, when it was negatived by two hundred and fifty-one
against one hundred and seventy-eight. The three resolutions were now
received, and ordered to be communicated to the lords at a conference,
wherein the commons were to desire their lordships' concurrence in them.
This conference took place on the 23rd of December, and the lords agreed
to the resolutions, after two long debates and one division, in which
there was a majority of ninety-nine against sixty-six. Among the lords
no one more heartily concurred in these resolutions than Thurlow, who
seems to have been convinced at this time that it was his interest to
take a decided part with his colleagues. He had, in fact, been recently
assured by Willis and others of the king's physicians, that his
majesty's malady could not be of long duration, and that the king's
temperate mode of living gave promise of health and long life. Thurlow
also seems to have been convinced that if the king did not recover, he
could place no permanent reliance on the Whigs, who were bound to prefer
his rival, Loughborough. Hence, my lord chancellor had broken off all
correspondence with the enemy, and when the questions involved in the
three resolutions were taken into consideration, he defended them with
all his might. As before stated, the resolutions were agreed to: a
committee was also appointed to acquaint the commons at a conference
that they concurred with them. A strong protest was entered and signed
by forty-eight peers, among whom were the Dukes of York and Cumberland.

CHAPTER XVII.

{GEORGE III. 1789-1791}

The Election of Speaker..... The Question of the Regency
resumed..... Recovery of his Majesty..... Adoption of a
Plan for fortifying the West India Islands..... Bill for the
Commemoration of the People's Rights, etc...... Shop Tax
repealed, etc...... Motion respecting the Corporation and
Test Acts, etc..... Slave-trade Question..... Election of
Speaker..... Pitt's financial Measures..... Impeachment of
Warren Hastings..... Parliament prorogued..... Continental
Affairs..... State of Parties in England..... Meeting
of Parliament..... Debates on the Test and Corporation
Acts..... Mr. Flood's Motion for Reform in Parliament.....
East India Affairs..... Pitt's financial Statement,
etc...... The Slave-Trade Question..... Disputes with
Spain..... Impeachment of Warren Hastings..... Parliament
p