land, the amendment was only carried
by a majority of _two_, the numbers being one hundred and eighty-eight
against one hundred and eighty-six. A similar motion was made in the
upper house by Lord Howard of Effingham, but it was there negatived by
fifty-one against twenty-four.

POLITICAL ALTERCATIONS.

In the early part of this session Mr. Adam left the ranks of opposition,
and took his place under the ministerial standard. In doing so, he
declared that he could not concur in the pretended necessity of new
counsels, or new counsellors, since among those who stood candidates for
office he was unable to single out one by whom the state was likely to
be better served than by the present ministers. Charles Fox replied to
Mr. Adam, and his reply, as reported in the newspapers, being thought to
convey a personal reflection on Mr. Adam, a duel was the consequence,
in which Fox was slightly wounded. Duels appeared likely to become the
order of the day among members of parliament. In consequence of the
sudden removal of two lord-lieutenants, apparently on account of their
conduct in regard to county petitions, associations, and votes given
in parliament, Lord Shelburne moved for an address, to desire that his
majesty would be graciously pleased to acquaint the house whether he had
been advised, and by whom, to dismiss the said two noble lords for their
conduct in parliament. In the course of the debates on this motion,
which was negatived, Shelburne indulged in some personalities at the
expense of Mr. Fullarton, member for Plympton, and late secretary to
Lord Stormont in his embassy to the French court. Fullarton complained
to the house of commons of the behaviour of the Earl of Shelburne, and
shortly after a duel was fought between them in Hyde Park, in which the
noble lord was wounded. These transactions induced Sir James Lowther
to observe, in the house of commons, that this method of fighting, in
consequence of parliamentary debate and hasty words, seemed growing into
such a custom, that it behoved the house to interpose its authority,
as otherwise all freedom of debate would be at an end, and the British
parliament would be reduced to the condition of a Polish diet. The
friends of Mr. Fullarton said, it would be indelicate to enter into
a discussion on the subject in his absence; and the friends of Lord
Shelburne contended, that the words spoken by him were strictly
parliamentary, and contained nothing which could b