e of distressing the enemy, would
prove a grievous discouragement to trade, and ruin all the graziers of
Ireland. Notwithstanding the arguments used in this remonstrance, and
several petitions that were presented against the corn-hill, it passed
by mere dint of ministerial influence. The other party endeavoured, by
various motions, to set on foot an inquiry into the orders, letters, and
instructions, which had been sent to admiral Vernon and admiral Haddock;
but all such investigations were carefully avoided.

A very hot contest arose from a bill which the ministry brought in,
under the specious title of, A bill for the encouragement and increase
of seamen, and for the better and speedier manning his majesty's fleet.
This was a revival of the oppressive scheme which had been rejected in
the former session; a scheme by which the justices of the peace were
empowered to issue warrants to constables and head-boroughs, to search
by day or night for such seafaring men as should conceal themselves
within their respective jurisdictions. These searchers were vested with
authority to force open doors in case of resistance; and encouraged to
this violence by a reward for every seaman they should discover; while
the unhappy wretches so discovered were dragged into the service,
and their names entered in a register to be kept at the navy or the
admiralty-office. Such a plan of tyranny did not pass uncensured. Every
exceptionable clause produced a warm debate, in which sir John Barnard,
Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Sandys, lord Gage, Mr. Pitt, and Mr. Lyttelton,
signalized themselves nobly in defending the liberties of their
fellow-subjects. Mr. Pitt having expressed a laudable indignation at
such a large stride towards despotic power, in justification of which
nothing could be urged but the plea of necessity, Mr. Horatio Walpole
thought proper to attack him with some personal sarcasms. He reflected
upon his youth: and observed that the discovery of truth was very little
promoted by pompous diction and theatrical emotion. These insinuations
exposed him to a severe reply. Mr. Pitt standing up again, said, "He
would not undertake to determine whether youth could be justly imputed
to any man as a reproach; but he affirmed that the wretch, who, after
having seen the consequences of repeated errors, continues still to
blunder, and whose age has only added obstinacy to stupidity, is surely
the object of either abhorrence or contempt, and deserves not