iygi* Parliamentary Froceedingsl 363 



Bad in the ufual form reported the petition to be frivolous and 

 vexatious, yet it was not frivolous and vexatious in the common 

 ivay, and concluded with moving, " That a fpecial committee 

 be appointed to take into conlideration the proceedings of the 

 committee, &c." 



Mr Poiuys rofe to defend the committee, and faid they had 

 done their duty in reporting as they had done. He added, that 

 if the Houfe wifhed to inftitutc any farther proceeding with 

 regard to what had pafled, the regular way he conceiv- 

 ed would be to call for a copy of the minutes of the committee, 

 when he trufted it would be found that the committee had re- 

 gularly dlfcharged their duty. 



Mr Burke rofe to explain, and protefted he meant no reflec- 

 tion upon the committee, the purity of whofe condu(ft was be- 

 yond queftion : he only meant to recommend it to the Houfe, 

 for the lake of their dignity, to inftitute fome further examina- 

 tion into abufinefs of fuch an extraordinary nature. 



The Chancellor of the Exchtquer faid, the difficulty in the 

 prefent buQneft was, what was the proper line of difcuffioa 

 which ought to be adopted. He thought it advifable, before 

 the matter fbodd be taken up, to allow fome time to intervene 

 for refk(5tion and due deliberation. 



Mr Burke added *few words expreffive of his indignation 

 at the infult offered to the H oufe. Hethought it his duty to 

 make the complaint, and left it to their wifdom to provide a 

 remedy. 



Mr Fox differed from his right honourable friend entirely. 

 The committee had tuHy difcharged their duty in voting the 

 petition frivolous Sand vexatious. The law had' provided a fut- 

 ficient check againft fuch improprieties of conduiit, by declar- 

 ing that thofe whofe petitions were declared frivolous and vex- 

 atious Ihould p-iy all the colts. He thought it becoming the 

 dignity of the Houfe to take no farther notice of it. 



Mr Burke rofs once more, and made one of thofe pleafing 

 fportivc fpeeches fan- which he is fo remarkable, that had little 

 other objc<fl in view, than to provoke a good humoured laugh 

 in the Houfe. 



The Chancellor of the Exchequer ftill thought that it would 

 be proper to allow time for deliberation, and that the Houfe 

 might afterwards rcfume it or not as they faw caufe, 



Mr Martin began to complain of an attack on fome mem- 

 bers of Parliament in a newfpaper, but was called to order by 

 the Speaker. 



Mr Courtenay faid, the wifeft way would be to treat the pe- 

 titioner, his petition, and his conduft bctbie the committee 

 with Qlent contempt, in which caf^- the matter would foon 

 (ink ioto oblivion. 



