t house." A third motion, strongly
opposed to ministers, was also carried by Mr. Thomas Pitt, which set
forth "that it was the duty of the house to provide immediate and
effectual redress of the abuses complained of in the petitions." Nor was
the minister permitted yet to retire to his peaceful slumber. Fox moved,
that the three resolutions should be immediately reported; and though
Lord North contended that this was unusual, violent, and arbitrary, the
resolutions and reports were severally reported and received, and were
agreed to and passed by the house without a division.

Elated by success, on the 10th of April, the committee being
re-assembled, Mr. Dunning continued his attack. He moved, "That in order
to secure the independence of parliament and obviate all suspicion of
its purity, the proper officer should lay before the house, within seven
days after the meeting of parliament, every session, an account of all
monies paid out of the civil list, or any part of the public revenue,
to, or for the use of, or in trust for any member of parliament." This,
though opposed by ministers, was carried; and Dunning then moved, "that
the persons holding the offices of treasurer of the chamber, treasurer
of the household, cofferer of the household, comptroller of the
household, master of the household, clerks of the green cloth and
their deputies, should be rendered incapable of sitting in the house
of commons." This motion produced a long and earnest debate, but it was
carried by a majority of two, the numbers being two hundred and fifteen
against two hundred and thirteen. Thus far the opposition had been
triumphant: three days after, however, they were doomed to receive
a check. A bill, brought in by Mr. Crewe, for excluding all
revenue-officers from voting at elections of members of parliament, was
rejected by a considerable majority. Business was now interrupted for
ten days, by the sudden illness of the speaker; and when the house
re-assembled the sentiments of members were found to have undergone a
change. On the 24th of April, Dunning moved for an address to the king,
deprecating "the dissolution or prorogation of parliament before proper
measures were adopted to fulfil the objects of the petitions." This
motion, which was warmly and eloquently supported by the mover, and
Burke, and Fox, was rejected by a majority of fifty-one; the numbers
being two hundred and fifty-four against two hundred and three. Enraged
at this s