Notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, the House called upon Oliver. The alderman, however, did not detain them long. He declined to call witnesses or to say anything in his defence, beyond asserting that he had acted according to his duty, oath, and conscience. Again there was a long debate lasting until three o'clock in the morning, when the House resolved to send him to the Tower. The division was a small one, many members having already gone home in disgust. Oliver was allowed to go to his house in Fenchurch Street for a few hours before being removed to the Tower by the sergeant-at-arms.[287] [Sidenote: Speech of Alderman Townshend.] During the debate, Alderman Townshend appeared in the House looking very pale, having risen from a sickbed--"his hair lank, and his face swathed with linen, having had his jaw laid open for an inflammation"--and after commenting severely upon the arbitrary action of the House in erasing a record entered in the lord mayor's book, proceeded to twit the government with its obsequiousness to female caprice and boldly declared their arbitrary measures to be due to the baneful influence of the Princess Dowager of Wales.[288] Such a declaration was not only in bad taste, but contrary to Parliamentary usage. Nevertheless it was placidly listened to and only received a tardy and weak denial from Lord North--a sign that the House felt the insecurity of its position. [Sidenote: "A table" to be provided for Oliver at City's expense, 26 March, 1771.] On Tuesday (26 March) a Common Council sat, summoned by Trecothick, who had been appointed (12 March), to act as _locum tenens_ of the lord mayor during his "absence or illness." After transacting several matters of business, the court resolved unanimously "that during the confinement of Mr. Alderman Oliver in the Tower of London a table be provided for him at the expense of this city, under the direction and management of the committee appointed at the last court to assist the lord mayor and the Aldermen Wilkes and Oliver in their defence on the charge brought against them by the House of Commons."[289] [Sidenote: Chatham's opinion on Oliver's committal.]