2: — 258 parUamcnt. Corn bill. Teh. li. 



When the precediu^ clause had been thus rejected by 

 the committee, Mr Pitt, on the departure of several of 

 those who had voted against the clause, told the commit- 

 tee, that all the dependant clauses Ihould remain in the 

 bill, (notwithstanding it was agreed that they were abso- 

 lute nonsense wiihout the clause- that - had been rejected,) 

 because the clause fhould be restored on the report. 

 Lor^ Sheffield gave notice that, as whatever was urged 

 against any part of the bill did not obtain the least atten- 

 tion, he ftiould move, at a proper time, for a call of the 

 house j and then his lordihip and several others, quitted 

 the house. 



After some farther conversations on the subject, the 

 chancellor of the exchequer rose and said, that as the mem- 

 bers had at first been equal, and as gentlemen had now but 

 little time, he fliould again divide the house. The com, 

 mittee then divided again upon lord ShefficWs amendment. 

 Ayes, ^i \ — Noes, 67 ; — Majority, 12. 

 The committee was then adjourned to the i6th. 

 The above, though a faithful statement of facts, will, 

 no doubt, to every attentive reader, appear to be a very ex* 

 traordinary procedure in a grave afsembly of legislators, on 

 a businefs of great national importance, as theVe appears 

 upon the face of it a degree of obstinacy, of warmth, and 

 petulance that seem to be altogether inconsistent with 

 the full elucidation of truth, in a matter of so much impor- 

 tance and difficulty ; and it must reflect a disgrace upon 

 this afsembly, that they could tamely sit and sec themselves 

 .so basely insulted. Would. Flampdcn and Rufsel, and the 

 patriots of that day, have believed it pofsible that a time 

 would erer arrive, after the nation had once been able to 

 cstabliih their freedom by a clear bill of rights, when any 

 man could stand up in that house, and, to their faces, tell 

 the members that he would not permit a clause in a bill to 

 be rescinded, although he himself, and all who heard him, 

 acknowledged it was nonsense. Yet this was done j and 

 so tame and humble was this senate, that it pafsed almost 

 without reprehension. W^e may boast of cur freedom, as 

 the Roman senate boasted of theirs, when Caligula caused 

 his horse tp be nominated consul ; and with equal reason, 

 •while such things are j yet not only the senate, but the nation 

 ^t lar^e, like th.e faiiious people of Rome, bore it without; 



