be released, and I am called to dinner.
Present my best respects to Lady Buckingham and Lord Temple.

Believe me ever to be, with the greatest esteem and regard,

My dear Lord,
Your most obedient humble servant,
Sydney.

The India Declaratory Bill, and the trial of Mr. Hastings, were the
great subjects which now engrossed the attention of the Government and
the country. Mr. Pitt had just introduced the famous Declaratory Act,
for the purpose of conferring new and important powers on the Board of
Control, and explaining the provisions of his former measure for the
regulation of Indian affairs. Against this Bill a most formidable
opposition was organized in the House of Commons, threatening, by its
numbers no less than by the weight of its objections, to overthrow the
Administration. The House was reminded that Mr. Fox's Cabinet had fallen
by a similar measure; and it was endeavoured to be shown, not without a
considerable appearance of justification, that the most odious features
of that measure were revived and exaggerated in the Bill now introduced
by Mr. Pitt. It is evident from Mr. Grenville's letter on this subject,
that, although Ministers disclaimed the resemblance thus traced between
the two plans, they regarded with no inconsiderable apprehension the
arguments founded upon it, and the consequences they entailed. Lord
Mornington writes more hopefully, but his letter was written before the
decision which betrayed the defection of many of the usual supporters of
Government.

LORD MORNINGTON TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Hertford St., March 4th, 1788.

My dear Lord,

As I know that William Grenville has not been quite well for
this day or two, and that he does not mean to write to you by
this post, I trouble you with a few lines, in order to give you
the earliest account of the business of last night. Erskine and
Rous came to the bar in support of the Petition from the
Directors against the East India Declaratory Act, and there was
a great muster of the forces of Fox, Lord North, Lord Lansdowne,
and of the refractory directors, with every appearance that some
great exertion was to be made. Erskine made the most absurd
speech imaginable: and after having spoke for near three hours,
he was taken ill, and obliged to leave the bar. Rous was then
heard; and when he had finished, Erskine (who had dined in the
coffee-room wi