I also enumerated four or five Mutiny Bills that were first
introduced in the House of Lords, and which passed through
the other House without objection or hesitation. From all
this I drew two inferences. First, that a Mutiny Bill did
not come within the definition of a Money Bill so far as
to make its introduction in the House of Commons indis-
pensable. Secondly, that should such a proceeding be deemed
advisable, the Bill might, consistently with parliamentary
law and usage, originate in the House of Lords.
I need not attempt to describe the surprise and delight
occasioned by this wonderful discovery, which any one might
have made for himself if he had taken the trouble to look
for it. Dayis le raj/aume des avcuglcs Ic horgne se fait roi ; and
in a party of ignoi-ant persons a little knowledge goes a long



74 ELECTIONEERING TROUBLES, [Cuap. IV.
way. The main point being thus secured, it remained to
decide upon the course to be pursued. Considerable dif-
ference of opinion was expressed, until, after a time, I ven-
tured to suggest that the simplest and most efficacious plan
might be for Mr. Pitt to inclose a copy of the paper which
had just been read to Mr. Fox, and request to be favoured
with his determination one way or the other, so as to regulate
his own line of conduct. The suggestion was unanimously
adopted, and a letter despatched that same evening with the
inclosure. The effect, as I have already shown, was perfectly
satisfactory to Ministers.
A sense of recent obligations generally acts as a stimulus
on generous minds, and at the moment Mr. Pitt seemed to
be considerably impressed with what I had done for him.
