against it in the house of commons, where, never- A. C. 1692. theless, it was carried with fome little alterations, which the lords approved. But all these endeavours were fruftrated by the prerogative of the king, who, by refufing his affent, prevented its being enacted into a law. tion his ma folve the It was at the inftigation of the miniftry, that the The comcommons brought in a bill for continuing and ex- mens etiplaining certain temporary laws then expiring or jefty that he expired. Among thefe was an act for reftraining the would difliberty of the prefs, which owed its origin to the Eaft-India reign of Charles II. and had been revived in the company. first year of the fucceeding reign. The bill paffed the lower house without difficulty, but met with warm oppofition in the house of lords, a good number of whom protested against it, as a law that fubjected all learning and true information to the arbitrary will of a mercenary, and perhaps ignorant licenfer, destroyed the properties of authors, and extended the evil of monopolies. The bill for regulating trials was dropped, and, in lieu of it, another produced for the preservation of their majefties facred perfons and government; but this too was rejected by the majority, in confequence of the miniftry's fecret management. The Eaft-India company narrowly escaped diffolution. Petitions and counter-petitions were delivered into the house of commons: the pretenfions on both fides were carefully examined: a committee of the whole houfe refolved, that there fhould be a new fubfcription of a joint-ftock, not exceeding two millions five hundred thousand pounds, to continue for one and twenty years. The report was made and received, and the public expected to fee the affair brought to a speedy iffue: but the company had recourfe to the fame expedients, which had lately proved fo fuccessful in the hands of the miniftry. Thofe who had been the moft warm in detecting their B 3 A. C. 1692. their abufes, fuddenly cooled; and the profecution of the affair began to languifh. Not but that the houfe prefented an addrefs to his majefty, praying that he would diffolve the company upon three years warning, according to the condition of their charter. He told them he would confider their addrefs; and they did not further urge their remonftrance. The bill for afcertaining the commiffions and falaries of the judges, to which the king had refused the royal affent in the laft feffion, was revived, twice read, and rejected; and another for preventing the exportation and melting of the coin, they fuffered to lie neglected on the table. On the fourteenth day of March, the king put an end to the feffion, after having thanked the parliament for fo great teftimonies of their affection, and promised the fupplies should not be mifapplied. He observed, that the posture of affairs called him abroad; but that he would leave a fufficient number of troops for the fecurity of the kingdóm: he affured them he would expose his perfon upon all occafions for the advantage of thefe kingdoms; and ufe his utmost endeavours to make them a flourishing nation t. Trial of lord Mohun for murder. During the course of this feffion, lord Mohun was indicted and tried by his peers, in Westminster The other laws made in this feffion were there that follow. An act for preventing fuits against such as had acted for their majefties fervice in defence of this kingdom. An act for raising the militia in the year 1693. An act, authorifing the judges to impower fuch perfóns, other than common attornies and folicitors, as they fhould think fit, to take special bail, except in London, Weftminster, and ten miles round. An act to encourage the apprehending of highwaymen. An act to prevent clandeftine marriages. An act for the regaining, encouraging, and fettling the Greenland trade. An act to prevent malicious informations in the court of King'sbench, and for the more easy reverfal of outlawries in that court. An act for the better difcovery of judgments in the courts of law. An act for deli vering declarations to prifoners for debt. An act for regulating proceedings in the crown office. An act for the more eafy difcovery and conviction of fuch as fhould deftroy the game of this kingdom. And an act for continuing the acts for prohibiting all trade and commerce with France, and for the encouragement of privateers. hall, Alterations hall, as an accomplice in the murder of one Mont- A. C. 1692. ford, a celebrated comedian, the marquis of Carmaerthen acting as lord-steward upon this occafion. The judges having been confulted, the peers proceeded to give their judgments feriatim; and Mohun was acquitted by a great majority. The king, in the miwho, from his firft acceffion to the throne, had en- niftry. deavoured to trim the balance between the Whigs and Tories, by mingling them together in his ministry, made fome alterations at this period, that favoured of the fame policy. The great-feal, with the title of lord-keeper, was bestowed upon Sir John Somers, who was well skilled in the law, as in many other branches of polite and useful literature. He poffeffed a remarkable talent for business, in which he exerted great patience and affiduity; was gentle, candid, and equitable; a Whig in principles, yet moderate, pacific, and conciliating. Of the fame temper was Sir John Trenchard, now appointed fecretary of state. He had been concerned with the duke of Monmouth, and escaped to the continent, where he lived fome years; was calm, fedate, well acquainted with foreign affairs, and confidered as a leading man in his party. These two are faid to have been promoted at the recommendation of the earl of Sunderland, who had by this time infinuated himself into the king's favour and confidence; though his fuccefs confirmed the opinion which many entertained, of his having betrayed his old mafter. The leaders of the oppofition were Sir Edward Seymour, again become a malcontent, and Sir Chriftopher Mufgrave, a gentle-. man of Cumberland, who, though an extravagant Tory from principle, had refused to concur with all the defigns of the late king. He was a perfon of a grave and regular deportment, who had rejected many offers of the miniftry, which he op- ; pofed with great violence, yet on fome critical oc B 4 cafions, |