in the felicity of choice expression, happy quotation, and chastened wit, they are failings which will be freely overlooked by those who can appreciate the boldness of his piety, and the way in which he bore the ridicule of the world. The cloud which then seemed ready to burst upon Great Britain, melted at length into a day of memorable glory; but let others attribute this to what they may of human skill, there are men who will not fail to believe that it was in favour to "the holy seed' then spreading in the nation, that judgments were removed and blessings came, and who will not cease to regard piety in the people and their rulers as the surest omens of future prosperity.

The debates in which Mr. Richard Hill took the part just described, were on those momentous topics that afforded such a noble field for the display of the genius, sagacity, and eloquence of Mr. Pitt, and invested his early dawn with the radiance of a mid-day of surpassing splendour. Subjects of higher importance have seldom come before Parliament. They included the vital interests of the country-its war with America, the conduct of the Board of Admiralty, the decay of our internal prosperity, our want of foreign alliances, and the utter incapacity of the Government. In his view of these serious matters of debate, Mr. Hill coincided in opinion with Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox, and united cordially with them in condemning Lord North's administration, declaring he would not consent to prop up "a tottering ministry at the expence of a tottering nation." He saw "the nation arrived at a very important crisis, burdened by accumulated taxes on all the necessaries of life, weighed down by an immense debt, torn by intestine divisions and discontents, surrounded by powerful enemies,—in short, more than on the brink of ruin." Therefore,

SIR JOHN ROUS'S MOTION.

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though he had some very particular friends amongst those in office, and would have been glad to have seen a happy coalition between them and able men on the other side, yet he was persuaded that they whose imbecility had rendered their best-meant plans abortive, ought to be removed from the helm of affairs." These were

the sentiments he expressed in his speech upon Sir John Rous's celebrated motion,' when he also called upon the House and the country to return to God. The part he selected was a reply to Sir James Marriot, then Judge of the Admiralty, who made a pompous harangue in which he talked about "his feelings as an Englishman," and used the expression "building houses ready made!" Mr. Hill, after amusing the House with his remarks on this Irishism from an Englishman, declared that he felt

1 The terms of this motion were, "That this House, taking into their consideration the many grievous calamities that have attended this war; considering that upwards of one hundred millions had been voted for it under the different heads of the army, navy, and ordinance; and that, notwithstanding, thirteen provinces had been lost in America, together with the newly-acquired province of West Florida, the islands of Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent, and Tobago in the West Indies, and Minorca in Europe - that we were at war with France, Spain, and Holland, without a single ally to support us; and that danger surrounded us on all sides: this House can no longer repose confidence in those who have the management and direction of public affairs." There arose a long debate, which Lord North concluded by a very temperate speech, in the course of which he declared that he should be happy to see a coalition of parties, on the broadest basis, and wished that the ablest, best, and most powerful men would join, without any party views, to meet the exigences of the nation. For himself, conscious of the rectitude of his intentions, if the fate of the division were against him, he would not shrink from, but demand an inquiry into his conduct. The House divided at one o'clock in the morning, and the numbers were. -For the motion 229.-Against it 238-giving ministers a majority of 9.

292

MR. HILL'S APPEAL TO THE HOUse.

some little wavering about his vote, but had been riveted by Sir James's arguments, in an opinion the direct contrary to that which was designed to be confirmed by them. He then gave a hint about forming a coalition, in which Lord North afterwards acquiesced, and concluded with a pious and manly appeal to his fellowlegislators, to acknowledge the power and providence of God, and to look to Him for the deliverance of their country from its evils and dangers. A newspaper of the day says, thirty-one members spoke on Sir John Rous's motion, and yet there were only three of all these thirty-one gentlemen, who touched at all upon the grand points that are now ripe and fit for the immediate consideration of the people's servants in the House of Commons. Those three members were Mr. Harrison, Mr. Charteris, and Mr. Hill, all very respectable characters; and from their plain, open, artless manner in this debate, they do not seem to be muzzled by the leaders of parties on either side of the House." Mr. Hill had told Lord North some time before, that if his Lordship and the question of war with America were put in the same scale, he would find himself, notwithstanding his ponderous influence, soon "kicking the beam." Mr. Pitt spoke on this occasion with prodigious animation and warmth, confessing his agitation, and declaring the cause of it to be, that he "felt for his country in the mortifying distress of being governed by men who had neither sensibility nor shame," and that he was convinced the success of Sir John Rous's motion was the only means of presenting to the world a spectacle, the idea of which he had contemplated with rapture, though he almost despaired of seeing it-that of "a patriot king presiding over a united people." The motion, however, as is well known, was lost; and Mr. Fox, foresee

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ing the issue, gave notice while the division was taking place, that a similar motion would be made on the following Wednesday. In the mean while the ministry went out; but at the time announced, Lord Surrey rose to make the promised motion. Lord North stood up in his place at the same instant, and neither being willing to give way, the house quickly became a scene of clamour and confusion. But at length Lord North obtained permission to speak. He at once declared that he and his colleagues had ceased to be His Majesty's ministers, and thus prevented another debate and division. A few days after, Lord Rockingham formed a new administration, including Mr. Fox; but Lord Thurlow remained on the woolsack. Mr. Pitt was offered, through Lord Shelburne, a vice-treasurership in Ireland, an office once held by the great Lord Chatham, his father, but proudly declined it, having determined never to accept any office which did not give him a seat in the cabinet, nor to pledge himself to measures in the framing of which he had not been consulted.

In all the debates of this important session, Mr. Hill, whenever he spoke, assumed a tone of perfect independence, and generally came to clear and sensible conclusions, that produced considerable effect. For instance, when Alderman Sawbridge, after the failure of Mr. Pitt's celebrated effort in the cause of reform, proposed to shorten the duration of Parliaments, he shewed much ability in the way in which he commented on the speech of Mr. Fox, and the inference he drew from it. Mr. Fox declared that "he was certain it was the wish of the people that such a measure should be carried; and added, that it was the fatality of this kingdom never to open her eyes until her ruin was near, and there was a fear of every man taking up a musket." After this

294

REFORM. MR. HILL'S REPLY TO MR. FOX.

hasty observation, he continued to this effect, "I shall vote for the present motion, because I believe it to be the wish of the people, although I am doubtful as to its tendency and fearful as to its effects." This language on the part of Mr. Fox, was censured by Mr. Powys and Mr. Burke. The latter, however, having addressed the House, as he said, three hours on the same subject shortly before, contented himself with a strong denial of the assumption that it was the wish of the people, and a few words of caution, against such a desire, as ruinous to the happiness of the community. Mr. Hill then rose, and gave vent for a few moments to his singular humour, and declared that if he spoke more than five minutes, he would knock himself down, as was done at the Robin Hood Club; and that though he was a Salopian, he did not mean to combat the motion for an hour by the House of Commons' clock, or Shrewsbury clock. But he next gave Mr. Fox a blow he did not easily recover. "An expression," he said, "fell from the Right Honourable Secretary at the beginning of the debate, which determined me to give my vote against the motion, notwithstanding that same Right Honourable Gentleman declared he meant to vote for it. His words were, that he was doubtful as to the tendency of the motion, and fearful as to its effects.' Now, after such a declaration from a person of so much judgment and eloquence, I must certainly put a negative on the motion; for if the Right Honourable Secretary expresses his doubts and fears as to the consequences, surely I can never give my voice for a doubtful measure, especially when that measure is to sap the very foundation of the constitution itself." He then proceeded to express his surprize that Mr. Fox could support a motion, when he was doubtful of its being a good one, and fearful lest it should turn out a