Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, Middlesex, and London. The committee intended to act on Parliament and on the constituencies, and at its third meeting, held on the 23rd of February, it requested the chairman "To procure as correct a list as possible of the members of the House of Commons who voted for and against Lord North's amendment to Sir George Saville's motion for a full account of the pensions, which amounts to a direct refusal of one of the great objects of the petitions of the people, and that he do transmit the same to the different committees."
Thanks were also voted to Burke for his plan of economic reform, which he had introduced on the 11th of February, in the memorable speech which is said to have "placed him not merely in the first rank of orators, but also in the very first rank of practical statesmen." On the 1st of March two resolutions were adopted, one appointing three members to meet a deputation from the other committees, and another "recommending such members of this committee as are members of the House of Commons, to give the most diligent attendance to their duty on impending business." The attention of the committee had been given to financial and other business, but it began to be felt more and more not only that one of its main functions was to promote Parliamentary reform, but that this work was the one on which all the others really depended. At the meeting on the 13th of March it was resolved—"That by the resolution of the general meeting, directing this committee to prepare a plan of an association on legal and constitutional grounds to support the laudable reform and such other measures as may conduce to restore the freedom of Parliament, this committee conceive themselves bound to enter into the consideration of every question tending to establish the independency of Parliament on a solid and durable basis." Accordingly, a sub-committee was appointed to inquire into the state of the representation of the country, and to report. Of this sub-committee Sheridan was appointed chairman, and its report, presented on the 20th of March, is signed by him in the minute-book. It defends annual Par-
