The next day the same Baronets moved a loyal address to the King. The debate turned on the infringement of the Bill of Rights, by questioning petitions in Parliament. Lord John Cavendish, Wedderburne, and Sir Joseph Mawbey, acknowledged the remonstrance to be improper, but defended the right of remonstrating; and Lord John proposed a less fulsome address. Mr. Ridley, and Sir Matthew Ridley, his son, declared, they said, in the names of the country gentlemen, whose silence avowed them, that they had gone thus far with the Administration, but would go no farther if punishment was thought of: yet Rigby talked highly for severe proceedings, and reviled the Livery and the Opposition. Beckford, not at all content with these last for supporting him no better, yet vaunted his own firmness and ridiculed the merchants who had addressed the last year, calling them _contractors_ and remittancers; and scoffing at the courtiers in plain terms for serving for such scanty pay, in comparison of contractors who made 5000_l._ or 6000_l._ a year. Lord North himself, he said, had not above 2000_l._ a year. Lord North offered to the Cavendishes to omit the most exceptionable parts of the address; but as they would not close with him, it was voted by 284 to 94.[77] The Lords, on the 22nd having had a conference with the Commons, concurred in the address. Lord Chatham was confined by the gout. Lord Shelburne alone avowed the language of the remonstrance. Lord Denbigh and Lord Pomfret were, on the other hand, as gross in flattery to the King. Lord North’s moderation, concurring with the opinion of many lawyers, that the remonstrance was no misdemeanour, prevented any farther views of punishment on that subject. CHAPTER IV. Bills introduced by Mr. Herbert and Mr. Grenville.--Conversation on Secret Influence.--Remarks.--City Dinner to the Opposition.--Curious Phrase employed by Lord Chatham.--Termination of Wilkes’s Imprisonment.--Riot at Boston.--Debate on the Prorogation of the Irish Parliament.--Lord Chatham moves a Censure on Ministers.--Observations on the State of Parties.--Publication of Burke’s _Thoughts on the Present Discontents_.--Criticism of it.--Influence of Lord Bute.--Character of the Pelham Administration.--New Party.--Their Aristocratic Tendencies.--Diminution of the Privileges of Peers and Commoners with regard to their Creditors.--Desultory Discussions on American Affairs, and the Middlesex Election. 1770.