{A.D. 1774}
MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.
Parliament met on the 13th of January. At that time little was known of
the disturbances in America, and the king's speech represented the state
of foreign affairs to be in such a quiescent state, that the legislature
would have ample time to attend to the improvement of our domestic
concerns, and to the prosecution of measures immediately connected with
the revenue and commerce of the kingdom. The deteriorated state of the
gold coin was especially mentioned as an object requiring attention. The
addresses were voted in both houses with little or no debate.
EARLY MEASURES IN THIS SESSION.
In the early part of this session public attention was excited by
the proceedings of the house of commons, respecting a libel on their
speaker, which had been published in the Public Advertiser. The house
issued an order for Woodfall the printer to attend at the bar, which was
obeyed without hesitation, and being interrogated as to the author, he
gave the name of the Rev. John Home. Woodfall was then ordered into the
custody of the sergeant-at-arms, and Home was then brought before the
house. Home inquired whether Woodfall's declaration was to be taken
as evidence, or as the charge against him, and being told that it
constituted the charge, he pleaded "Not guilty," as in an ordinary
court. The house was embarrassed; Wood-fall was again called in and
confronted with Home, but as he was implicated in the guilt of the
publication, his evidence was not sufficient to warrant conviction.
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