GREY’S MOTION FOR REFORM, ETC.
While the country was agitated by the mutiny of the fleets, Mr. Grey rose in the house of commons to move “for a sweeping reform in parliament.” This motion was seconded by Fox and others of his party; but it was lost by a majority of two hundred and fifty-eight against ninety-three. Not one of the Foxites could have expected that the motion would pass; but pretending to despair of succeeding in their plan of reform, Fox and most of his friends seceded from parliament, declaring that their attendance there was useless. Some of them returned subsequently to their seats, but none of them attended during Parker’s mutiny; and from this time till the year 1800 Fox spoke only three or four times in the house. Sheridan refused to secede; and when the debate took place concerning the rebellion at the Nore, in defiance of his party he strengthened the hands of government. The Foxites asserted that he was acting under selfish motives, and that he was seeking a seat on the treasury bench with some well-paid place. They might be correct; for all history shows that the true and disinterested patriot, is of rare occurrence; all have their own self-interest at heart. No other business worthy of historical note occurred till the 20th of July, when his majesty prorogued parliament by a speech from the throne, in which he declared that he was again engaged in a negociation for peace, and that nothing should be wanting on his part to bring it to a successful termination.