preference to Mr. Fox's, but was happy to hear, that the right honourable Gentleman had agreed to make it as generally acceptable as poffible.

Earl of Surrey declared if the right honourable Gentleman did not chufe to answer the plain queftion that had been put to him, he would make a motion, humbly to addrets his Majesty not to diffolve parlament.

Mr. Sheridan faid if a Minifter could conftitutionally refufe to explain an anfwer from his Majelty to that Houfe, of which answer he himself was the author, and on a point which related to their own exiftence, fit would be proper to take a queftion upon it.

It was for Harry Harmood, Efq; the Clerk of the Parliamentary Inrollments, to attend the Houfe that day. Mr. Sheridan explained that the reason of his making that motion was in order that Mr. Harmood might have directions to deliver out the new writs, if there was to be a diffolution, with fairnefs and impartiality, and not let fome of the candidates derive an undue advantage from a partial and improper delivery of them. Mr. Sheridan concluded with making his motion.

Lord North urged Mr. Pitt to fatisfy the Houte,

The Earl of Surrey and Mr. Eden did the

fame.

Mr. Fox rofe once more, and reminded the Right Hon Gentleman of his having a few days before admitted that he stood in a new and extraordinary fituation, and declared, af ter the India Bill had been difcuffed that he would explain his motives for having contineed to hold his office under circumftacces fo

avow.

avowedly new and extraordinary. This, he Thought, of all others the moft proper time for the Right Honourable Gentleman to fulfil that promile, and he declared, if the Right Honourable Gentleman was as much his friend, as he was the friend of any Honourable Gentleman who fat near him, he would advife him to feize that opportunity of ftating thofe molives. Mr. Fox urged this with great apperarance of fincerity and candour, repeating again and again how new and extraordinary a cafe it was for a Minifter to continue in office after the House of Commons had paffed a jefolution, declaratory of their expreis ditapProbation of that Minifter, Having puthed this appeal with confiderable energy, but with o fuccefs, he took notice of the Latin quotation which Mr. Pitt had addreffed to Genesal Conway, and faid, he could tranflate temperamento linguae, no otherwife, than to fay mothing, for fuch was the example which the adolefcens had given the forem in that night's converfazon. Having put this, with fume pleafantry, Mr. Fox refumed his ferious argument and faid, that Hopfe was treated with unparalled indignity by the Right Hon. Gentleman, who feemed determined to diffegard their wishes, and afford them no fatisfaction where he ought to have been explicit, and open;

Mr. Martin said, though he nad uniformly voted with the Right Hon. Gentleman, yet he thought there was fomething fo fair in the queftion that had been put to him, fomething fo conftitutional, that the Right Hon.Gentleman ought to give fome aufwer to the "Houfe, and if he did not he declared, he would vote against him upon the question if it came to a divifion.

Mr. Charteris, declared his own independence, and faid, he had no motive for ring, but his fenfe of his duty; he called upon the Right Honourable Gentleman no longer to perfevere in his fullen filence, and refufe to reply, but to rife and give the Houfe, the fatisfaction they required, and bad a right to expect. Mr. Charteris alfo took notice of the conduct of Mr. Dundas, and charged that gentleman with fitting at the elbow of the Minifter, and affecting to fmile, as often as the Houfe expreffed their anxiety to be fatisfied about the important business of their exiftence or diffolution.

During the above Debate, at the end of almal every Gentleman's specib, Mr. Piti was called upon to rife, by many Members, but to no purpose. At length

Mr. Sheridan's motion was put and carried. Mr. Fox then rofe, and said, confidering the Jate hour, and'confidering the important befinefs that had been gone through, he would take the liberty of recommending it to that infuited Houfr, to adjourn without making any more motions. The temper of the Right Hon. ourable Gentleman, he faid, might poffibly be - deranged in confequence of what had paffed. In fairness therefore to him, he would wish to

EXPECTED DISSOLUTION.

As it was known, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was at that time engaged at a Car · binet Council, then fitting at St. James, the Houf waited till after four, befere be arrived, and as foon as he had taken his feat.

Mr. Powys rofe, under a visible impreffion of great fenfibility, he fhed tears while he was fpeaking, and declared, the very extraordinary and difgraceful fcene he had been a witness to, before the House parted that morning, had fo fhocked him, that it had not been abfent from his mind, one moment. He could think upon nothing else, and he begged leave to return his moft fincere thanks to the right honourable Gentleman (Mr.Fox) who had fo generously interpofed his great authority with the Houfe, and put an end to it. From the habits of intimacy and friend fhip, in which he was known to have the happiness and honour to live with the right honourable Chancellor of his Majesty's Exchequer, and from the uniform fupport he had given him while in office, it might be conjectured, that his prefent conduct was founded in fome confederacy, fome pre-concerted contrivance; he hoped that the House would believe, that he was above acting a double part with them, and he affured them mott folemnly, that fince he had, feen the right honourable Gentleman in his place the preceding night, he had neither directly nor indirectly had the fmalleft communication with him. He rofe now to put a short quef tion to the right honourable Gentleman, and to that question, he defired an answer, from which, or from the right honourable Gentle man's filence, he would be governed in his conduct with regard to the neceffity of mak ing any motion then or not. At the fame time, he defired to affure the right honourable Gentleman that he fhould not conftrue his filence as a mark of contempt or infult either to the House or himself, but fhould conclude from it how to act.

