He Now Took His Place So Near It
That He Could Reach It With His Hand, And, Thus Placed, He Gave It
Many A Violent And Hearty Thump, Either To Aid, Or To Show The
Energy With Which He Spoke.
If the charge was vehement, his defence
was no less so.
He justified himself against Lord Fielding by
maintaining that he had not opposed this election in the character
of a minister, but as an individual, or private person; and that, as
such, he had freely and honestly given his vote for another - namely,
for Sir Cecil Wray, adding that the King, when he appointed him
Secretary of State, had entered into no agreement with him by which
he lost his vote as an individual; to such a requisition he never
would have submitted. It is impossible for me to describe with what
fire and persuasive eloquence he spoke, and how the Speaker in the
chair incessantly nodded approbation from beneath his solemn wig,
and innumerable voices incessantly called out, "Hear him! hear him!"
and when there was the least sign that he intended to leave off
speaking they no less vociferously exclaimed, "Go on;" and so he
continued to speak in this manner for nearly two hours. Mr. Rigby,
in reply, made a short but humorous speech, in which he mentioned of
how little consequence the title of "lord" and "lady" was without
money to support it, and finished with the Latin proverb, "infelix
paupertas - quia ridiculos miseros facit." After having first very
judiciously observed that previous inquiry should be made whether
Admiral Rodney had made any rich prizes or captures; because, if
that should be the case, he would not stand in need of further
reward in money.
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