ed the house of commons on the following day, which was the day originally felected for his long expected motion, that that motion was now no longer neceffary, and therefore with the moft fincere and heart-felt fatisfaction he declined the bringing it forward. Mr. Drake was the first to exprefs his fenti ments upon the fubject; which he did, as he obferved, in a very dif. arranged and unconnected ftyle; but added, that the exceffive gladnefs of his heart was fuperior to eloquence, and that the pleafantnefs of his fenfations almoft deprived him of the power of uttering his fentiments. He expreffed his wishes, that the king might continue to reign over a great, loyal and united people till the utmoft period of humanity; and that, when by the courte of nature his fucceffor fhould mount the throne, he might copy the pious example and the purity of manners of his royal father. Mr. Rolle concurred in being pleased with the circumftance of the motion's being withdrawn, but obferved, that the terms, upon which the difference had been compromifed, were an entire fecret to him; but, if it fhould hereafter appear, that any conceffions had been made, humiliating to the country, or difhonourable in them felves, he would be the first man to stand up in the house and ftigmatise them as they deferved.

A difcuffion fomewhat curious in its nature now followed between Mr. Fox and Mr. Pitt. By the latter it was remarked, that he concurred in the general joy, in finding that Mr. Newnham had at last discovered, in confequence of steps very recently pursued by the prince of Wales, that the measure, which he had undertaken, was unneceffary. For himfelf he could not

avoid declaring, that, as he had all along regarded it as fuperfluous, fo he did not now fee that it was more fo, than at the time when the no tice was given. Mr. Fox was as

much convinced, that the motion had been neceffary, as he was at that moment perfuaded that it was neceffary no longer. Mr. Pitt in reply expreffed his averfion to the faying any thing, which might lead to a difcuffion of the fubject but he must declare, that he knew of no alteration in the circumftances of the cafe, and was confident, that nothing had taken place, which might not equally have been brought about without any fuch interference, as that which had been reforted to. As to what Mr. Rolle had fid of terms and conditions, he knew of none which had been made. There were no conceffions of any fort on the part of that perfon, who was the highest and most diftinguifhed on the prefent occa fion. His conduct had been uniform and confiftent, and he had not in any one inftance departed from thofe principles, which had all along influenced his proceedings. Mr. Fox acknowledged, that the mention of any thing like terms washighly improper and objectionable; but, as Mr. Pitt had chofen to say that the conduct of one party had been uniform and confitent, it became his duty to declare, that the conduct of the other party alluded to had been equally uniform, perfectly refpectful, and entitled to the highest commendation.

Mr. Sheridan faw no reason why the converfation fhould be prolong ed, nor on the other hand did he conceive, that a neceflity for abridging it could arise from any apprehenfion, that it might terminate in altercation or difference of opinion. He would not enter into the dif

tinctions

tinctions which Mr. Pitt had attempted to make; and, if the object of them were to infinuate, that the merit of the reconciliation belonged exclufively to the minifters of the fovereign, he fhould leave them to the confcioufnefs of that merit. Oppofiti n were ready to wave every title to credit, fince, in truth, the meafure, which had been adopted, were the refult of the prince's own judgment, which none, but thofe who did not know him, could confider, as needing the affillance or council of any other perfon. Mr. Sheridan reminded the houfe, that the prince had fhrunk from no enquiry, though he acknowledged that no fuch idea's having been purfued, was a matter, that did credit to the decorum, the dignity and the feelings of parliament. But, while the prince's feelings had no doubt been confidered on the occafion, he must take the liberty of faying, however fome might think it a fubordinate confideration, that there was another perfon, entitled in the judgment of every delicate and honourable mind to the fame attention; one, whom he would not venture otherwife to defcribe, than by faying, it was a name, which malice or ignorance alone could attempt to injure, and whofe conduct and character were entitled to the trueft respect.

Fourteen days fubfequent to this converfation a meffage from the king was delivered to both houfes of parliament, informing them, that it was with great concern he had to acquaint them, that from the accounts of the prince of Wales it appeared, that he had incurred a debt to a large amount, which, if left to be difcharged out of his annual income, would render it impoffible for him to fupport an eftablifhment, fuited to his rank and

ftation. Painful, as it was at all times to the king, to propose any addition to the heavy expences of his people, he was induced to the prefent application from his paternal affection to the prince of Wales. He could not however expect or defire the affistance of parliament, but on a well grounded expectation, that the prince would avoid contracting any debts in future. With a view to this object the king had directed a fum of 10,cool. per annum to be paid out of the civil lift, in addition to his former allowance; and he had the fatisfaction to ob ferve, that the prince had given the fullest affurance of his determination to confine his future expences within his income, and had fettled a plan and fixed an order in thofe expences, which, it was trufted, would effectually fecure the due execution of his intentions. The king farther recommended to parliament the completing in a proper manner the works that had been undertaken at Carlton- houfe.

