his nostrum of the sinking fund; he negotiated a commercial treaty with France; and he slightly re-arranged the incidence of taxation, as chancellors do when, with nothing serious on hand, they have to make some show of activity. The Whigs, on their side, had no power to do anything, and did not try to do much. A few mild efforts were indeed made, but they were not pushed on with the strength of the party, which, as we have seen before, were never united or hearty on the matter. One subject only of primary importance was debated with earnestness. The Test and Corporation Acts weighed heavily upon the Nonconformists, interfering with their rights and interests in every department of local work. It is in the nature of things that this class should belong to the advanced section of the Liberals, those who most strenuously maintain liberty against authority, and efforts in the direction of religious freedom will therefore be amongst the earliest signs of political activity on the part of the Radicals. The Parliament, however, which refused Pitt's request for reform was not likely to adopt any such proposition as that for the repeal of the Test Act, which, being moved on the 28th of March, 1787, was rejected by a majority of 176 to 98. It will be seen by these numbers that there was a substantial, although not powerful, Whig party. In fact, the Whigs had been strengthening their position in many respects. Fox was outgrowing the evil effects of the coalition—which Pitt lost no opportunity of calling to mind—and his oratory daily gained in brilliance and power. The friendship of the Prince of Wales was at once a source of Parliamentary strength to the party, and a guarantee to its more timid members that no very violent policy would be pursued.
Suddenly, however, the whole aspect of affairs and the constitution and relation of parties was to be changed. The proceedings in France during the years 1788 and 1789 were watched with the keenest interest here. By no class of statesmen were they at first regarded with fear or even with dislike. Pitt seemed to agree with Fox in the hope that the movement would lead to the establishment of a settled system of freedom
