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At twelve o'clock, the question was put, when there appeared for it,

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In confequence of the foregoing refolutions, the Houfe of Lords on February 4.] Came to the following feveral counteracting refolutions, moved by Lord Effingham, who faid, before he read the motion that included the whole of what he meant to propofe, he fhould first defire the Clerk to read the act of the 21ft of George the Third, which he did as follows:

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“An act for the establishing an agreement with the Eaft India "Company for the payment of 400,000l. for the use of the public, "in full difcharge of all claims on the Company until March 1, 1781, in refpect of their territorial acquifitions and revenues, &c." Section 26. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, "That during the continuance of this Act, it fhall not be lawful for "the faid United Company, or their fucceffors, or any of their officers 66 or fervants on their account, to accept or otherwife bind the faid "Company, or their fucceffors, for the payment of any bills of ex

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change, drawn by any of their officers or fervants, at any of their "Prefidencies in the Eaft Indies, for any fum exceeding the fum of "three hundred thousand pounds, exclufive of certificates, to the "amount of eight thousand pounds, to the commanders and officers "of each of the Company's fhips, in the fpace of one year, without "the content and order firft had and obtained of the Commiffioners "of his Majefty's Treafury for the time being, or any three or more "of them, or of the High Treafurer for the time being, who are hereby respectively authorised to give fuch confent, or to make fuch order thereon, as they fhall judge expedient; and every acceptance or engagement made contrary to the true meaning and in"tent of this Act, fhall be null and void to all intents and pur-' "poses:"

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The noble Lord then defired that a refolution of the Houfe of Lords in the year 1704 might be read, which was in the following words: Refolved.

"That it is unconftitutional, and contrary to law for any one "branch of the Legislature to aflume to itself a right of making any

"refolutions

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"refolutions which should impede or put a stop to the executive power of Government as by law established." The noble Earl then defired the refolutions of the Houfe of Commons to be read, which were as follows:

Refolved,

December 24, 1783.-(Houfe of Commons.)

"That the Commiffioners of the Treasury ought not to give their "confent to the acceptance of any Bills drawn, or to be drawn from “India, until it fhall be made appear to this Houfe, that fufficient "means can be provided for the payment of the fame, when they refpectively fall due, by a regular application of the clear effects "of the Company, after difcharging in their regular courfe the cuf toms, and other fums due to the public, and the current de"mands upon the Company, or until this Houfe fhall otherwise

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"direct."

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Refolved,

January 16, 1784.-(House of Commons.)

(That it having been declared to be the opinion of this House, that, "in the prefent fituation of his Majefty's dominions, it is peculiarly neceffary, that there fhould be an Administration which has the "confidence of this Houfe, and the public; and that the appoint

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ment of his Majefty's prefent Minifters were accompanied by cir"cumstances new and extraordinary, and fuch as do not conciliate "or engage the confidence of this Houfe) the continuance of the prefent Minifters, in trufts of the highest importance and refponfibility, is contrary to conftitutional principles, and injurious to the interefts of his Majefty and his people."

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Taking all thefe matters together, and confidering the prefent ftate of affairs, Lord Effingham deemed it incumbent on their Lordships at fo alarming a crisis, to addrefs the Throne in fupport of the juft, legal, and conftitutional prerogatives of his Majefty. The King, he faid, had an undoubted right to appoint his Minifters, and to continue them in office fo long as he deemed their conduct right, and fo long as there was no fpecific charge made against them by Parliament for misconduct in their public truft. The right honourable gentleman high in office, who had been of late much the fubject of public converfation, and against whom all thofe refolutions of the Houfe of Commons were levelled, ftood high in the estimation of the public, and in the confidence of his Sovereign. A compliment might be paid with juf

tice to his fhining abilities, and to his conduct in office; and fuch panegyric might be mentioned, because the right honourable gentleman was not prefent. [Here Mr. Pitt, who flood behind the throne, retired, and did not return until the noble Earl had finished.] His Lordship, after paying many compliments to the new First Lord of the Treafury, ftated to the Houfe, that the first refolution he should move would be,

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Refolved,

"That for any one branch of the Legislature to affume to itself a right of making any refolutions which fhould impede, or put a ftop to the exercife of a power vefted in any body of men by Ac "of Parliament, is unconftitutional."

