e carried
without a division.

THE WESTMINSTER SCRUTINY.

The first business which engaged the attention of the house, was the
state of the Westminster scrutiny, which had now continued for eight
months, at a great expense, and only two parishes out of seven had been
gone through. It was calculated that as one of the parishes scrutinized
was a small one, it would take three years to scrutinise the whole.
Under these circumstances, the electors petitioned the house on the
subject, and the high-bailiff and his counsel were in consequence
examined at the bar of the house, touching the practicability of
proceeding with greater dispatch. The high-bailiff frankly confessed
that it would not take less than two years to finish the scrutiny; and
Mr. Welbore Ellis, now in opposition, moved that he should obey the
writ, and make a return of the precept; that is, that he should declare
those elected who stood highest on the poll. This was negatived by
one hundred and seventy-four against one hundred and thirty-five; and
another motion, of a similar tendency, moved by Colonel Fitzpatrick, at
a subsequent date, was likewise rejected, though only by a majority of
nine, the numbers being one hundred and forty-five against one hundred
and thirty-six. This small majority was ominous, inasmuch as it
indicated that there was a change in public opinion upon the subject;
and encouraged by it, on the 3rd of March, Alderman Sawbridge brought
forward the motion for the third time. Pitt, whose proceedings on
this subject reflect no credit on his feelings, moved the question of
adjournment upon this repeated motion, and had the mortification of
being left in a minority of thirty-eight; the numbers being for the
adjournment one hundred and twenty-four, and against it, one hundred and
sixty-two. After this the main question was put and carried without a
division; and on the next day Lord Hood and Mr. Fox were declared duly
returned. Yet the house, while it condemned the scrutiny as inexpedient,
still maintained its legality; for when, on the 9th of March, Mr.
Francis moved a resolution for expunging that of the 8th of June
preceding, by which it was authorised, he was left in a minority of one
hundred and thirty-seven against one hundred and forty-two. It is said
that Mr. Pitt engaged in this discreditable affair from the conviction,
that, within a reasonable time, a decided majority of legal votes would
be substantiated in favour of Sir Ce