Mr. Rolle was the only perfon who spoke upon the occafion of delivering this meffage. He obferved however, that he would not anticipate the fubfequent debate. The accounts were prefented on the Wednesday following, and on the next day an addrefs was voted to the king, to requeft him to direct the fum of 161,000l. to be paid out of the civil lift for the full dif charge of the debts of the prince of Wales, and the fum of 20,000l. on account of the works at Carltonhouse.

On the fifteenth of May a queftion was brought forward by Mr. Charles Grey, which engaged the attention of the public, probably more from the ability of the perfon who introduced it, and from the fingularity of fome circumstances

that

that attended it, than from its intrinfic importance. The fubject of Mr. Grey's difquifition was certain abufes in the post-office, and particularly the difmiffion of the earl of Tankerville, to whom Mr. Grey was related, from the office of poftmafter-general. Mr. Grey entered upon his fpeech, with a difavowal of any perfonal motive for his conduct, and a declaration that the higher confideration of what was the duty of a member of parlia. ment, compelled him to come forward in this bufinefs upon public principles. Having mentioned the particular abufes of office, Mr. Grey proceeded to bring his charge home to the minifter. He declared, that lord Tankerville, while in office, had bufied himfelf attentively in endeavouring to correct the defects of his department, had fuggefted feveral plans of prevention, and had communicated thefe plans to the minifter. Mr. Pitt had bestowed his commendation upon that nobleman for his zeal and attention, and had promifed him his fupport; but, as lord Carteret could not be prevailed upon to fee the abuses in the fame light, or to exert the fame industry for their cure, thefe two noblemen quarrelled, and it became impoffible that they should continue joint poftmasters-general. An ordinary obferver would have imagined, that the minifter would not have difmiffed the poftmafter-general, who had shown himself anxious for a reform, but him, who was a protector of the abuses in question. In fact however lord Tankerville had been difmiffed, and that on a fudden, and in a manner the most unexampled and extraordinary. Mr. Grey reafoned upon these circumftances, and faid, that it was clear there could be no other motive for the difmiffion, than that lord Tan

kerville had preferred his duty to every other consideration. He therefore conceived, that Mr. Pitt had acted in a manner deferving of cenfure; and, in order to bring home his accufations to him and to lord Carteret, he moved, that a committee fhould be appoin.ed to enquire into certain abufes in the poft-office.

Mr. Pitt declared that he had no intention to oppofe the motion of Mr. Grey. He should at all times feel himfelf difpofed to allow enquiries of this fort, when there was no evident and palpable impropriety in indulging them. As to the charge, that he was inclined to to wink at abuses in the Post-office, or any other public establishment, it was wholly unwarranted in fact, and unfounded in any reasonable prefumption. So far was he from any backwardnefs for the reforming any abufes in that office, that he had fuggested a measure for the remedy of the very defects in queftion, and that measure formed a part of his office reform-bill. Mr. Sheridan in reply obferved, that the matter refpecting Mr. Pitt, which had been flated by Mr. Grey, was certainly a serious ground of enquiry, and by fo much the more fo, as no man in that houfe dealt more in profeffions. He fhould be glad, that Mr. Pitt fhould be tried by his conduct, and not by his profeffions, or by the preamble of bills, which he had propofed and carried through parliament. As to the office reform-bill to which he had alluded, it was a bill, that had paffed more than two years ago, and yet the house had heard nothing of its effects as to the abuses in the poft-office. Mr. Sheridan reminded the houfe of Mr. Pitt's eagerness to triumph over lord North by his famous fpeech about

whipcord and the kitchens of Downning-ftreet-houfe, which, when he had firft poffeffed the appointment of chancellor of the exchequer, he had stated, as inftances of that nobleman's negligence and corrup. tion. If Mr. Pitt could not be directly charged with a corrupt ufe of the influence of the crown, it was at least true, that he had made as prudent and as interefled a ufe of it as any minifter, in the diftribution of places and emoluments, and ftill more of titles and ho

nours.

