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any expreffion of limitation or qualification, not to exercife this prerogative; the anfwer on which the refolution moved by the right hon. gentleman was founded, did not bind the King to any thing more than not to prevent the meeting of Parliament after the recefs; and though gentlemen might be inclined to conftrue that answer literally, they ought not to be very forward in putting a conftrution upon the answer beyond what the words would obviously support, there were gentlemen on the other fide of the houfe, who did not always think that the conftruction was fuch as was now attempted to be put upon it, for they argued from the beginning that the anfwer bound the King to nothing more than barely not to prevent the meeting of Parliament after the recefs. It was rather an indelicate and an unufual way of proceeding, to put conftructions, by way of refolutions, on the King's words, when the Houfe might purfue the old parlia mentary mode of addreffes. As to the refolution then before the Houfe, the principal objection he had to it was, that it bound the King down to that unlimited and unqualified promife, that in no poffible or imaginable fituation of affairs he would refort to his prerogative, and prorogue or diffolve Parliament; a promife which he, for one, would never advise his Majefty to make. However, he was ready to own that fomething had happened fince his Majefty had given that anfwer, which had greatly altered the fituation of affairs. Refolutions had been carried in that House, of fuch a nature, as would caufà a diffolution, under thefe circumftances, unadviseable. But exclufive of thefe, gentlemen might recol lect, that the answer mentioned the neceffity of providing for the government of India, the public credit, and other impor tant concerns; and as nothing decifive had been done to any one of these great objects, it was more reafonable to fuppofe that his Majefty would not think proper to diffolve his Parliament before it had adopted any measures relative to the great points for which it had been affembled. However, he was fure that notwithstanding the forced conftruction which gentlemen were now defirous to put upon his Majefty's words, they did not feem at first to conceive that they were at all expreffive of the meaning which they were now going to give them; for however gentlemen might accommodate their fentiments to the turn of circumftances, he would appeal to the feelings of the Houfe, to the honour of the gentlemen who fupported the refolution, whether this appeared to be their opinion on the first production of the answer? The measures they adopted to prevent a diffolution, the tenor

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of their fpeeches, the anxiety they fhewed in the apprehenfion of its taking place, plainly evinced the contrary: what recent event then could be fuppofed to have induced them to adopt this different opinion, and make it the basis of fo indefinite a refolution? When the answer recommended the confideration of certain objects, did gentlemen imagine that whatever circumftances might intervene, while they were in contemplation, his Majefty meant to reftrain himself from the exercise of his prerogative? In pursuance of the confiderations proposed in the addrefs to the Throne, a bill was fubmmitted to their confideration, free from thofe exceptionable properties of a former bill, and calculated to meet the wishes of all parties, and to be acceptable to the other branches of the Legislature. But that spirit of oppofition, which applies more to men than to measures, caufed it to be rejected. What then was likely to be the fate of the bill which the honourable gentleman oppofite him (Mr. Fox) intended to introduce, retaining the fame fpirit, the fame principles as the former, though perhaps altered in a few claufes? Surely he did not imagine the Upper Houfe poffeffed fuch a pliability of difpofition, fuch a mutability in fentiment, as to approve at once what they fo lately condemned. He then remarked, that gentlemen laid hold of the words "convenient speed," to illuftrate the propriety of their interpretation: he acknowledged that affairs were fo critically fituated, fo greatly embarraffed, that no time fhould be loft in arranging and difpofing them in order. But the proceedings of the House for fome time paft, promifed little in the way of expedition: perfonal objects feemed more to, direct their operations; there was a delicacy in the fubject, wherein the highest person in the state was fo immediately concerned, which was obvious to every one, and he was forry to find fo little attended to. The refolution, on the whole, was precipitate and indefinite, fuch as neither the ftructure of the words, nor the defign of the anfwer, could give a fanction to an opinion, that his Majefty had engaged himself to fufpend the exercife of his prerogative, while any one measure, that any member should propofe relative to the great points recommended from the Throne, remained unfettled: however, the very distracted state of the country at the present juncture, had, in his opinion, rendered fuch a measure totally inexpedient, and he, in his minifterial capacity, could make this declaration, "that he would not advife his Majefty to prevent the proceedings of this Houfe, either by prorogation or diffolution."

Mr.

