ncern lest the service of his
majesty or the nation should suffer by the absence of those members who
had quitted the house; he affirmed, the nation was generally sensible,
that the many useful and popular acts which passed towards the end
of the last session, were greatly forwarded and facilitated by the
secession of those gentlemen; and, if they were returned only to oppose
and perplex, he should not be at all sorry to see them secede again.

PENSION-BILL REVIVED AND LOST.

Mr. Pulteney revived the bill which he had formerly prepared for the
encouragement of seamen. After a long dispute, and eager opposition by
the ministry, it passed both houses, and obtained the royal assent. Mr.
Sandys having observed, that there could be no immediate use for a great
number of forces in the kingdom; and explained how little service could
be expected from raw and undisciplined men; proposed an address to the
king, desiring that the body of marines should be composed of drafts
from the old regiments; that as few officers should be appointed as the
nature of the case would permit; and he expressed his hope, that the
house would recommend this method to his majesty, in tender compassion
to his people, already burdened with many heavy and grievous taxes. This
scheme was repugnant to the intention of the ministry, whose aim was to
increase the number of their dependents, and extend their parliamentary
interest, by granting a great number of commissions. The proposal was,
therefore, after a long debate, rejected by the majority. Motions
wore made for an inquiry into the conduct of those who concluded the
convention; but they were overruled. The pension-bill was revived, and
so powerfully supported by the eloquence of sir William Wyndham, Mr.
Pulteney, and Mr. Lyttelton, that it made its way through the commons to
the upper house, where it was again lost, upon a division, after a very
long debate. As the seamen of the kingdom expressed uncommon aversion to
the service of the government, and the fleet could not be manned without
great difficulty, the ministry prepared a bill, which was brought in by
sir Charles Wager, for registering all seamen, watermen, fishermen, and
lightermen, throughout his majesty's dominions. Had this bill passed
into a law, a British sailor would have been reduced to the most abject
degree of slavery; had he removed from a certain district allotted for
the place of his residence, he would have been deemed a d