He is a foreigner; he is timid; he hears that a transaction in which he has been concerned has been pronounced by the House of Commons to be highly criminal, that his master is impeached, that his friend Bates is in prison, that his own turn is coming.

He naturally takes fright; he escapes to his own country; and, from what I know of him, I will venture to predict that it will be long before he trusts himself again within reach of the Speaker's warrant.

But what is that to me?
Am I to lie all my life under the stigma of an accusation like this, merely because the violence of my accusers has scared their own witness out of England?
I demand an immediate trial.

I move your Lordships to resolve that, unless the Commons shall proceed before the end of the session, the impeachment shall be dismissed." A few friendly voices cried out "Well moved." But the Peers were generally unwilling to take a step which would have been in the highest degree offensive to the Lower House, and to the great body of those whom that House represented.
The Duke's motion fell to the ground; and a few hours later the Parliament was prorogued.

[584] The impeachment was never revived.