The queftion was,

"Could the right honourable Gentleman pledge

pledge himself, that they would meet there as House of parliament on Monday next? As he was fitting down, Mr. Powys rofe again, and faid,

"I put the Queflion to the right honourable Gentleman as a minifter."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, after a momentary pзufe, rofe and faid, he faw no reas fou to depart from that line of conduct, which he had uniform'y purfued, of refuting to pledge himself as to any advice, he might or might not, under any poffible circumftances, think proper to give his Maj-fly; bet with regard to the prefent question, the fingle point, whether that Houfe were to meet a gin, he thought he might venture to fay,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, the honourable Gentleman had addreffed him as a Minifter, and as fucb he had answered him.

not

Mr. Powys upon this declared, that words could not exprefs the comfort and fatisfaction which the right honourable Gentleman had given him. He had relieved him from a fate of the extremelt anxiety. Yot in juftice to the right hon. Gentleman he most declare, that notwithlianding reports, withstanding appearances, he had all along thought it impoffible for the right honourable Gentleman to have advised fo rath a measure as a diffolution of Parliament. He was happy to have his opinion confirmed by the declaration of the right honourable Gentleman himself. Might he prevail on both fides of the House fo far as to obtain a sufpenfion of hostilities for the prefent; and might he flatter himself that he had interet enough with them to induce them to encrease his fatisfaction by foffering him to obtain their concurrence to a motion of adjournment! Between that and Monday next, there would be time for recollection: the interval of two days might bring gentlemen of all parties to a fenfe of the prefent melancholy fituation of the country, and they might allemble in a temper more adapted to a fober confideration of the national danger, and come prepar ed to difcufs it with a degree of moderation and calmness equal to its importance. There were men in that House of a description who had much to rifque, much to lote, but no thing to gain by the fuccefs of either of the

parties then in contention. Men who must feel with him the deepeft regret, the mot heart goading anguith at the violent froggles of the two fides of the Houfe. The leaders of each were men of the highest honour, and of the first abilities, men zealously attached to the Constitution, men actuated by the purett intentions. Were there no means of Vol. IV. Jan. 1784

men of honour

ringing these men together? Had that House no power of enforcing them to unite and cooperate for the advantage of their country A Nothing but fuch an union could fave us. The talents of the two right honourable Gen tlemen, were equal to their integrity; their abilities, acting together, would be a blething to their country. Ading in oppofition to each other, their extraordinary and fuperemipeut abilities were a national curse !To abandon principles no would expect; no man of honour would re quire fuch a facrifice. A facrifier, thort of an abandonment of principles, the country had a right to call for. Such a facrifice the prefent fituation of affairs demanded; and he withed, the two right honourable Gentlemen would confent to make it. In the mean time let him hope that hoftilies might be fufpended, and that the Houfe would concur ia his motion for an immediate adjournment.

Mr. Marsham rose to second the motion of his honourable friend. He faid, his earnest with was, that the advice of his honourable friend might be followed, and that no debate might take place. He was ready to give his realons to the Houfe, for feconding the motion, if they called for them; but as they might poffibly lead to further debate, he would content himielf with barely feconding the

motion.

Mr. Fox role immediately, and faid, he certainly had no objection to a fofpenfion of hott lites, on the contrary, he had not the fmallest defire to do any thing hafty, harth, or intemperate, in the prefent melancholy moment. A motion, however, had been intended to have been made that day by an hon ourable friend of his, and that, though in his mind, a motion of confiderable importance, and a motion abfolutely neceffary, not only was not of an hottile nature, but did not.re quire any debate. He would read.ly flate what the tendency of the motion was to which he alloded. It had been intended to mowe that the antwer of his Majelly, to the Addrets ‹ that Houfe, might be read, and then a motion to this purport would have been made ;*

"That his Majetty's Anfwer contained af "furances, upon which the Houfe firmly e"lied, that his Majefly would not, by Pro❝rogation or Diflolotion, interrupt the Houle "In their confiderat ons of proper meatures "for retrieving the affairs of the Fall-India "Company for fupporting the public credit "and revenues of the kingdom, objects which

his Majesty, in his faid most gracious An"fwer had declared to b, in his opimon, "fuch as demanded the immediate and unre"mitting attention of Parlament.”

