WILLIAM AND MAHY.

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before which he is tried for a violation of his allegiance is not to chap.go into the question whether that case has arisen ? — —

The question of the dispensing power was treated in a verydifferent manner, was fully considered, and was finally settledin the only w r ay in which it could be settled. The Declarationof Right had gone no further than to pronounce that the dispen-sing power, as of late exercised, was illegal. That a certaindispensing power belonged to the Crown was a propositionsanctioned by authorities and precedents of w'hich even Whiglawyers could not speak without respect; but as to the preciseextent of this pow'er hardly any two jurists were agreed; andevery attempt to frame a definition had failed. At length bythe Bill of Rights the anomalous prerogative which had causedso many fierce disputeswas absolutely and for ever taken away.*

In the House of Commons there w r as, as might have been inquiryexpected, a series of sharp debates on the misfortunes of the abuse” 3 'autumn. The negligence or corruption of the Navy Board, thefrauds of the contractors, the rapacity of the captains of theKing’s ships, the losses of the London merchants, W'ere themesfor many keen speeches. There w r as indeed reason for anger.

A severe inquiry, conducted by William in person at the Trea-sury, had just elicited the fact that much of the salt with whichthe meat furnished to the fleet had been cured had been by ac-cident mixed with galls such as are used for the purpose of ma-king ink. The victuallers threw the blame on the rats, andmaintained that the provisions thus seasoned, though certainlydisagreeable to the palate, were not injurious to health.** TheCommons were in no temper to listen to such excuses. Severalpersons who had been concerned in cheating the governmentand poisoning the sailors were taken into custody by the Ser-

* Stat. 1 W. «fc M. scss. 2. c. 2.

** Treasury Minute Book, Nov. 3. 1689.