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 252 BURKE though not unprecedented step, of seceding from parlia- ment, and retiring from the house, whenever any question relative to America was brought into discussion. We cannot conceive him justified in this conduct, notwith- standing the arguments adduced in his "Letter to the Sberiffs of Bristol and it was the opinion of the oppo- sition at large, that such measures should not be persisted in. Burke himself observed, on another occasion, that " Eloquence, though it might not procure a majority to members of opposition, was not without its effect, in modifying measures of ministry." In the succeeding session he returned with great vigour to his parliamentary duty, and became again a most active partisan of the opposition,and indefatigable in seizing every opportunity of harassing and distressing the ministry. On his election for Bristol in 1774 he had openly de- clared himself against the popular doctrine, that the members of the house of commons, being the organ of the people, should, on all occasions, vote in concurrence with the sentiments, and in obedience to the instructions of their constituents. These sentiments he carried into execution, particularly in supporting the bill for relieving the trade of Ireland from many oppressive restrictions under which it then laboured; on which occasion he had received instructions from his constituents to oppose it. His exertions in favour of Sir George Saville's motion, for relieving the Catholics from certain penalties to which they were subject, were also disapproved of by the citizens of Bristol. On these and other occasions, he had acted in so direct an opposition to their declared opinions, that, when he presented himself a second time as a candidate for Bristol, at the general election in 1780, he was com- pelled, after an unsuccessful canvass, to decline the con- test; which he did in a speech replete with his usual eloquence. In consequence of this disappointment, he took his seat in the new parliament for the borough of Malton.