This motion, he trusted, every gentlema prefent would allow to be unexceptionable

As the motion read by Mr. Fox'evas taken out of the bands of Mr. Eden, we conclude it was intended to have been made by that gentleman.

K

and

and as it would in all probability tend to bring matters to a flate of certainty in regard to a very important circumftance, and effentially Contribute to quiet the minds of the publick on that head, he flattered himfelf it would be thought equally expedient and neceffary. With regard to what the Honourable Gentleman who made the motion, had faid on the fubject of umon, he was forry to say he was not of the fame opinion as to the probability of fuch an event's being likely to take place, but on the contrary far from being to; That however was not the point then under confideration. To the question of adjournment, he thould make no objection after the question of his Honourable Friend had been moved and difpofed of. That motion the Houfe was now acquainted with, and fas they could not bet fee, it was neither of a hoftile nor of a perfonal nature, he hoped the Honourable Gentle men who moved the question of adjournment and feconded, it would confent to wave that to make room for the motion of his honuorable friend.

Mr. Boughton Rous rofe, but Mr. Martham rifing at the fame time, the Houfe called on

him.

Mr. Marsham then said, he faw nothing objectionable in the motion that had been read to the Houfe by the right honourable Gentleman, but as the Houfe was fore of meeting again on Monday, in confequence of what had been faid by his Majefty's Chancellor of the Exchequer, he could not think there was any occafion for waving the motion of adjournment at prefent; he hoped at leaft the right honourable Gentleman would confent to let his motion wait till Monday, and if he would, fo far from oppofing it then, he would promife him his fupport; nay, he would go one flep farther, he would engage to fecond it. From the time, that the refolution had paed on Monday the 12th, to prevent the paying any more of the public money as yet unappropriated by act of Par liament, Mr. Martham faid, he was convinced in his own mind, that the Parliament could not be diffolved, and he would tell the Houfe the reafons that had induced him to feel that conviction. There was no part of the duty of that Houfe more effential, than to watch the appropriation of money voted for particular purpofes, or (as he believed the Houle phrafe was) for particular fervices. They all knew, that in the natural progrefs of bufinefs in an uninterrupted feffion, they went on voting fupplies for the different fervices, and at laft brought in a bill ground ed upon the various refolutions come to in the Committee of Supply, and appropriating the feveral fums voted, which paffing into a law, fan&tified the whole of their proceedings, and fet all to rights. Whereas if a diffolution had taken place in the courfe of a feffion, all the refolutions they had come to, and put upon their journals, vanithed into nothing, and were no longer any authority for Mini

fters to act upon. Let it be recollected, that the army was to be paid in the course of the enfuing month. The money to pay the army must be procured fomewhere, and who would now venture to advance it, or what Minifter would be bold enough when advanced, to ap ply it to fuch a purpofe? There could be n public fervice fo fit an object of parliament. ary diftruft as the paya eut of the army; it was of all others, that which the Conftitetion required the Hovie of Commons to watch with the greatelt jealousy. Suppose the cafe, thould happen, that parliament were didlolyed without due provifion having been made. for this event. Government could not let the army go unpaid, becaufe that would be in fact to difband the army, which might lead to most fatal con equences; but Government would in all probability pay the army with money unappropriated to that fervice, and come to the Houfe for a bill of indemnity when the new parliament was affembled. What was the meaning of a bill of indemnity, but that Minitiers confeffed they had broken the laws, and urged the unavoidable necefity of the cafe, as a defence for ther having done fo, upon which they begged to have an act of indemnity paled, and their conduct fanctified by law. Could a new Houfe of Commons, could any House of Commons, confent to a bill of ind my for a violation not of the laws merely, but of the Constitution in one of the mod effential points if confidered, that could poffibly occur with regard to the liberty and immunities of Englifhmen, and that upon a necefity not use avoidable but created? He would venture to fay, that no Houfe of Commons who were not ready to avow themfelves a herd of abjest flaves, rather than the reprefentatives of a free people, could confcientiously justify confenting to fuch a bill of indemnity. Having strongly expreffed the alarm for the conftitution, which he felt on this ground, and obviously communicated fimilar fenfations to the whole Houfe, Mr. Martham proceeded to enforce the arguments of his honourable friend, Mr. Powys; he faid, times of internal danger, when parties run high in that Houfe, and the ruin of the country was threa tened from the struggles and contentions of parliamentary leaders, where those, which beft juftified men of their defcription, who had no thing to with for but from the profperity and glory of Great Britain, and every thing to dread from public anarchy and confufion, in fep ping forward, and appealing to the good fente and reafon of that Houfe, and to the judg ments and regard for the real interests of the country, which directed and animated the breafts of the leaders of each fide of the House, upon the necefity of union. Such times as the prefent required, that there thould not only be a fufpenfion of hoftilities, but a lafting peace, a mutual remifion of the past, and a cordial and confidential co operation for the future. When fuch men, as the two. Right

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