o bills, relating to the sea and land
service. The first, under the title of a bill for amending, explaining,
and reducing into one act of parliament the laws relating to the navy,
was calculated solely with a view of subjecting half-pay officers to
martial law--a design which not only furnished the opposition with a
plausible handle for accusing the ministers as intending to encroach
upon the constitution, in order to extend the influence of the crown;
but also alarmed the sea-officers to such a degree, that they assembled
to a considerable number, with a view to deliberate upon the proper
means of defending their privileges and liberties from invasion. The
result of their consultations was a petition to the house of commons,
subscribed by three admirals and forty-seven captains, not members of
parliament, representing that the bill in agitation contained several
clauses tending to the injury and dishonour of all naval officers, as
well as to the detriment of his majesty's service; and that the laws
already in force had been always found effectual for securing the
service of officers on half-pay upon the most pressing occasions: they
therefore hoped, that they should not be subjected to new hardships and
discouragements; and begged to be heard by their counsel, before the
committee of the whole house, touching such parts of the bill as they
apprehended would be injurious to themselves and the other officers of
his majesty's navy. This petition was presented to the house by sir
John Norris, and the motion for its being read was seconded by sir Peter
Warren, whose character was universally esteemed and beloved in
the nation. This measure had like to have produced very serious
consequences. Many commanders and subalterns had repaired to the
admiralty, and threatened in plain terms to throw up their commissions,
in case the bill should pass into a law; and a general ferment was begun
among all the subordinate members of the navy. A motion was made, that
the petitioners, according to their request, should be heard by their
counsel; and this proposal was strongly urged by the first orators of
the anti-ministerial association; but the minister, confiding in his own
strength, reinforced by the abilities of Mr. Pitt, Mr. Lyttelton, and
Mr. Fox the secretary at war, strenuously opposed the motion, which upon
a division was thrown out by a great majority. The several articles
of the bill were afterwards separately debated with grea