e duke of NEWCASTLE then rose up, and spoke to the following
effect:--My lords, I am of opinion that this debate would have been
much shorter, had not the noble lords who have spoken in it suffered
themselves to be led away, either by their own zeal, or the zeal of
their opponents, from the true state of the question, to which I shall
take the liberty of recalling their attention, that this important
controversy may have at length an end.

The point, the only point that is, in my opinion, now to be
considered, is this: the people of this nation have for some time
practised a most pernicious and hateful kind of debauchery; against
which several laws have been already made, which experience has shown
to be so far without effect, that the disorder has every year
increased among them; [while the duke was speaking, the bishop of
ORFORD said, without intention to be overheard, "Yes, that is the true
state of the case," upon which the duke stopped, and asked whether his
lordship had any objection to make, who answered that he had no design
of interrupting him; and he, therefore, proceeded.] A new law,
therefore, is proposed, less severe, indeed, than the former, but
which it is hoped will be for that reason more efficacious; this law
having passed through the other house, is now, in the common course of
our procedure, to be considered by us in a committee.

We are now, my lords, therefore, to resolve, whether a bill for the
reformation of this flagrant vice deserves any farther deliberation,
whether we shall join with the other house in their endeavours to
restore the ancient sobriety and virtue of the British people, or, by
an open disapprobation of their attempt, discourage them from
prosecuting their design, and debar them from using the opportunities
that succeeding years may afford, and the new lights which experience
may supply for improving this essay, however imperfect, to a salutary
and unexceptionable law.

The prelates whose laudable zeal for the promotion of virtue has
prompted them to distinguish themselves on this occasion by an
uncommon warmth of opposition, ought, as they appear fully sensible of
the calamities which intemperance brings upon mankind, to consider
likewise the consequences of refusing to examine, in a committee, a
bill professedly drawn up to restrain intemperance. They ought to
remember, that by rejecting this bill without a particular examination
of the several clauses which it contains, and