HISTORY OF EUROPE, [213 
On the following day, May 9, 
the subject was renewed by Mr. 
Whitbread, who declared, that it 
appeared to him of such conse- 
quence, that he considered it his 
duty formally to inquire, why mi- 
nistry had not, at an earlier period, 
applied to the house, and thereby 
prevented the dangers that had _re- 
sulted from this neglect. 
The answer of Mr: Pitt was, that 
every proper step had been taken 
to obviate the unhappy event that 
had taken place. The seamen’s 
demands had been submitted to the 
king in council, with all requisite 
expedition ; estimates of the sums 
that would be wanted had been 
duly made out, for the inspection 
and approbation of parliament ; and 
every thing put into an official train. 
{twas only, therefore, the customary 
observance of forms that had im- 
peded the speed which would other- 
wise have been employed, could 
the effects of such a delay have been 
foreseen. 
reasons, a bill should be passed, in 
-order to accelerate their termina- 
tion. 
-Mr, Fox recapitulated the par- 
ticulars of this unfortunate business, 
in justification of the censure which 
he trusted the house would pass on 
the conduct of administration. He 
described, in strong colours, the 
perilous situation of some persons, 
of the highest rank and merit, in 
their professional character, in con- 
sequence of the present commotions 
in the fleet, affirming it to be the 
duty of the house to express its 
condemnation of those who had, 
by the rashness of their conduct, 
brought them into such imminent 
danger. 
The strictures of Mr. Fox were 
peconded by a vote of censure, 
The sooner, for these 
moved by Mr. Whitbread, and, by 
an animated speech in support of? 
this motion, by Mr. Sheridan. He 
s:verely blamed the conduct of mi-’ 
nisters, In postponing the coasi- 
deration of the seamen’s demands, 
urged with so many circumstances 
that rendered them highly critical 
and serious, to such objects as the 
Imperial Joan and the marviage-’ 
portion of thesprincess royal, which 
were of such inferior importance 
to the nation, and ouglit, therefore, 
without hesitation, to have been 
laid aside till a business of such mag- 
nitude had been settled. He in- 
sinuated, that the dissatisfaction ia 
the navy had been caused by en- 
croachments on the rights of the 
seamen, or by attempts to abridge 
them of their comforts. He pro- 
posed that a joint committee of both 
houses should be appointed, on this 
occasion, with power to send for 
persons and papers, and-to adjourn 
from time to time, and from place 
to place. 
This proposal Mr. Pitt combated, 
not only as an innovation in the dis- 
cipline of the navy, but as uncon- 
stitutional. It superseded, at once, 
the functions of the executive and’ 
legisiative powers. —- Mr. Whit- 
bread’s motion was negatived, by 
237 against 63. After some farther 
altercation, the resolutions he had 
moved, relating to the increase of 
seamen’s pay and allowance, were 
read, and a bill was ordered to 
be brought in for passing them 
ito an act, together with a clause 
for the continuance of pay to 
wounded seamen till they were 
cured. The bill, as soon ‘as it 
was framed, went through all the 
necessary formalities, and immedi- 
ately received the royal assent, by 
commission, 
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