Conway, roused by the brutality of Rigby, yet too apt to bear public abuse with phlegmatic patience, both from conscious intrepidity, and from knowing that such public jarrings are always hindered from coming to private decision, replied with uncommon ability and applause. “The gentleman had talked,” he said, “of timidity in a Minister and cowardice in a General;--as to timidity on the present measure, the House would judge whether his conduct had been timid. Cowardice he was sure the honourable gentleman did not mean to apply to him;” said he, “I know him too well; he would scarcely have taken an improper occasion to call me coward; I have a better opinion of his courage than that comes to. The other gentleman, who had talked of the oracle, had better have said that on the last debate--but why had he said it at all? Was it not known that those gentlemen had courted and idolized the idol, and had been rejected?” The debate was at length closed by Mr. Vane,[245] who told a story of Sir Robert Walpole and Mr. Pulteney, in the Administration of the former. Mr. Pulteney had made a motion for papers, and Sir Robert granted them; but immediately went to Mr. Pulteney and told him that what he had done would be the occasion of many persons losing their lives, besides the mischief he would entail on future Ministers. Mr. Pulteney was struck, and withdrew his motion. In like manner the order for printing was now set aside without a division. CHAPTER XIV. Lord Bute humiliates the Duke of Bedford and Mr. Grenville.--General Conway moves the Repeal of the Stamp Act.--Obtains leave to bring in a Bill.--Excited State of the Country.--Recommitment moved and rejected.--Desultory Opposition.--Final Debate.--The Repeal passed by a large Majority.--Conduct of Lord Rockingham.