and Loughborough. In the course
of the debate the Duke of Richmond accused the lord-chancellor Thurlow,
not without justice, of opposing every reform; and Lord Fortescue
attacked the law lords in general, declaring that the dignity of the
house was lowered and tarnished by their presence. All the above
bills originated with the Rockingham party. Soon after, Lord Shelburne
introduced a bill of his own, for compelling persons holding patent
places in the colonies and foreign possessions to reside, and do
something for their money, which was adopted.

DEBATES ON PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

Encouraged by the fate of Criclade, and by petitions for parliamentary
reform from the Livery of London, and the still existing county
associations, on the 7th of May, Mr. William Pitt moved for a committee
to inquire into the state of the representation in parliament, and to
report their observations thereon to the house. The petitions which had
been presented prayed for the abolition of the Septennial Act. Pitt
did not adopt this prayer, but demanded the sweeping away of all rotten
boroughs, and the establishment of an equal representation. His motion
was seconded by Alderman Sawbridge, and was warmly supported by Sir
George Saville, Mr. Fox, and other Whig orators. It was opposed by
Thomas Pitt, who declared rotten boroughs to be an essential working
part of the constitution--a sentiment suggested by his being proprietor
of the borough of Old Sarum. Mr. Powys also could not see any utility in
the revisal of a system which had stood the test of ages; and Mr. Dundas
thought that the inquiry promised no benefit, that it would lead to
evil, and that it would be wiser to submit to certain irregularities in
an established form of government, than by attempting the correction to
hazard the safety of the whole fabric. The debate manifested that the
Whig aristocracy, now in power, were as anxious to quash this inquiry as
the Tories themselves could have been; and it is remarkable, that Burke,
Townshend, and others were also adverse to the motion. On a division,
however, the motion was rejected by a majority of twenty only; the
numbers being one hundred and sixty-one against one hundred and
forty-one.

EAST INDIA AFFAIRS.

A secret committee had been appointed to investigate the abuses of the
Indian government. During this session several reports were presented
to the house, when Mr. Dundas reviewed the state of the company and its