ABSTRACT
“The Elections of 1779, 1780 and 1781 will cost £53,000 but there has been no additional pension promised. Meanwhile the House of Commons was discussing the Riots and undertaking the reply promised to the Protestant petitioners on June 2nd. The General Fast observed on February 22nd produced hundreds of sermons inevitably telling in favour of Government like most of those annually delivered at similar observances since 1776. Accordingly Burke’s “Oeconomy” Bill, which in 1780 had had to be allowed a Second Reading unopposed, was defeated by Government at a similar stage in 1781 by 233 votes against 190. The Gordon mob-terror of 1780 could be recalled against Savile who had undertaken, despite that example of outrageous “popular” action, to forward another “popular” movement challenging, and even, it was claimed, denying Parliament’s legitimate authority. Ministers themselves put their position in the new Parliament to the test on October 31st 1778, the very first day of its assembly.
