XXI. sent ministers; and on the 24th of March the par- BOOK liament was prorogued, and the next day dissolved by proclamation, and a new parliament convened to meet on the 18th of May. The influence of the crown being now combined with the inclination and independent interest of the country, at the general election the effect produced was prodigious. The COALITIONISTS, even those who once stood highest in the estimation of the public, were almost every where thrown out: lord. John Cavendish, for the city; Mr. Foljambe, the heir of sir George Saville, for the county, of York; general Conway, for Bury; Mr. Coke, for Norfolk; Mr. Halsey, for Hertfordshire; Mr. Townshend, for Cambridge university; and Mr. Erskine, for Portsmouth. Mr. Fox himself, to the surprise of all, had a clear and great majority on the poll for Westminster, though the high-bailiff, by a scandalous partiality, refused to make the return in his favor,-for which an action was subsequently brought by Mr. Fox, in the court of King's Bench, and a verdict with large damages obtained. 1784. the new 1784. The king in his opening speech expressed " great Meeting of satisfaction at meeting his parliament at this time,parliament after having recurred in so important a moment to the sense of his people. He entertained a just and confident reliance that they were animated by the same sentiments of loyalty and attachment to the constitution which had been so fully manifested in BOOK every part of the kingdom. He recommended to XXI their most serious consideration to frame suitable provisions for the good government of our possessions in the East Indies. Upon this subject parliament would not lose sight of the effect which the measures they adopted might have on our own constitution and our dearest interests at home." The address proposed on this occasion contained strong expres sions of approbation respecting the late dissolution, which lord Surry on the ground of unanimity moved Trwmph to omit. But Mr. Pitt declared, "that much as of the me he was convinced of the importance of unanimity, he would not purchase a hollow unanimity by passing over a great constitutional measure which the circumstances of the times had made necessary and wise, and which had given the most entire satisfaction to every part of the kingdom." On this point, therefore, the house divided, and the amendment of the earl of Surry was rejected by a majority of 76 voices; so that the dissolution appeared to have completely answered its intended purpose, and from this period Mr. Pitt may be regarded as the constitutional and efficient minister of the nation. END OF THE SEVENTH VOLUME. R. TAYLOR and Co. Printers, 98, Shoe-Lane, Fleet-Street. XXL 1783. BOOK dish, and Mr. Fox, had concerted a measure insidi ously adapted to serve their own purpose-knowing or believing the same to be inimical to the essential interests of their country. In fact, no plan for the government of India could be framed which was not liable to very great objection. The bill of Mr. Fox was primarily and professedly designed for the reformation of abuses in India; and as it was necessary for this purpose to establish a new and extensive source of authority and influence at home, very plausible, and, to persons interested, doubtless, very convincing reasons might be adduced to prove it more safe and constitutional to intrust this power to parliamentary commissioners than to the crown, whose influence it had been the grand and favorite object of all true patriots to diminish. Nor was it possible that the parliamentary rejection of this bill could have been attended with such signal effects, had not the popularity of the minister with whom it originated been already completely and for ever annihilated by means of the fatal and AC Political conflict be the com mons. CURSED COALITION. On the 22d of December, the house of commons tween the being in a committee on the state of the nation, crown and Mr. Erskine moved, "That an address be presented to the king, stating, that alarming reports had gone forth of an intended dissolution of parliament, and humbly representing to his majesty the inconveniences and dangers of a prorogation or dissolution XXI. 1783 in the present conjuncture; and entreating the so- BOOK vereign to hearken to the advice of that house, and not to the secret advice of particular persons who might have private interests of their own, separate from the true interests of the king and people." This address, which was of a complexion unknown in this country since the æra of the Revolution, was carried without a division. The answer of the king was very discreet and temperate. His majesty said, "It had been his constant object to employ the authority intrusted to him by the constitution to its true and only end-the good of the people; and he was always happy in concurring with the wishes and opinions of his faithful commons. He trusted they would proceed in the important matters mentioned in their address with a convenient speed, assuring them that he should not interrupt their meeting after their adjournment by any exercise of his prerogative either of prorogation or dissolution." The house now with tolerable satisfaction adjourned for the usual Christmas recess to the 10th of January 1784, on which day the committee on the state of the nation was resumed; and several resolutions were brought forward by Mr. Fox, and agreed to by the house-prohibiting the lords of the treasury from assenting to the acceptance of the Company's bills from India-forbidding also the issue of any of the public money after a proroga |