tmas
recess, petitions were got up in its favour in almost all the countries
and great cities of England, and associations were formed in order to
support a reform. Counter petitions were indeed framed, and in some
instances protests were signed, but still it remained evident that the
public feeling was with Burke. It was while the petitions in favour of
his plan were pouring into the house that he brought it forward. After
delivering an eloquent speech, which Gibbon says was heard with
delight by all sides of the house, and even by those whose existence
he proscribed, he detailed his scheme. This consisted of five bills,
comprising the sale of forest-lands; the abolition of the royal
jurisdictions of Wales, Cornwall, Cheshire, and Lancaster; the
abolition, also, of treasurer, comptroller, and many other officers in
the household, with the treasurer of the chamber, the wardrobe, etc.,
the boards of trade, green cloth, and works, the office of third
secretary of state, the office of keepers of the royal hounds, and
of many civil branches of the ordnance and the mint, with the patent
offices of the exchequer; the regulation of the army, navy, and pension
pay-offices, with some other departments not under due control; and
finally a better arrangement of the civil list so as to prevent for the
future any accumulation of debt, without any improper encroachment on
the royal prerogative. Lord North passed very high encomiums on the
author of this plan, and assured the house that no member was more
zealous for the establishment of a permanent system of economy than he
was; but he intimated that subjects so numerous and various required
time for reflection and as some of them affected the king's patrimonial
income, he thought the crown should be consulted. All the bills, except
that which related to the crown-lands and to Wales, and the counties
palatine of Chester and Lancaster, were brought in, however, and the
portions of the plan submitted to deliberation occupied a considerable
part of the months of March, April, and May, and gave rise to many
animated debates, and several close divisions. But, in the end, all the
clauses were negatived, except that for abolishing the board of trade,
and the only saving to the country by this triumph of the opposition,
was about L6000 per annum!

REJECTION OF LORD SHELBURNE'S MOTION FOR A COMMISSION OF ACCOUNTS.

On the same day that Burke gave notice of his plan of economical reform