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If that should meet with their Lordships' approbation, he meant to move another Refolution, which was,

"That it is contrary to the letter and fpirit of the Constitution "for either Houfe of Parliament to pafs any Refolution, which may "tend to deprive the Crown of its juft prerogative in nominating its own fervants, or to defire the removal of the executive fervants of "the Crown, when no charge of neglect or misconduct has been alledged against them.”

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His Lordship faid, after thefe motions were agreed to, he should propofe an Addrefs to the Throne, grounded upon them. He concluded with moving his firft Refolution; at a quarter paft, eleven the Houfe divided

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Majority

The other Refolutions were then put, and carried without a divifion.

February 5. On this day an Addrefs was prefented to his Majefty by the Houfe of Lords, to the following purport:

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TO THE KING.

"WE acknowledge, with great fatisfaction, the wifdom of our happy Conftitution, which places in your Majefty's hands the undoubted authority of appointing to all the great offices of executive "government.

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government. We have the firmeft reliance in your Majesty's "known wisdom and paternal goodness, that you will be anxious to "call into, and continue in your fervice, men the most deserving of "the confidence of the Parliament and the public in general."

"In this confidence, we beg leave to approach your Majefty with "our most earneft affurances that we will, upon all occafions, fup"port your Majefty in the juft exercife of thofe prerogatives which the wifdom of the law has entrusted to your Majefty, for the pre"fervation of our lives and properties, and upon the due and unin"terrupted exercise of which must depend the bleffings which the people derive from the best of all forms of government."

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To which his Majesty returned the following anfwer:
My Lords,

"I thank you for this dutiful and loyal addrefs; and I defire you "will reft affured that I have no object in the choice of Ministers, "but to call into my fervice men the most deserving of the confi"dence of my Parliament, and of the public in general.

"I cannot too often repeat my affurances, that my constant study "in the exercise of every prerogative entrusted to me by the Confti"tution, is to employ it for the welfare of my people.'

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Lord Viscount Hinchinbrooke reported to the House, that his Majefty had been waited on with the refolution of the Houfe on Tuesday laft, and had been gracioufly pleased to give for anfwer, "That he would take them into his confideration."

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February 16.] The House came to the following Refolutions, moved by Lord Beauchamp, and feconded by Sir Grey Cooper, which paffed without a division.

"That this House hath not affumed to itself any right to fuf"pend the execution of the law.

2. "That it is conftitutional and agreeable to usage, for the Houfe "of Commons to declare their fenfe and opinions, refpecting the "exercise of every discretionary power, which, whether by act of "Parliament or otherwife, is vefted in any body of men whatever "for public fervice.

3. "That

3. "That it is a duty peculiarly incumbent upon this House, en"trufted by the conftitution with the fole and feparate grant of the "public money, to watch over, and by their timely admonitions "and interference, to endeavour to prevent the rash and precipitate "exercise of any power however vested, which may be attended with any danger to public credit, or with heavy loffes to the revenue "and confequently burthens upon the people.

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4. That the Refolution of the 24th of December laft, which "declared the fenfe and opinion of this Houfe, "That the Com"miffioners of the Treasury ought not to give their confent to the

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acceptance of any bills drawn or to be drawn from India, until it "fhall be made appear to this Houfe, that fufficient means can be provided for the payment of the fame, when they respectively fall "due, by a regular application of the clear effects of the Company, "after discharging in their regular course the customs and other fums "due to the public, and the current demands upon the Company; "or until this Houfe fhall otherwife direct," was conftitutional, "founded in a fenfe of duty towards the people of this kingdom, and "dictated by a becoming anxiety for the prefervation of the revenue "and the support of the public credit.

5. "That if this Houfe had, in the unfettled ftate of the East "India Company, which was and ftill is under the confideration "of Parliament, in order to form fome provifions for the relief of "that Company and the fecurity of the public, neglected to pafs the "faid refolution of the 24th of December, to guard against a new charge, to a very confiderable amount being rafhly incurred before any "means of anfwering it had been stated or provided; they would "have been justly and highly refponfible to their conftituents for the "increase of thofe evils and difficulties which are already too feverely "felt.

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6. That this Houfe will, with the utmost moderation, but with "the most decided firmnefs, maintain inviolably the principles of "the constitution, and will perfevere in the diligent and confcientious discharge of the duties which they owe to their conftituents, and "to their posterity, equally folicitous to preferve their own privileges, and to avoid any encroachments on those of either of the "other branches of the Legiflature."

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February 18.] Mr. Pitt informed the House, "That his Majefty, "after confidering the prefent fituation of public affairs, had not dif"miffed

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