Britton, John [Hrsg.]: The fine arts of the English school: illustrated by a series of engravings from paintings, sculpture, and architecture, of eminent English artists ; with ample biographical, critical, and descriptive essays (London, 1812) [Cicognara, 14]

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FINE ARTS OF THE ENGLISH SCHOOL.

Mr. Dunning then moved a second resolution, " that it was competent to
the House, whenever they thought proper, to examine into, and correct abuses in
the expenditure of the civil list revenues." To this proposition only a feeble
resistance was offered. A third motion, made by Mr. Thomas Pitt, also passed
without a division; affirming, that it was the duty of the House to provide
immediate and effectual redress of the abuses complained of in the petitions.
At past one o'clock in the morning, Mr. Fox moved that the resolutions should
be immediately reported; Lord North in vain opposed the proceeding, as violent,
arbitrary, and unusual; the report was brought up, and the House adjourned.

This most signal event took place on the 6th of April, 1780; on the 10th,
the House having again resolved itself into a committee, Mr. Dunning moved,
that, in order to secure the independence of parliament, and obviate all suspi-
cions of its purity, the proper officer should, in future, within seven days after
the meeting, lay before the House an account of all monies paid out of the
civil list, or any part of the public revenue, to, or for the use of, or in trust for,
any member of parliament. Slight objections were made to the motion, as
proposing a test which might be unpleasant to the upper House, and beget
differences; but it was carried without a division. Mr. Dunning next proposed
a resolution, that the treasurer of the chamber, treasurer, cofferer, comptroller,
and master of the Household, the clerks of the green cloth, and their deputies*
should be rendered incapable of sitting in the House of Commons. This
motion encountered considerable resistance, and on a division of the committee,
the majority in favour of the opposition party was reduced to two.

Before the next sitting of the committee, the indisposition of the Speaker
occasioned an adjournment of ten days, which was moved by Mr. Dunning,
and sanctioned by the general body of opposition. When the Speaker reco-
vered, Mr. Dunning moved an address, requesting the King " not to dissolve
the parliament, or prorogue the session, till proper measures should be adopted
for diminishing the influence of the crown, and correcting the other evils
complained of in the petitions."

This proposition being rejected by a majority of fifty-one, Mr. Fox expressed
unbounded indignation against those who had deserted the vote they had
given on the 6th of April; and Mr. Dunning said, he should propose no