tel, reflecting upon the houfe of com- 
moxs, and upon the managers of the 
impeachment.” 
The motion was. oppofed by Mr. 
_ Wigley, who thought that the houfe, 
} in its juftice, ought not to proceed 
- ima fevere manner againit the ho- 
_ wourable member; who, he faid, 
had already made the moft fatisfac- 
4 tory and fufficient apology for what 
he ftood acenfed of. He then made 
a number of obfervations cn fe- 
_ veral pamphlets written by gentle- 
8 men on the fide of oppofition; and 
. 
honourable member accufed, had a 
‘ight to enquire into the nature of 
upon them in the fame manner as 
_ the houfe is now doing in the pre- 
fent cafe. 
_ pofed by different members, it was 
_ agreed that the motion fhould fand 
_ as follows: « That John Scott, efq. 
_ having avowed himfelf tobe the wri- 
ter of the faid letter, was guilty of a 
violation of his duty as a member of 
_ that houfe, and of refleting upon the 
managers of the impeachment.” 
agreed to. 
_ ~ General Burgoyne then moved, 
«<That major Scott be reprimanded 
"at the bar of that houfe, for his con- 
dug in publifhing the faid libel.” __ 
_ This motion brought on a very 
Jong and perfonal debate, “in which 
Mr. Pitt, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Wynd- 
ham.took a part; and, after a confi- 
derable oppofition, it was agreed 
that major Scott fhould be repri- 
_ manded in his place. 
Scott, efq; do attend in his place in 
‘that houfe to-morrow, 
“HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
thought that the houfe, as well as the: 
“thofe pamphlets, and to proceed: 
After feveral amendments pro- 
Mr. Jekyll then moved the pre-° 
vious queftion; which was nega-° 
tived, and the motion, as amended,’’ 
_ *Mr. Pitt then moved, that John’ 
A 
[103 
The order of the day being then 
-read for the attendance of .Join 
Scott, efq. in his place, and the 
ftrangers being ordered to with- 
draw, he was reprimanded by the 
{peaker in the following terms: 
«< Mr. Scott, the houfe have re- 
folved, that you, being the author of 
a letter which the houfe have de- 
clared to be a fcandalous and libel- - 
lous paper, reflecting on the honour 
and jultice of this houfe, and on the 
conduct of the managers appointed 
to manage the impeachment now de- 
pending againft Warren Hatftings, 
efq. are guilty ofa violation of your 
duty asa member of this houfe, and 
of a high breach of the privilegeof 
this houfe. ; 
« On the nature and magnitude’ 
of your offence it is unneceflary for 
me to dwell: whatever has a ten- 
dency to depreciate the honour and 
juftice of this houfe, particularly in 
the exercife of its inquifitorial. func- - 
tions, tends in the fame proportion 
to weaken and degrade the energies 
and dignity of the Britifh conftitu- 
tion. 
« The privileges of this houfe 
have a claim to the refpect of every: 
fubje& of thiscountry. As amem-’ 
ber of this houfe, it is your ‘duty, as» 
' iv isa part of your truft, to fupport 
Had a fenfe of » 
thefe obligations produced its due - 
influence on your mind and condu@, - 
and protect them. 
you would ,have avoided the dil- 
pleafure of the houfe, and I thould 
have been fpared the pain ef de- 
claring to you the refult of it, The- 
moderation of the houfe is not, ° 
however, lefs manifeft on this-occa- ~ 
fion, than their jutt fenfe of their 
own dignity, and of the importance 
of their own privileges. Jt is my 
duty, in addrefling you, to be guid- 
ed by the lenity which marks their 
( 4] pra- 
