ved the previous question; and after some
observations from the attorney-general, Mr. Canning, the master of the
rolls, and Lord Castle-reagh, in support of Pitt's views,--and from
Lord Henry Petty, Messrs. Ponsonby, Fox, and Wilberforce in support of
Whitbread's resolutions, the house divided. On a division there were
two hundred and sixteen votes for, and an equal number against Mr.
Whitbread's motion, and the speaker gave a casting vote in its favour.
This led to Lord Melville's retirement from office. On the 10th of April
the house was informed that he had tendered his resignation to the king,
and that it had been accepted. On the 6th of May Mr. Whitbread
proposed the erasure of the delinquent's name from the list of the
privy-councillors; but as Pitt observed that the measure was generally
considered expedient, no motion was made on that subject. Later in the
session, after a long and able speech, he moved that "Lord Viscount
Melville be impeached of high crimes and misdemeanors;" and this measure
was adopted on the 25th of June, Mr. Whitbread being appointed manager.
On the next day, in company with a great number of members, Whitbread
impeached Lord Melville at the bar of the house of lords; and
subsequently he brought a bill into the commons to avoid those
differences of opinion which had arisen in the case of Warren Hastings,
or to prevent the proceedings in the impeachment of Lord Melville from
being affected by any prorogation or dissolution of parliament. This
bill was carried without a division; but here the proceedings rested for
the present. Before any further progress could be made in them, Pitt,
on whose health and strength they had operated unfavourably, was laid in
Westminster Abbey.

PARLIAMENT PROROGUED.

Parliament was prorogued by commission on the 12th of July. On that
occasion, his majesty sent a message to the lords and commons, stating
that the communications which had taken place, and were still depending
between him and some of the powers on the continent, had not yet been
brought to such a point, as to enable him to lay the result of them
before the house, or to enter into any further explanation with the
French government consistently with the sentiments he uttered at the
opening of the session. At the same time he recommended parliament to
consider the propriety of making provision for enabling him to take
such measures, and entering into such engagements, as the exigencies
of aff