c grievance been pointed out, or any
specific remedy assigned, without which innovation might be made, but it
would not be reform. The house of commons, he said, was not perfect, but
he believed it was as perfect as human nature would permit it to be. He
added:--"At any rate, while I can raise a voice or arm to prevent it, it
shall never assimilate to the national assembly. In that body there
are seven hundred members, four hundred of whom are lawyers, and three
hundred out of no description that I could name: and, out of the whole,
there are not a dozen who possess, in any way, one hundred pounds per
annum.

"Such might be the perfection of representation in the eyes of some, and
I understand it to be the opinion of many of the new sect of politics;
but I trust to the good sense of the people of England never to permit
such a mob, nor any thing resembling it, to usurp the sacred office of
their legislature." Windham, one of the most eloquent and accomplished
men of the Whig party, warmly seconded Burke, and after a few words
from Sheridan and Fox, the conversation dropped. The subject, however,
was one of intense interest and not easily to be forgotten. Government
by this time, indeed, had become alarmed at the proceedings of its
opponents, which alarm was made manifest by a royal proclamation issued
against seditious meetings and seditious writings; and exhorting the
magistrates to vigilance, and the people to submission and obedience.
This proclamation was laid before the house on the 2nth of May, when the
master of the rolls moved an address of approbation and support to
his majesty. Both in and out of the house opinions varied as to the
propriety of this proclamation: some contending that public opinion was
not to be directed by such a measure, and others arguing that it was
a timely exertion of authority in a turbulent season, and which was
indispensably requisite to restrain that lawless spirit which threatened
to subvert the established government. The address was warmly opposed
by Mr. Grey, who denounced the proclamation in severe terms, as an
insidious and pernicious measure, and who moved a counter address, which
declared that government was already vested with sufficient power to
punish any open violation of the laws; that if seditious writings had
been published, ministers had been guilty of neglect in not instituting
prosecutions against the authors; that the proclamation was not
necessary, and was calcula