rd Carteret replied, that Mr. Law had, many years ago, the
misfortune to kill a gentleman in a duel; but, having at last received
the benefit of the king's clemency, and the appeal lodged by the
relations of the deceased being taken off, he was come over to plead his
majesty's pardon. He said there was no law to keep an Englishman out of
his country; and, as Mr. Law was a subject of Great Britain, it was
not even in the king's power to hinder him from coming over. After some
dispute, the subject was dropped, and this great projector pleaded his
pardon in the king's bench according to the usual form.

SENTIMENTS OF SOME LORDS TOUCHING THE WAR.

The ministry had by this time secured such a majority in both houses,
as enabled them to carry any point without the least difficulty. Some
chiefs of the opposition they had brought over to their measures, and
among the rest lord Harcourt, who was created a viscount, and gratified
with a pension of four thousand pounds. Nevertheless they could not
shut the mouths of the minority, who still preserved the privilege of
complaining. Great debates were occasioned by the navy debt, which was
increased to one million seven hundred thousand pounds. Some members in
both houses affirmed, that such extraordinary expense could not be for
the immediate service of Great Britain; but, in all probability, for the
preservation of foreign acquisitions. The ministers answered, that near
two-thirds of the navy debts were contracted in the late reign; and the
parliament acquiesced in this declaration; but in reality the navy debt
had been unnecessarily increased, by keeping seamen in pay during the
winter, and sending fleets to the Mediterranean and Baltic in order to
support the interests of Germany. The duke of Wharton moved that the
treaty with Spain might be laid before the house. The earl of Sunderland
said it contained a secret article which the king of Spain desired
might not be made public until after the treaty of Cambray should be
discussed. The question was put, and the duke's motion rejected.
The earl of Strafford asserted, that as the war with Spain had been
undertaken without necessity or just provocation, so the peace was
concluded without any benefit or advantage; that, contrary to the law of
nations, the Spanish fleet had been attacked without any declaration
of war; even while a British minister and a secretary of state were
treating amicably at Madrid; that the war was neither