rried
by a majority of twenty; and Fox, pursuing his triumph, moved and
carried an address., to be presented to his majesty on his throne by
the whole house, praying him to dismiss his ministers. The report of the
ordnance estimates was then brought up and agreed to without a division,
after which, between five and six in the morning, the house adjourned.

The address voted by the commons was presented on the 25th, when his
majesty in reply, stated that he had heard no valid charge against the
ministers of his appointment; that all proposals for a coalition, though
seconded by himself, had proved abortive; and that he could not see in
what way the public interest was likely to be promoted by the dismissal
of his cabinet. He added:--"Under these circumstances, I trust my
faithful commons will not wish that the essential offices of executive
government should be vacated until I see a prospect that such a plan of
union as I have called for, and they have pointed out, may be carried
into effect." The efforts of the opposition now grew more violent. The
house met on the 27th to hear the report of the king's answer; and on
that occasion Lord Beaumont moved, first, that the report should be
taken into consideration on the 1st of March, and then that the house
should adjourn to that day. To the first of these propositions Pitt made
no objection, but as the object of the second was to delay the supplies,
and this delay would cause serious evils, inasmuch as they related to
the navy, he strongly resisted such a hazardous measure. His arguments
told even upon the opposition, for though the motion was carried, it was
only by the small majority of seven; the numbers being one hundred and
seventy-five to one hundred and sixty-eight. But the struggle was not
yet over. On the 1st of March, Fox moved and carried another address to
the king, which directly asserted the right of the commons to advise his
majesty on the exercise of his prerogative, and by virtue of that
right, specifically requesting him to dismiss his ministers. The commons
carried this address to the king on the 4th of March, and were told
in reply that his majesty still entertained the same sentiments he had
formerly expressed. On the same evening it was agreed, upon the motion
of Fox, that this reply should be taken into consideration on Monday,
the 8th of March. In the meantime Pitt was once more defeated. On the
5th, Fox moved that the committee on the Mutiny Bill, wh