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 pro. visions 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 Triumph to omit. But Mr. Pitt declared, " that much as nister. he was convinced of the importance of unanimity, of the mi 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, 38, Shoe-Lane, Fleet-Street. BOOK tion or dissolution of parliament, unless the Act of Appropriation shall have previously passed; and ordering accounts to be laid before the house of the moneys already issued. These resolutions were followed by a motion from the earl of Surry-1. That in the present situation of his majesty's dominions it was peculiarly necessary that there should be an administration that had the confidence of the public. 2. That the late changes in his majesty's councils were accompanied by circumstances new and extraordinary, and such as did not conciliate the confidence of that house." On this motion the house divided, but it was carried in the affirmative by 196 to 142 voices. On the 16th of January a resolution was moved by lord Charles Spencer, "That the continuance of the present ministers in trusts of the highest im portance and respectability was contrary to the prin ciples of the constitution, and injurious to the interests of the king and people." Upon this que tion the house divided, ayes 205, noes 184; so that the anti-ministerial majority was, by an ominous de fection, reduced from 54 to 21 voices. About this time the chancellor of the exchequer #pected introduced into the house a bill for the better government of India, on principles which left the commercial concerns of the Company in their own hands, and established a board of control, coti sisting of certain commissioners appointed by the XXI. 1784. king, possessing a negative on the proceedings of BOOK the Company in all matters of government or politics. On the motion of commitment, this bill was lost by 222 voices against 214-so that the opposition majority was now diminished to 8. A still more encouraging circumstance was, that addresses of thanks and approbation to his majesty for the removal of his late ministers now began to flow in from every part of the kingdom; and became at length so universal, that upon no occasion whatever was the sense of the people at large more clearly, strongly, and unequivocally ascertained. In this the city of LONDON had taken the lead; and in their address they say, "Your faithful citizens lately beheld, with infinite concern, the progress of a measure which equally tended to encroach on the rights of your majesty's crown-to annihilate the chartered rights of the East India Company--and to raise a new power unknown to this free government, and highly inimical to its safety. As this dangerous measure was warmly supported by your majesty's late ministers, we heartily rejoice in their dismission, and humbly thank your majesty for exerting your prerogative in a manner so salutary and constitutional." And concluding in a manner very different from the usual tenor of their addresses in former times, they say, "Highly sensible of your majesty's paternal care and affection for your people, we pray the Almighty that you may long |