observed how quickly the clouds are dispersed
with which interest or perverseness have endeavoured to obscure the
truth, and how easily the strongest objections which the greatest
abilities could raise against this bill are confuted, or how apparently,
when they are closely examined, they confute themselves.

One of the objections that requires no answer is that which has been
raised with regard to the extent of the indemnity offered in the bill,
which, in the opinion of those that opposed it, ought to be restrained
to particular persons. But that it is chiefly, if not solely, intended
to be applied to those who have refused to answer the questions of the
committee, I believe every lord in this house is fully convinced; it
was, however, necessary to draw it up in general terms, lest other
artifices might have been employed, and lest, by pointing out particular
persons, opportunity might have been given to deprive the publick of
their evidence, by prevailing upon them to withdraw.

The bill was justly styled, by a noble lord, a bill to prevent _an
inquiry from being impossible_. The difficulty of inquiries for the
publick is well known; and the difficulty arises chiefly from the
inability of the people to reward their advocates, or their evidence.
The state of the court, my lords, is very different; the crown can not
only pardon, but advance those that have, on any occasion, promoted its
interest; and I hope it will not be too much power to be for once
granted to the people, if they are empowered to throw a simple
indemnification into the balance, and try whether with the slight
addition of truth, and reason, and justice, it will be able to weigh
down titles, and wealth, and power.

It has been urged, that there is danger lest this bill should become a
precedent. I hope, my lords, the same occasion will not often happen;
and whenever it shall hereafter occur, the precedent of passing the bill
will be much less dangerous than that of rejecting it.

I hope it is not necessary to say more on this occasion; yet I cannot
forbear to remind some lords of the fatal consequences which at critical
conjunctures they have often dreaded, or appeared to dread, from a
disagreement of this house with the commons. At this time, in which the
nation is engaged in war, when the whole continent is one general scene
of discord and confusion; when the wisest counsels, the firmest
unanimity, and the most vigorous measures are apparently nece