CHAP. III. Proceedings of Parliament-A majority of the House of Com mons oppose the minister-Land Tax bill postponed Committee on the State of the Nation-Address to the King not to dissolve the Parliament-Reflections on the unconstitutional Conduct of the Commons, as displayed in their interference with the King's prerogative of choosing his own servants-Powers of the House of Commons, in respect to the Ministers, defined-Motions respecting the acceptance of bills from India, and the appointment of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for life-House adjourned for the recess-State of Parties-Mr. Pitt defends his own Conduct-Right of dissolving Parliament during a session denied, on the authority of Lord SomersSuch doctrine subversive of the Constitution-Mr. Pitt avows his principles, and refuses to barter away the Royal Prerogative-Resolutions of the House proved to have an illegal and unconstitutional tendency-An Administration supported by a majority of the House, maintained to be indispensably necessary-Resolutions to that effect-Debates thereon-Conduct of Earl Temple arraigned-Mr. Pitt's India bill-Opposed by Mr. FoxRejected by a majority of eight-Farther efforts to dis place the Ministers-Their continuance in office RESOLVED to be unconstitutional -Attempts, by the Country Gentlemen, to produce a Coalition of Parties-Mr. Pitt explains the motives and principles of his conduct-Refuses to resign as a preliminary step to the proposed coalition-hist resignation insisted on as an indispensable preliminary by the Whig Leaders-He defends the Prerogative, and explains the legal powers of the House-Dares Mr. Fox to prefer Criminal Charges against him-Reflections on the conduct of the Country Gentlemen on this occasion-Their efforts to accomplish their object-Mr. Fox asserts the right of the House of Commons to a real and substantial negative in the nomination of ministers-Absurdity and danger of such a principle exposed-Mr. Pitt dares the opposition to refuse the supplies-Supplies postponed by a majority of twelve-Proceedings in the House of Lords-Assert the true principles of the constitution in contradiction to the Commons-Resolutions for that purpose-The Commons defend themselves from these imputations-Compromise between the Country Gentlemen of the Whig Party, in consequence of which the Supplies are suffered to pass-Resolutions, by Mr. Powis and Mr. Eden, for an address to the Throne-Debate thereon-Mr. Fox maintains that the voice of the people is only to be found in the House of Commons -Address carried-His Majesty's answer-Considered by the House-Another address moved by Mr. Fox-Opposed by Mr. Pitt-Carried by a majority of TwelveThe King's answer-Remonstrance of the Commons, who assert their right to call for the removal of Ministers without preferring any charge whatever against themObservations on this remonstrance Remonstrance carried by a majority of One-Mutiny bill passed-Parliament first prorogued, and then dissolved. - H MR. Pitt, by accepting the important office of prime minister, at this arduous crisis of public affairs, placed himself in a situation which required an union of talents, firmness, and integrity, which it falls to the lot but of few statesmen to possess. He had a strong majority in the House of Commons against him, with but little chance of turning it in his favour; the opposite party, too, was headed by men of the most splendid abilities, of extensive knowledge, and of great experience in the art of political warfare. It was the middle of a session; the mutiny act was not yet passed; the supplies were not yet granted, and they would not admit of much delay; besides, it would be in the power of the opposition to withhold them, should they be bold enough to proceed to such extremities (and, from their recent conduct, there was no reason to expect from them any great moderation or forbearance) and so put a total stop to public business. On the other hand, indeed, he had to contemplate a respectable majority in the House of Lords; the full confidence of his Sovereign, and the favour of the public. The decisive manner in which he had stood forth the champion of private property, and of chartered rights, had rendered all the great companies, as well as the monied interest, his firm friends. The candour with which he had avowed, and the manly eloquence with which he had defended his principles, asserted the purity of his views, and vindicated the independence of his mind, had gained him great credit with the country, and had considerably augmented the number of his partisans. Thus circumstanced, not a doubt could be entertained of the success of an immediate appeal to the people, through the medium of a dissolution of parliament; but in the present stage of the public business, nothing but absolute necessity could justify the adoption of such a measure. Encouraged, therefore, by the general support of which he was assured, fortified by the consciousness of innate integrity, and resolved to make the good of his country the rule of his public conduct, and the ground and object of all his measures, he determined to meet that House which had recorded its resolution to oppose him, and to throw every obstacle in his way; and to try whether a sense of duty would ultimately rise superior to the spirit of party. The land-tax bill had been read twice in the House of Commons, and the day fixed for its third reading was the twentieth of Decem ber. But as the opposition were aware, that when that bill was once passed, there would be no farther obstacle to a dissolution of parliaVOL. I. ment, which might not easily be surmounted, they resolved to avail themselves of their majority, in order to postpone it; and the third reading of the bill was, accordingly, after a short debate, deferred to the twenty-second, the day previously fixed for the Committee on the State of the Nation. In that committee, Mr. Erskine moved an address to his Majesty, influenced by the same motives, and having the same object as his former motion, which was so justly stigmatized as factious. This address stated the alarming reports of an intended dissolution of parliament; represented to his Majesty the inconveniences and dangers that would attend such a measure, at a moment when the maintenance of the public credit, the support of the revenue, and, more especially, the distressed state of the finances of the East India Company, and the disorders prevailing in their government, both at home and abroad, demanded the most immediate attention: and besought his Majesty to suffer them to proceed on the important business recommended to them in his speech from the throne, and to hearken to the voice of his faithful Commons, and not to the secret advices of persons who might have private interests of their own, separate from the true interest of his Majesty and his people. It must have immediately occurred, to the weakest of advocates, that no advice which could be |