a, seized the stern with his right
hand, which was instantly chopped off; and who then renewed the effort
with his left, which shared the same fate, whereupon he seized the
galley with his teeth. The ministry had lost two armies in attempts on
America, yet they were determined to proceed; but he warned them, that
when the Spartan seized the vessel with his teeth, he forfeited his
head. This debate was intended to delay the supplies; but on a division,
the majority was one hundred and sixty-six to eighty-four. Subsequently
a debate occurred on the subject of the ex-president Lauren's
imprisonment in the Tower, and Mr. Burke gave notice of a motion on his
behalf; but this was rendered unnecessary, as Laurens was soon after
discharged in exchange for General Burgoyne. In the upper house an
attempt was made by the Marquess of Rockingham to prevent the third
reading of the Malt and Land-tax Bills before the recess, but it
was unavailing. Such were the proceedings of parliament before the
adjournment.

CHAPTER XIII.

{GEORGE III. 1782-1784}

Recent events on the Theatre of War..... Fox's Motion for
Inquiring into the Navy..... Motions of Inquiry in the House
of Lords..... Debates on Lord George Germaine's Elevation to
the Peerage..... Renewed Attacks on Lord Sandwich:
Resignation of Lord North..... The New Ministry.....
Affairs of Ireland..... Bill for excluding Contractors,
&c...... Resolutions respecting Wilkes expunged from the
Journals..... Disfranchisement of Cricklade, &c......
Debates on Parliamentary Reform..... East India
Affairs..... Change in the Ministry..... Prorogation of
Parliament..... Victory of Rodney..... Affairs of the War in
America..... State of the War in the West Indies, &c......
Maritime Events..... Siege and Relief of Gibraltar.....
Prospect of general Pacification..... Meeting of
Parliament..... Preliminaries of Peace..... Re-assembling
of Parliament..... The Coalition Ministry.....
Re-establishment of Commercial Intercourse with America,
&c...... Pitt's Plan for Reforming the Treasury, &c......
East India Affairs..... Petition of the Quakers against the
Slave Trade..... Settlement on the Prince of Wales.....
Parliament Prorogued..... Execution of Treaties, &c......
Meeting of Parliament..... Fox's India Bill.....
Dissolution of the Coalition Ministry: Pitt made