oper, who declared that such a step would be both daring and
unwarrantable under present circumstances. The subject was renewed
on the next day, when the report of the committee of supply was to be
brought up, but though Pitt was eagerly questioned on the subject by
Lord North and other members of the house, he still preserved silence.
The house, however, did not have to wait long for the confirmation of
the report. On the 24th, the king went down to the house of lords, and
put an end to the session by prorogation; at the same time declaring
that he felt it to be a duty which he owed to the constitution and
the country, to recur to the sense of his people, by convoking a new
parliament. The sentence of dissolution was soon pronounced, for it
appeared in the next day's _Gazette_.

A GENERAL ELECTION.

Pitt had good reasons to believe that a general election would result
greatly in his favour. There can be no doubt, indeed, that if he had
adopted such a measure at the first, that he would have been spared
the trouble of contending with the opposition. At the same time if
parliament had been dissolved on an earlier day, it is probable that he
might not have had such bright prospects for the future. Every day his
conduct seemed to gain him friends among the people; while on the other
hand the popularity of his rival rapidly decreased. There were two grand
causes which led to the decay of the popularity of Fox; namely, his
coalition with Lord North and his party; and his India Bill, which
arrayed against him not only the influence of the East India Company,
but also of almost all the good citizens of London. The city of London
had, indeed, showed much sympathy with the youthful premier, Pitt, in
this memorable struggle. At the latter end of February, they voted him
the freedom of the city, which they presented to him in great state at
the house of Lord Chatham, in Berkeley-square, whence he was conducted
by the committee to a grand dinner at the Grocers'-hall. What sentiments
were entertained towards him may be gathered from the speech which
Wilkes, the chamberlain of the city, made on this occasion. After
lavishing much praise on Pitt, he thus alluded to the parliamentary
contest, which was then at its height:--"I know, sir, how high you stand
in the confidence of the public: much is to be done, but you have youth,
capacity, and firmness; it is the characteristic of a true patriot never
to despair. Your noble father,