1805.] 
He next pointed out the impolicy of under- 
valuing the coinage of the colonifts, and quoted, 
as 2 cafe in point, the high fpirit exhibited by 
the people of Genoa, when they were roufed 
by contumely to a pitch of enthufiaftic valour, 
that enabled them to drive out the veteran 
Germans, and concluded by obferving, ‘¢ that, 
in his opinion, the fole power which this coun- 
try ought to have over her American fubjects, 
fhould merely be exerted in determining what 
the colonifis ought not to do, not what they 
fhould do. Throughout the whole of the con- 
teft that enfued, Sir Cecil uniformly fpoke 
againft the plans of coercion adopted in ref{pect 
to our Trans-atlantic dominions, and obtained a 
high character not only for his integrity but 
his refearch, in confequence of which he began 
to be confidered as one of the moft able and 
uncorrupt country gentlemen in the houfe. 
His conduét in regard to the Middlefex election, 
alfo contr buted not a little to his celebrity with 
the patriots of that day. Having always acted 
as an able and indefatigable magiftrate in the 
country, he was chofen chairman of the com- 
mittee for amending the poor laws, on which 
occafion many admirable provifions were made 
for that purpofe. The member for Eaft Ret- 
ford having thus acquired confiderable popu- 
larity, was pitched upon as a proper perfon to 
reprefent Weftminfter in parliament ; and Mr. 
Fox not only gladly accepted him as a colleague, 
but it was chiefly through his means that he 
svas returned for that city, at the general elec- 
tion in 1780. An-unexpected event foon after 
this produced a fchifm, and divided the weaken- 
ed whig intereft, not in the metropolis only, 
but throughout the whole empire, ‘The cir- 
cumftance we a'lude to, is the memorable coali- 
tion that now took place between the eloquent 
commoner who had oppofed the American war, 
and Lord North, afterwards Earl of Guilford, 
the oftenfible author of it. To this meafure, 
fingular in many points of view, the new mem- 
ber for Weftminfter gave the moft decided op- 
pofition ; and in confequence of exprefs orders 
from his conftituents, he {poke and voted againft 
the receipt tax, brought in by Lord John Ca- 
vendifh, then Chancellor of the Exchequer. 
On this occafion, having obferved, ‘* that, he 
had been inftructed to propofe an impoft of 
ten fhillings a piece on fervant maids, in lieu 
ei the other.”? ‘This obfervation tended not a 
lirtle to render him unpopular, as alfo fome 
fevere remarks relative to the expenfes of 
jaintaining the invalids at Chelfea college, 
who, he obferved, coft more than rool. a piece 
per annum. Other differences alfo occurred, 
and thofe too of an effential nature, between 
the two members for. Weftminfter, one of 
which we fhall here briefly ftate. Sir Cecil 
was decidedly averie to the India Bill brought 
in by Mr, Fox, in 1783-4, and on this 
occafion it is only neceffary to remark, that he 
did not ftand alone in his oppofition ; for many 
of the moft confpicuous and diftinguifhed whigs 
in the kingdom, vored both againft it and that 
afterwards introduced by Mr. Pitt*. Not 
* Samuel Whitbread, efq. M. P. for Bedford. 
Lord Mauon, (now Earl Stanhope,) M. P, for 
Wycomb. 
Monrury Mac. No. 125. 
Marriages and Deaths in and near London. 81 
content with this, he alfo prefided in the chair 
at the court of requefts, Feb. roth, 1784, when 
the following refolutions pafled.—1ft. Refolved 
(with lefs than ten diffentients) that the foilow- 
ing addrefs to his majefty, (moved by Lord 
Vifcount Mahon, and feconded by Sir Robert 
Smyth, bart.) be approved of by this meeting : 
« To the king’s moft excellent majefty, &c. 
‘© The humble addrefs of the electors of the 
city and liberties of Weftmintter. 
«« Koft gracious Sovereign, 
« We, your majefty’s moft dutiful and loyal 
fubjects, the electors of the city and liberties 
of Weftminfter, beg leave to approach your 
throne, with the moft zealous affurances of 
loyalty to your perfon, family, and govern- 
meat. It was with the utmoft concern we 
beheld an attempt made by your majefty’s 
late minifters, to ceprive a great commercial 
company of their chartered rights, by the bill 
brought into parliament, which, had it pafled 
into a law, would have been a dangerous 
precedent, and created a new extcutive 
power, unknown to the conititution of this 
country. We moft fincerely thank your ma- 
jefty kor the difmiffion of thofe minitters from 
their employments, and ailure your majefly, 
that we have great confidence in the princi- 
ples of the prefent adminiftration, and that 
while they purfue meafures conducive to the 
true honour of the crown, and the true inte- 
refts of this country, they may lately rely on 
the fupport of the people.’ 
‘« Refolved, (with leis than ten diffentients, ) 
that the cordial thanks of this meeting be 
given to Sir Cecil Wray, bart. our worthy re- 
prefentative, for his fteady, uniform, upright, 
and patriotic conduct in parliament, and that 
he be requefted to prefent the addrets of 
the electors of Weittminfter to his majefty.— 
Refolved, (unanimoufly,) that we will unre- 
mittingly perfevere in our exertions to pro- 
cure an effectual and fubftantial reform of 
parliament, in order that the commons heute 
of parliament may have a common intereit 
with, and {peak the voice of the people. 
(Signed) * Crert Wray, chairman.” 
At a fubfequent meeting, held a few days 
after, a great tumult enfued ; anda bag of 
euphorbium haying been thrown at Mir. Fox, 
the electors divided by content, and sir Cecil © 
Wray having been again called to the chair 
by that: party which efpoutled his cante, a 
number of -refolutions pafled, among which 
was the following :—<¢ That the coalition 
formed between the Right Hon. Charles 
William Clayton, e(q. M. P. for Marlow. 
Sir Joho Jervis, (now Lord St. Vincent.) 
Sir Robert Smyth, bart M. P~ tor, Colcheftere 
James Martin, efq: M- P. for Pewkefbury. 
Filmer Honeywood, efq. M. P. for Kent. 
Charles Marfham, (now Earl of Romney, 
M. P, for Kent. . 
John Wilkes, efq. M. P. for Middlefex. 
Sir Richard Hill, bart. M. P. for Salop. 
W. Pulteney, efq. M. P. for Shrewfbury. 
And Sir Joleph Mawbey, M, P. for Gatton. - 
L Jamea 
