of parliament; and, after a
third reading, carried up to the lords for their concurrence. When
the supply fell under consideration, the debates were renewed upon the
subsidies to the landgrave of Hesse-Cassel and the duke of Wolfenbuttle,
which, however, were continued; and every article was granted according
to the estimates given in for the expense of the ensuing year. Two
petitions being presented to the commons, representing the delays of
justice occasioned by the use of the Latin tongue in proceedings at law,
a bill was brought in for changing this practice, and enacting, that all
those processes and pleadings should be entered in the English language.
Though one would imagine that very little could be advanced against
such a regulation the bill met with warm opposition, on pretence that
it would render useless the ancient records which were written in that
language, and introduce confusion and delay of justice, by altering the
established form and method of pleading: in spite of these objections
it passed through both houses, and obtained the royal assent. A great
number of merchants from different parts of the kingdom having repeated
their complaints of depredations and cruelties committed by the
Spaniards in the West Indies, their petitions were referred to the
consideration of a grand committee. Their complaints upon examination
appeared to be well founded. The house presented an address to the
king, desiring his majesty would bo graciously pleased to continue his
endeavours to prevent such depredations for the future; to procure full
satisfaction for the damages already sustained; and to secure to the
British subjects the full and uninterrupted exercise of their trade and
navigation to and from the British colonies in America. The hill against
pensions produced a warm debate in the house of lords, where it was
violently opposed by the dukes of Newcastle and Argyle; the earl of
Hay, and Dr. Sherlock, bishop of Bangor. This prelate, in a remarkable
speech, represented it as a scheme to enlarge the power of the house of
commons, and to break the balance between the powers essential to the
constitution, so as sooner or later to prove the ruin of the whole.
The great barrier provided against bribery and corruption by this bill,
consisted in an oath to be imposed on all members of the lower house,
by which they must have solemnly sworn and declared, that they had not
directly, nor indirectly, any pension during pleas