The surprise was complete; the onset was formidable; but the Whig majority, after a moment of dismay and wavering, rallied firmly round their leader.  Several speakers declared that they highly approved of the prudent liberality with which His Majesty had requited the services of a most able, diligent and trusty counsellor.  It was miserable economy indeed to grudge a reward of a few thousands to one who had made the State richer by millions.  Would that all the largesses of former kings had been as well bestowed!  How those largesses had been bestowed none knew better than some of the austere patriots who harangued so loudly against the avidity of Montague.  If there is, it was said, a House in England which has been gorged with undeserved riches by the prodigality of weak sovereigns, it is the House of Bath.  Does it lie in the mouth of a son of that house to blame the judicious munificence of a wise and good King?  Before the Granvilles complain that distinguished merit has been rewarded with ten thousand pounds, let them refund some part of the hundreds of thousands which they have pocketed without any merit at all.

The rule was, and still is, that a member against whom a charge is made must be heard in his own defence, and must then leave the House.  The Opposition insisted that Montague should retire.  His friends maintained that this case did not fall within the rule.  Distinctions were drawn; precedents were cited; and at length the question was put, that Mr. Montague do withdraw.  The Ayes were only ninety-seven; the Noes two hundred and nine.  This decisive result astonished both parties.  The Tories lost heart and hope.  The joy of the Whigs was boundless.  It was instantly moved that the Honourable Charles Montague, Esquire, Chancellor of the Exchequer, for his good services to this Government does deserve His Majesty’s favour.  The Opposition, completely cowed, did not venture to demand another division.  Montague scornfully thanked them for the inestimable service which they had done him.  But for their malice he never should have had the honour and happiness of being solemnly pronounced by the Commons of England a benefactor of his country.  As to the grant which had been the subject of debate, he was perfectly ready to give it up, if his accusers would engage to follow his example.

Even after this defeat the Tories returned to the charge.  They pretended that the frauds which had been committed with respect to the Exchequer Bills had been facilitated by the mismanagement of the Board of Treasury, and moved a resolution which implied a censure on that Board, and especially on its chief.  This resolution was rejected by a hundred and seventy votes to eighty-eight.  It was remarked that Spencer, as if anxious to show that he had taken no part in the machinations of which his father was justly or unjustly suspected, spoke in this debate with great warmth against Duncombe and for Montague.