The next day the Lords entered on the same business. The Lords Temple, Lyttelton, and Suffolk showed the wanton impropriety of not examining the accounts before granting the money. Even Lord Rockingham attempted, though under great perturbation, to open his mouth; and, being very civil and very gentle, he was well heard. The Ministerial advocates, as if imposing a gabel instead of begging a supply for the Crown, behaved with insolence and scorn. Lord Sandwich made a mockery of unanimity, and desired to see who would vote against a measure that was personal to his Majesty. Lord Talbot, talking of the King, and by mistake saying _your Majesties_ instead of _your Lordships_, corrected himself; but said he should have used the royal style by design if he had been talking to the mob.
The modesty of the Ministers was not more conspicuous in the other House. On the Report from the Committee, Lord North made an able invective against popularity; and avowed that he had voted for every unpopular, and against every popular measure. Rigby went still farther against instructions to members: asked what place was large enough to hold all that ought to give them? “They should meet,” said he, “in Moorfields, which is the only spot that would give or receive instructions.” He talked of the two pamphlets on the State of the Nation, and declared he gave the preference to Grenville’s. It was carried without a division to agree with the Report of the Committee; which, of course, was in favour of granting the money.[208] The Lords were as complaisant. The Opposition laboured to show that the principal load of the debt had been incurred during Lord Bute’s Administration.[209] The Duke of Grafton provoking Lord Rockingham, the latter replied with spirit unusual to him, and said the Duke had braced his nerves. The Court-Lords were 60 to 26.
To balance that success Burke endeavoured to revive the clamour on the massacre, as it was called, in St. George’s Fields; and moved to inquire into it, and into the part taken by the Lords Weymouth and Barrington--but it was too late. Sir William Meredith abandoned him, and Grenville discountenanced the motion, which was rejected by 245 to 39.[210]
On the 16th of March came on the third election for Middlesex. One Charles Dingley,[211] a merchant, had offered himself, in the morning papers, as candidate, and appeared on the hustings at Brentford; but not a single freeholder proposing him, he slunk away, and drove to London as fast as he could. Townshend and Sawbridge again proposed Wilkes, who was accepted with the greatest shouts of applause. Yet the House of Commons, the next morning, again declared it a void election; even Grenville allowing it must be so. Rigby hinted at Townshend and Sawbridge; but said, he would not name them--and though their conduct as members was most indecent and disrespectful to the House, the Ministers did not dare to call them to account. On the contrary, fearing it would occasion louder clamour, should they leave the county without a member, they ordered a fourth writ to be issued, which only drew them into greater perplexity; timidity and rashness being generally alternate. Burke, expecting that the measure would be to punish the obstinacy of the freeholders by issuing no more writs, had prepared an invective in that view, and vainly attempted to adapt his speech to the contrary sense. Wedderburne, whose impudence was more dauntless, and who had actually been on the point of concluding a bargain with the Court, but had been disappointed, broke out, with all the rage of patriotism that had missed the wages of profligacy, and said, it was no wonder all respect for the House of Commons was lost, when, in the last Parliament, men had been obliged to follow such low creatures as Dyson and Bradshaw, as often as Mr. Conway and Mr. Charles Townshend had disapproved ministerial measures: “nay,” added he, “we all know that this is ordered by _secret influence_”--memorable words, as they fell from one who was a competent witness; for though they pointed out Lord Bute, Wedderburne had been deep in his confidence, and marked him out now merely because Lord Bute had rather wanted the power than inclination to serve him.[212]