Mr. Fox profeffed himfelf entirely eafy as to a diffolution, Mr. Fox. after this declaration of the honourable gentleman; had he condefcended to have expreffed himself fo a fortnight ago, he would have faved the Parliament and the people much trouble and much anxiety. The right honourable gentleman had at length thought proper to relax in fome degree from that abfolute filence, that fullen referve the Houfe fo lately experienced from him; but has he, purfued Mr. Fox, difcharged every duty of refpect? Has he acquitted himself with due decency to this Houfe? or has he not purfued the very reverse of fuch a conduct, in continuing in his fituation as Minister in pofitive and direct contempt of a folemn refolution of this honourable House? That this House has a right to address and advife his Majefty in the choice of his Minifters, as well as other fubjects of importance, is a point on which no person will venture to difpute, though his Majefty has certainly, by the frame of the conftitution, the right of chufing his own Minifters, a prerogative which he may exercife at his discretion; but that a member of this Houfe fhall, in defiance of its folemn vote, delivered after full difcuffion, after a long debate, and the matureft deliberation, prefume to continue in fo obnoxious a fituation, is fuch an infult to the honour, the fenfe, and the judgment of Parliament, as muft not be overlooked. Can it be expected that the bufinefs of the nation can be conducted with effect, can proceed at all during the administration of men who want that indifpenfable requifite to every Miniftry, the confidence of the people? Are we to be told that the opinions, the most folemn refolutions of this House, are to be confidered as trifles in the eye of one of its own members? or will the gentleman openly avow what his conduct fo fufficiently manifefts, that he confiders himself fuperior to this Houfe? That a fituation he ftole into by intrigue, private whifpers, and fpringing the mine of fecret influence, fhall fupport him against the pofitive answer of the House of Commons? Shall he think to erect the banner of fecret influence here, in oppofition to public confidence? or that he can continue, what I am obliged now to call him, the unconftitutional Minifter of the Crown, against the voice of Parliament and the spirit of the conftitution? Then, indeed, would there be an end to the excellence of that fyftem, which we vaunt as the utmost effort of legiflative perfection; then could we no longer boast of that happy equilibrium on which our liberties depended; and our Conftitution, from being the envy and admiration, would become the mockery and fcorn of all Europe: these

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are circumftances too glaring to be doubted. This is a fitua tion too grievous to be tolerated; we have, faid he, hitherto acted on the calmeft, on the mildest principles; but however unwilling to adopt strong and violent measures, we ought not to be lefs determined, nor are those with whom I have the honour to act. Why, then, will the gentleman perfevere to mock, to infult the dignity and the honour of Parliament ? Why will he always perfift in forcing to difagreeable extremities? I would not this night, nor for fome time, perhaps, move any resolution on this fubject. I fhould be forry to recur to means which would wear any other than a conciliatory afpect, or should tend to diffolve thofe bands of union and harmony between the legislative and executive power, fo neceffary to carry into effect the various operations of policy and government. After very ably and accurately difcuffing Mr. Pitt's allegations, and fhewing the impoffibility of any bufinefs being effectually or fuccefsfully conducted under an Adminiftration formed on the principles of the prefent, and lying under the cenfure of the Houfe, he concluded by very earnestly entreating gentlemen to confider the circumftances in queftion, and acting with coolnefs and deliberation, but ftill preferving firmnefs and refolution.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, that he had not cellor of the touched on the fubject to which the honourable gentleman directed the principal part of his attention, not expecting it would be introduced into the debate. He had referved himfelf for the Committee on the ftate of the nation, when he intended to fay fomething on that head. However he thought it his duty to reply, in order to ftate the reasons of his continuance in office. He obferved, that he came into office to fulfil the duty he owed His Majefty, whofe confidence he had not forfeited by any attempt to introduce any new power unknown to the conflitution; and though he always would pay the most profound refpect to the decifions of that honourable House, he did not know but he might incur the cenfure of the right honourable gentleman oppofite him, by obferving, that as the conftitution vefted in His Majefty the power of chufing his own Minifters, deciding on the propriety of that choice, did not fall properly within the province of the House of Commons: he was forry to find the determinations of that House had not lately been marked with all the attention that one might have imagined they would have paid to this confti tutional doctrine. It was certainly fevere to condemn the conduct of an Adminiftration before the charges against them were proved and established. In this inftance he could not

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but confider himself very much aggrieved: untried, unconnected, he lay under the cenfure of a refolution of the Houfe; but he had at least the confolation to reflect, that in proportion as he and his colleagues were more tried, and more known, in the fame proportion were they more approved, and more eftablished in the favour and confidence of the Houfe, and of the people, with whom they every day rose inbesteem and approbation. The reduction of that great majority whereby the gentlemen in oppofition carried their firft question, into the trifling one their laft refolutions paffed by, muft convince them of the decline of their caufe; the charge of his confidering himself fuperior to the House, he faid, could have no other foundation than abfurdity, except indeed to think differently from a majority of that House, might bear that construction'; and if fo, it was an imputation to which that honourable member had frequently been fubject. He confidered the refolutions of the honourable Houfe by no means binding on the principles of an individual; the very bulwark of our conftitution was freedom of acting, and freedom of fpeaking; the -control then of Parliament could not affect the free principles of acting, whereby liberty is to be prized. Were he difpofed to act as the gentlemen would wish him to do, his -duty would prevent him. For what purpofe fhould the prefent arrangement give way? The answer was obvious, to make room for the introduction of a fet of people, who were lately difmiffed for a conduct which loft them the confidence of their Sovereign, as well as that of the people. To look around them, and view the confequences of arefignation, he could fee nothing that would not deter him from so ruinous a conduct; where could another arrangement be found, more likely to give fatisfaction? This -led him to advert to a wifh very generally and very warmly expreffed, of forming an union which might give ftability to Government, and reconcile all parties: to fuch a meafure the profeffed himself by no means an enemy, provided it could be established on fuch a broad and liberal bafis as would meet the wishes of that refpectable and independent sfet of men, by whofe fupport and countenance he had all along been honoured; but in accomplishing this object, he faid, all perfonal prejudices and private views, pride and punctilio, fhould be laid afide, and a stable government and folid union be alone fought for. The honourable gentleman, in treating on this fubject, had infifted, as a prelimiVOL. XIII.

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