tever.

{1733}

After a warm dispute, the motion was carried by a majority of sixty-one
voices. Several resolutions were founded on the proposal: and to these
the house agreed, though not without another violent contest. The
resolutions produced a bill, against which petitions were preferred
by the lord-mayor, aldermen, and common-council of London, the city of
Coventry and Nottingham. A motion was made that counsel should be heard
for the city of London; but it was rejected by the majority, and
the petitions were ordered to lie upon the table. Had the minister
encountered no opposition but that which appeared within doors, his
project would have certainly been carried into execution; but the whole
nation was alarmed, and clamoured loudly against the excise-bill. The
populace still crowded around Westminster-hall, blocking up all the
avenues to the house of commons. They even insulted the persons of those
members who had voted for the ministry on this occasion; and sir Robert
Walpole began to be in fear of his life. He therefore thought proper to
drop the design, by moving that the second reading of the bill might be
postponed till the twelfth day of June. Then complaint being made of the
insolence of the populace, who had maltreated several members, divers
resolutions were taken against those tumultuous crowds and their
abettors; these resolves were communicated to the lord-mayor of London,
the sheriff of Middlesex, and the high-bailiff of Westminster. Some
individuals were apprehended in the court of requests, as having
fomented the disturbances; but they were soon released. The miscarriage
of the bill was celebrated with public rejoicings in London and
Westminster, and the minister was burned in effigy by the populace.
After the miscarriage of the excise scheme, the house unanimously
resolved to inquire into the frauds and abuses in the customs; and a
committee of twenty-one persons was chosen by ballot for this purpose.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

BILL FOR A DOWER TO THE PRINCESS ROYAL.

The subsequent debates of this session were occasioned by a bill
to prevent the infamous practice of stock-jobbing, which with great
difficulty made its way to the house of lords, who proposed some
amendments, in consequence of which it was laid aside; and succeeded
by another bill establishing a lottery, to raise five hundred thousand
pounds for the relief of those who had suffered by the charitable
corporation. After havi