in
which scarcely anything else was clear than that war with Great Britain
was fully resolved upon. The opposition in both houses took credit to
themselves for having prognosticated, in the spirit of true prophets,
a war with Spain, and taunted ministers with folly and blindness in
imagining that such an event would not take place. Both houses,
however, were unanimous in their indignation against Spain, and in their
determination of supporting the war against the Bourbons. Addresses to
this effect were agreed to; but Lord John Cavendish moved for another
address, to be presented at the same time, praying that his majesty
would give immediate orders for the collecting of his fleets and armies,
and to exert the whole national force against the House of Bourbon.
As this motion involved the withdrawal of the troops from America,
ministers opposed it, and the secretary at war having moved an
adjournment, it was immediately carried by two to one. In the lords, an
amendment to the address, moved by the protesting Earl of Abingdon, was
also rejected by a large majority; as was also a motion made by the Duke
of Richmond, similar in its nature to that made in the Commons by Lord
John Cavendish.

DEBATES ON THE MILITIA BILL.

On the 21st of June Lord North proposed that the number of the militia
should be doubled, and that individuals should be authorised to raise
loyal corps to assist in the defence of the kingdom. This was agreed to
in the commons; but in the lords the clause enabling the king to double
the militia was rejected, thereby leaving the bill a mere skeleton.
When it was brought back to the commons thus mutilated, Lord North was
taunted by the opposition with having at length, after spreading the
spirit of disunion and discord on every hand, seen it enter into the
very cabinet itself. In reply, North, with wonderful equanimity of
temper, observed, that he could not agree in their lordships' judgment
in considering his proposition impracticable: that his own experience
as lord-lieutenant of a county induced him to believe that the militia
could easily be doubled; but that his experience could not control the
opinions of the other house, where there were so many lord-lieutenants
of counties. However, he said, he accepted the power of augmenting
the home force as crumbs falling from their lordships' table. A debate
subsequently occurred on the question which was mooted by a member of
opposition, as to whether or