ere sanguine of success; but the Prince of Wales, having
declared that the motion was of a nature which must affect the
king personally, the prince's friends, including Sheridan, absented
themselves, so that on a division it was rejected by two hundred and
fifty-eight against two hundred and twenty-six. A similar motion was
made in the lords, by the Marquis of Stafford; but it was there defeated
by a large majority, chiefly through the same means and agencies by
which it was lost in the commons. Lord Sidmouth on this occasion spoke
and voted against his late colleagues. Moreover, a motion made in the
commons, by Mr. Littleton, to express regret at the late change of
administration, was defeated by a majority of two hundred and forty-four
against ninety, so that ministers were triumphant.

DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.

Yet, notwithstanding their victory, ministers seem to have considered
that they stood on very unsafe ground; for they advised his majesty to
dissolve parliament, in order that a general election might take place.
Canning had threatened this in opposing Brand's motion; but it was not
supposed that a dissolution would take place before the end of May,
and the regular close of the session. On the 27th of April, however,
parliament was prorogued by commission, and on the 29th the king
dissolved it by royal proclamation. Great efforts were made by both
parties at the new general election; but so effectual were the exertions
of the ministry,--so potent the cry of "No popery!" and, "The church is
in danger!" &c., raised by their partisans, both from the pulpit, by
the press, and in society at large, that of all the members of the late
cabinet, only Mr. Thomas Grenville resumed his seat in the commons for
the place which he had before represented. Bribery, also, did its work
effectually on this occasion: boroughs were sold at a price beyond all
precedent; Tierney offered L10,000, for two seats, but his offer was
refused, as too small for acceptance.

THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

The new parliament was opened on the 22nd of June, and the king's speech
delivered by commission on the 20th of the same month. The result of the
elections soon became manifest. An amendment to the address, censuring
the late dissolution of parliament, was rejected in the lords by one
hundred and sixty against sixty-seven, and in the commons by three
hundred and fifty against one hundred and fifty-five. The business
transacted by the