rigorous code of laws. His observation in moving for a parliamentary
committee to inquire into the present practice and effect of imprisonment
for debt is worthy of quotation: "it was desirable to distinguish the
unfortunate debtor from the knavish one, to place the creditor in that
situation which afforded the fairest and the speediest means of
compensation, and to regulate the jails of this country in such a manner
as to prevent unnecessary hardship and restraint. Whether they considered
the practice of confining for debt men who had no means of discharging
such debt, or, on the contrary, fraudulent debtors, whose creditors by no
process could compel them to pay; these circumstances were alone
sufficient to constitute an inquiry into the state of the laws relating to
debtor and creditor." This motion being acceded to, a committee consisting
of Mr. Grey, Mr. Pitt, Sir John Sinclair, Mr. Vansittart, Mr. Martin, the
Attorney and Solicitor Generals, and other legal gentlemen, was
immediately appointed. The origin of this inquiry is an indicative of the
liberal policy of the statesman as it is of the humanity of the mover.

In 1792, Mr. Grey instituted an inquiry into the conduct of ministers with
regard to the recently threatened hostilities with Russia. His
animadversion upon the vacillating and ruinous measures of government were
characterized by that fearless intrepidity, truth, energy, and eloquence,
which have distinguished his political career. The motion for the inquiry
was lost, though the powerful remarks of the mover drew from Mr. Pitt the
following memorable confession: "All unlimited confidence is
unconstitutional; and I hope the inglorious moment will never arrive, when
this house will abandon the privilege of examining, condemning, and
correcting the abuses in the executive government. It is the dearest
privilege you possess, and should never be relinguished."

During the schisms occasioned in this country by the French revolution, Mr.