The Whigs were enthusiastic.

The Tories seemed to be acquiescent.

It was understood that the King, though he had used his Veto for the purpose of giving the Houses an opportunity of reconsidering the subject, had no intention of offering a pertinacious opposition to their wishes.

But Seymour, with a cunning which long experience had matured, after deferring the conflict to the last moment, snatched the victory from his adversaries, when they were most secure.
When the Speaker held up the bill in his hands, and put the question whether it should pass, the Noes were a hundred and forty-six, the Ayes only a hundred and thirty-six.

[500] Some eager Whigs flattered themselves that their defeat was the effect of a surprise, and might be retrieved.