masterly and convincing manner; Lord Ossory seconded him. The Treasury Bench appeared stunned and confounded; every symptom promised their intending to have recourse to a division without a debate, when the Speaker got up and gave a distinct, short and pointed support.[1] The Lord-Advocate made a foolish speech concluding with a motion to leave the chair; T. Pitt spoke incomparably well, home to Lord North, and confounded him; the disorder in the Ministry was so great that we were all desirous to finish there, and in fact we nearly did so, for neither Fox, Burke, Lord John, Sir G. Savile, &c., nor I, said one word; except the first, who spoke only for a minute or two. Lord North lost all temper, tried at first to be insolent, and attacked the minority in language which he was called to order for, in such a manner as cured him of that sort of inclination. Nugent spoke early, and more ridiculously than ever. Wedderburne spoke in so weak, confused and flimsy a manner that he was not in the least attended to. Dunning was up three or four times, and in full possession of himself, the House, and in the end of Victory. We divided 233 to 215. I should have told you that the Advocate was ashamed of his motion, and with leave withdrew it. Afterwards in the course of the debate they cooked up a most ridiculous amendment, which he moved, which was only to add these words 'That it is necessary to declare that the influence, &c.' This we accepted of, and then divided on the main Question. Rigby after the division, in truly Royal manner, put a good face on and tried to be very merry and a little profligate. Dunning then moved his second question, which was in substance that the House had a right to examine into the expenditure of the Civil List as well as all other public money. This we carried with a division. There was just flying debate enough to give time to cook up another motion, in substance thus: 'That it is the duty of this House to redress all the abuses stated in the different Petitions
- ↑ Sir Fletcher Norton was Speaker.
