WILLIAM THE THIRD.

49

isked by the competition of Bentincks and Iveppels,Auverquerques and Zulesteins. But, though the richesand dignities heaped on the little knot of Dutch courtiersmight disgust him, the recent proceedings of the Commonscould not but disgust him still more. The authority, therespectability, the existence of his order were threatenedwith destruction. Not only, — such were the just com-plaints of the Peers, — not only are we to be deprivedof that coordinate legislative power to which we are, bythe constitution of the realm, entitled. We are not to beallowed even a suspensive veto. We are not to dare toremonstrate, to suggest an amendment, to offer a reason,to ask for an explanation. Whenever the other Househas passed a bill to which it is known that we have strongobjections, that bill is to be tacked to a bill of supply. Ifwe alter it, we are told that we are attacking the mostsacred privilege of the representatives of the people, andthat we must either take the whole or reject the whole.If we reject the whole, public credit is shaken; the RoyalExchange is in confusion; the Bank stops payment; thearmy is disbanded; the fleet is in mutiny; the island isleft, without one regiment, without one frigate, at themercy of every enemy. The danger of throwing out abill of supply is doubtless great. Yet it may on the wholebe better that we should face that danger, once for all,than that we should consent to be, what we are fast be-coming, a body of no more importance than the Convo-cation.

Macaulay, History. X. 4

CHAP.' xxv.

non.