ham was in every sense of the word an independent man. Engaged in a lucrative business, and possessed of an ample fortune, he had nothing to hope or to wish from court favour, and though on political questions he usually espoused that side which was opposite to the existing administration, there was nothing in his parliamentary conduct which, strictly construed, could entitle him to the epithet of a party

man.

The business was first agitated on the 20th of April, 1787, when Mr. Newnham put the question to Mr. Pitt, whether it were his intention to bring forward any proposition to rescue the Prince of Wales from his embarrassed and distressed situation. Being answered by the minister, that he had received no commands to that purpose from the King, the alderman gave notice, that on Friday, the 4th of

May, he would bring forward a motion upon that subject for the consideration of the house.

This notice produced a very extraordinary impression upon the minds of his hearers, and awakened the utmost anxiety in different descriptions of persons in parliament. Mr. Pitt, a few days afterwards, revived the subject, and requested to be informed more particularly respecting the precise nature of the proposed motion. To this Mr. Newnham did not think proper to accede; and Mr. Pitt then observed, that the subject was of the highest importance in itself, of the greatest novelty, likely to affect the most essential interests of the country, and of all others required the greatest delicacy in its discussion. The knowledge, he said, which he possessed on the subject, made him particularly desirous of avoiding it; but, if it were abso

lutely determined to bring it forward, he would, however distressing it might prove to him as an individual, discharge his duty to the public, and enter fully into the subject.

On the 27th of April, Mr. Newnham stated to the house the precise nature of his motion, which was for an address to his majesty, praying him to take into his royal consideration the situation of the Prince of Wales, and to grant his royal highness such relief as in his wisdom he should think fit, pledging the house to make good the same. Mr. Rolle (member for Devonshire, and the same gentleman to whom the humorous poem of the Rolliad was addressed) observed that he felt much concern to find that Mr. Newnham persisted in his intention, and particularly called the attention of the country gentlemen to the subject, as one of those questions, he affirmed, that

tended immediately to affect the constitution in church and state.

Mr. Sheridan, in reply to what had fallen from Mr. Rolle, declared himself highly impressed with a sense of the magnitude and importance of the subject, and considered it as of as much consequence as any that had ever been agitated within the walls of that assembly. But he could not agree, he said, that it interested the country gentlemen alone, and not every individual member of parliament. Mr. Sheridan took notice of Mr. Rolle's expression respecting the constitution in church and state, to which, he said, he did not know what precise meaning to affix; and he recurred to another expression employed by Mr. Pitt, which, on account of the station of the person from whom it came, was entitled to the more serious observation. Mr. Sheridan meant, he said, an insinuation that

had fallen from the minister, that there were circumstances which must come out in the discussion, which would shew the impropriety of granting the assistance required. In reply to this, Mr. Sheridan declared from the best and highest authority, that neither the friends of the Prince of Wales, nor his royal highness himself, had any other wish, than that every circumstance in the whole series of his conduct should be minutely and accurately investigated. His royal highness, he felt himself authorized to say, desired that no part of his conduct, circumstances, or situation, should be treated with ambiguity, concealment, or affected tenderness, but that whatever related to him should be discussed openly, and with fair, manly, and direct examination. Mr. Sheridan added, that he had expected long before that the unpleasantness of the discussion would