orted this measure with its
whole power and influence, the bill made its way through the house,
though not without alterations and amendments, which were rejected by
the commons. The lower house pretended, that the lords had no right to
alter any fines and penalties that the commons should fix in bills sent
up for their concurrence, on the supposition that those were matters
concerning money, the peculiar province of the lower house; the lords
ordered a minute inquiry to be made into all the rolls of parliament
since the reign of Henry the Seventh; and a great number of instances
were found, in which the lords had begun the clauses imposing fines and
penalties, altered the penalties which had been fixed by the commons,
and even changed the uses to which they were applied. The precedents
were entered in the books; but the commons resolved to maintain their
point without engaging in any dispute upon the subject. After warm
debates, and a free conference between the two houses, the lords adhered
to their amendments, though this resolution was carried by a majority
of one vote only; the commons persisted in rejecting them; the bill
miscarried, and both houses published their proceedings, by way of
appeal to the nation. [114] _[See note T, at the end of this Vol.]_
A bill was now brought into the lower house, granting another year's
consideration to those who had not taken the oath abjuring the pretended
prince of Wales. The lords added three clauses, importing, that those
persons who should take the oath within the limited time might return to
their benefices and employments, unless they should be already legally
filled; that any person endeavouring to defeat the succession to the
crown, as now limited by law, should be deemed guilty of high treason;
and that the oath of abjuration should be imposed upon the subjects in
Ireland. The commons made some opposition to the first clause; but
at length the question being put, Whether they should agree to the
amendments, it was carried in the affirmative by one voice.

INQUIRY INTO THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

No object engrossed more time, or produced more violent debates, than
did the inquiry into the public accounts. The commissioners appointed
for this purpose pretended to have made great discoveries. They charged
the earl of Ranelagh, paymaster-general of the army, with flagrant
mismanagement. He acquitted himself in such a manner as screened him
from all severity of punishmen