consequence of their tenth report, a series of resolutions were moved in
the House of Commons (April, 1805) against Melville. The voting was
even--216 for and 216 against; the resolutions were carried by the
casting vote of Speaker Abbott.

"Pitt was overcome; his friend was ruined. At the sound of the
Speaker's voice, the Prime Minister crushed his hat over his brows to
hide the tears that poured over his cheeks: he pushed in haste out of
the House. Some of his opponents, I am ashamed to say, thrust
themselves near, 'to see how Billy took it.'"

(Mark Boyd's 'Reminiscences of Fifty Years', p. 404.) Melville, who was
heard at the bar of the House of Commons in his own defence, was
impeached before the House of Lords (June 26, 1805) of high crimes and
misdemeanours. At the close of the proceedings, which began in
Westminster Hall on April 29, 1806, Melville was acquitted on all the
charges. Whitbread took the leading part in the impeachment. See 'All
the Talents: a Satirical Poem', by Polypus (E. S. Barrett)--

"Rough as his porter, bitter as his barm,
He sacrificed his fame to M--lv--lle's harm."

Dialogue ii.]





24.--To the Hon. Augusta Byron.