Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/48

34 delegates of other petitioning associated bodies on the means of carrying into effect the objects of their petition. At the next meeting instructions were given to the delegates that their objects should be to obtain—

1. Economic reform and regulations for reducing the unconstitutional influence of the Crown.

2. More equal and fair representation by adding one hundred additional members, to be chosen in due proportion in the different counties and principal cities.

3. Shortening the duration of Parliament.

The meetings of these delegates attracted considerable attention, and were regarded by Government and its supporters as dangerous, if not illegal. Although they petitioned Parliament in their individual and not their representative capacity, their proceedings were objected to, and at a meeting of the committee on the 4th of April, a formal declaration was made of the right to meet, associate, and correspond. In this year, although it was not the most active, the committee continued its work on behalf of economic reform and its protest against the American war. On the 8th of December a petition to the King was prepared, which, after denouncing the war, ended thus: "We therefore humbly implore your Majesty that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to dismiss from your presence and councils all advisers, both public and private, of the measures we lament, as a pledge to the world of your Majesty's fixed determination to abandon a system incompatible with the interests of your crown and the happiness of your people." This petition was submitted to and approved by a public meeting, and Fox was requested to present it.

On the 9th of February a resolution was passed, calling on all members of the committee who were members of Parliament, to support Burke's motion for economical reform; and a similar appeal was made on the 27th of March on behalf of Dunning's motion for reforming abuses in the expenditure of public money and for reducing the influence of the Crown.

The beginning of the year 1782 was both the most active and the most interesting period in the history of the com-