Mr. Pitt rejoined, that, with regard to nothing having been done by him in the way of reform, he could not answer that charge beiter, than by defiring any man, to look at the state of the country at the time that he had come into office and now, and then fay if nothing had been done. Mr. Pitt corrected the chronology of Mr. Sheridan's allufion, and obferved, that he had flated certain articles refpecting lord North, not when he was chancellor of the exchequer, but during the coalition adminiftration; and that he had not flated them, as perfonal charges, or charges of corruption, but as a proof of the want of regulation in the particulars to which they referred. Mr. Adam confirm ed the correction of Mr. Pitt, and obferved, that fo true was it, that bis attack upon lord North had been made fubfequently to the coalition, that Mr. Pitt would not have prefumed to fay a fyllable of that nature, while lord North was out of office, and when he thought he might have prevailed upon him to join him. Mr. Fox confirmed this remark, and faid, that, when Mr. Pitt had stood up in 1782, after lord North had been driven from office, and had declared against a retrospect with a view to punish

ment, it had been imagined and understood, that he wished to court that nobleman with a view to a junction. Mr. Pitt afked across the houfe, who there was that had underflood fo? Mr. Fox replied, that he had for one, and that he had reafon to believe the fame of many others, from the converfation he had then held with them. Certain it was, that, before the coalitition, Mr. Pitt had never expreffed himfelf with that acrimony, which he had fince employed in fpeaking of lord North. Mr. Pitt afferted, that the fufpicion was altogether void of any foundation in fact.

To this altercation another immediately fucceeded between Mr. Pitt and Mr. Grey. It was obferved by the latter, that Mr. Pitt had employed an argument, which feemed to imply, that the motion under confideration had sprung from motives of perfonal pique or refentment; an idea, which he thought unwarrantable and injurious to his honour; adding at the fame time, that no man fhould dare to question the purity of the principles upon which he acted. Mr. Pitt answered, that Mr. Grey arrogated fomewhat too much to himself, if he conceived, that he fhould not take the liberty of calling his motives in question, as often as his conduct warranted fuch a freedom. If he chose not to have his motives queftioned, he must take care, that his conduct was fuch, as not to make it neceffary. Mr. Grey replied, that he should never act in that house upon any principle, which did not appear to him to be honourable; and, while he was confcious to the rectitude of his conduct, if any perfon chofe to impute dishonourable motives to him, he had the means in his power, to which it would then be proper to refort.

Here Mr.

Mr. Sheridan interfered; but Mr. Pitt, rifing again, declared, that he had not before fpoken with heat, nor fhould there be any heat in what he was going to fay. He repeated the argument of his former fpeech, and added, that, with refpect to any means, to which Mr. Grey in this cafe might wish to refort, it would be for himself to determine whether they were proper or not. A committee was then chofen, and lord.vifcount Maitland, as the friend of lord Carteret, was appointed one of its members.

On the twenty-first of May Mr. Grey obferved, that the intended report of the committee was nearly complete, with refpect to thofe points, which he had firft fuggefted as the object of their enquiry. There were however other abufes, and a farther investigation, into which he was defirous to enter, and the rather, as lord Maitland, one of the members, had started fome new facts, and propofed other topics. He therefore moved, that the committee fhould have leave to report from time to time. Lord Maitland confeffed, that he had ftated fome facts refpecting abufes in the post-office during the adminiftration of lord Tankerville, and he was free to acknowledge, that the evidence he had called had not gone fo far as he had wished. The motion was negatived

the letters A. B. A fimilar annuity of 2001. had been exacted from a Mr. Dalwood, appointed to the office of postmafter-general in Jamaica, for the fame perion. It appeared, that this perfon was a Mr. Treves, an intimate friend of lord Carteret, but who had never performed any fervice in the poft-office, or in any other public department, to entitle him to fuch a reward. The report enumerated fome leffer abufes in the difpofition of emoluments, and the regulation of packets; and ftated, that lord Tankerville, having made certain reprefentations upon these heads to the minifter, and having been led to believe that he fhould be fupported in their correction, was foon after removed from his office of poftmafter-general. It was added, that this and other abufes feemed to call more especially for enquiry and reform, as the commiffioners appointed two years ago to examine into fees, gratuities, perquifites and emoluments, had not hitherto made any enquiry into the abufes of the poft-office.

Two days after, the report of the committee was prefented to the house, and, upon a motion for its being printed, the houfe divided, ayes 16, noes 120. The fubftance of the report was, that Mr. Lees, on his receiving the office of fecretary to the post-office in Ireland, had entered into a fecurity to pay the fum of 3501. per annum, out of the profits of his office, to a perfon no otherwise defcribed, than by

Monday the twenty-eighth of May was the day appointed for taking into final confideration the report of the committee. Upon this occafion Mr. Grey obferved, that he had perfectly completed what he had originally ftated to the house. The abufes he had then defcribed, were now afcertained by unquestionable evidence. He fhould not how ever wonder, if the charges he had made were to appear light and trivial in the eyes or the houfe, or at leaft were to be fo ftated by the perfons against whom they operated. All charges muft indeed feem trivial, when compared with thofe enor mous and flagitious charges, in the inveftigation of which the house had been fo long and fo folemnly