atuities, unless recommended by the directors; and
stopping all increase of salary, unless proposed by the directors, and
submitted to parliament. Pitt added a fourth clause, directing that
the directors should lay annually before Parliament an account of the
produce of all their revenues, and of all their disbursements. By these
clauses every real objection to the bill was obviated; but resistance
was still made to it, and the third reading was only carried by a
majority of fifty-four, which, at this period, was considered a very
small majority. The bill encountered a violent opposition in the house
of lords, also; but it was finally carried by a majority of
seventy-one against twenty-eight. Sixteen peers signed a long and
powerfully-expressed protest, representing the bill as friendly
to corrupt intrigue and cabal, hostile to all good government, and
abhorrent to the principles of our constitution.

PITT'S FINANCIAL MEASURES.

Pitt proposed his budget for the year, on the 6th of May. In doing so he
expressed great satisfaction at the flourishing state of our finances;
stating, that although some extraordinary expenses had been incurred
by the events of last year, yet, such was the improved condition of the
revenue, that it afforded means of providing for all the services which
had been voted, without any loan or new taxes, and without the slightest
interruption to the action of the sinking-fund. This he proved by a
statement of figures, and although Sheridan attempted to controvert
his statements, they could not be proved fallacious. Of all men in
the house, indeed, Sheridan was the most unfit to enter into financial
computations, for his genius rather lay in rhetoric than in figures. In
the supplies, 18,000 seamen were voted, and about 29,000 land-forces,
beside those that were on foreign service.

ADDITIONS MADE TO THE BILL FOR TRYING CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS.

During this session Mr. Grenville proposed and carried certain
amendments and additions to his father's hill, for better regulating the
trial of controverted elections. The principal of these related to the
interruption of public business, by frivolous petitions, to obviate
which the election committee were empowered to adjudge that a party
prosecuting or supporting any such petition should pay reasonable costs.
By these amendments, also, a rule was laid down for re-establishing the
rights of election, and rendering them immutable.

CLAIM