s. The bill
was read a second time, and consigned to a committee of the whole house;
but that for limiting the number of officers in the house of commons was
thrown out at the second reading. Petitions against the bill touching
the retail of spirituous liquors, were presented by the traders to
the British sugar colonies, by the merchants of Bristol and Liverpool,
representing the hardships to which they would be exposed by a law which
amounted to a prohibition of rum and spirits distilled from molasses. In
consequence of these remonstrances, a mitigating clause was inserted,
in favour of the composition known by the name of punch, and distillers
were permitted to exercise any other employment. The sum of seventy
thousand pounds was voted for making good the deficiencies that might
happen in the civil list by this bill, which at length passed through
the house, though not without reiterated disputes and warm altercation.
Violent opposition was likewise made to a bill for the relief the people
called quakers, who offered a petition, representing, that though from
motives of conscience they refused the payment of tithes, church-rates,
oblations, and ecclesiastical dues, they were exposed to grievous
sufferings by prosecution in the exchequer, ecclesiastical, and other
courts, to the imprisonment of their persons, and the ruin of them and
their families. A bill being prepared for their relief, was read and
printed; then petitions were preferred against it by the clergy of
Middlesex, and of many other parts of the kingdom. Counsel was heard
in behalf of those petitioners, and several alterations proposed in the
bill, which after long and repeated debates surmounted all opposition,
and was sent up to the lords.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

MORTMAIN ACT.

In the month of February the king had sent two members of the
privy-council to the prince of Wales, with a message, proposing a
marriage between his royal highness and the princess of Saxe-gotha. The
proposal being agreeable to the prince, the marriage was celebrated on
the twenty-seventh day of April. Upon this occasion Mr. Pulteney moved
for an address of congratulation to his majesty, and was supported by
Mr. George Lyttleton and Mr. William Pitt, who seized this opportunity
of pronouncing elegant panegyrics on the prince of Wales and' his
amiable consort. These two young members soon distinguished themselves
in the house by their eloquence and superior talents. The a