no shadow of reason to attack;
besides, the expedient was held in reprobation by the subjects in
general, and such a paragraph might be considered as an insult on the
people. Notwithstanding these exceptions, which did not seem to be very
important, the address, including this paragraph, was approved by a
great majority.

BILL PASSED FOr PROHIBITING THE EXPORTATION OF CORN.

In the address of the commons no such paragraph was inserted. As soon
as the speaker had recited his majesty's speech, Mr. Charles Townshend
proposed the heads of an address, to which the house unanimously agreed;
and it was presented accordingly. This necessary form was no sooner
discussed, than the house, with a warmth of humanity and benevolence
suitable to such an assembly, resolved itself into a committee, to
deliberate on that part of his majesty's speech which related to the
dearth of corn that so much distressed the poorer class of people.
A bill was immediately framed to prohibit, for a time limited, the
exportation of corn, malt, meal, flour, bread, biscuit, and starch; and
a resolution unanimously taken to address the sovereign, than an embargo
might be forthwith laid upon all ships laden or to be laden with these
commodities, to be exported from the ports of Great Britain and Ireland.
At the same time, vice-admiral Boscawen, from the board of admiralty,
informed the house, that the king and the board having been dissatisfied
with the conduct of admiral Byng, in a late action with the French fleet
in the Mediterranean, and for the appearance of his not having acted
agreeably to his instructions for the relief of Minorca, he was then
in custody of the marshal of the admiralty, in order to be tried by a
court-martial; that although this was no more than what was usual in
like cases, yet as admiral Byng was then a member of the house, and
as his confinement might detain him some time from his duty there, the
board of admiralty thought it a respect due to the house to inform them
of the commitment and detainer of the said admiral. This message being
delivered, the journal of the house in relation to rear-admiral Knowles
[392] _[See note 3 E, at the end of this Vol]_ was read, and what Mr.
Boscawen now communicated was also inserted.

The committees of supply, and of ways and means, being appointed, took
into consideration the necessities of the state, and made very ample
provision for enabling his majesty to maintain the war with vig