Among the laws which the committee advised the House to renew was the law which subjected the press to a censorship.

The question was put, "that the House do agree with the committee in the resolution that the Act entitled an Act for preventing Abuses in printing seditious, treasonable and unlicensed Pamphlets, and for regulating of Printing and Printing Presses, be continued." The Speaker pronounced that the Noes had it; and the Ayes did not think fit to divide.
A bill for continuing all the other temporary Acts, which, in the opinion of the Committee, could not properly be suffered to expire, was brought in, passed and sent to the Lords.

In a short time this bill came back with an important amendment.

The Lords had inserted in the list of Acts to be continued the Act which placed the press under the control of licensers.

The Commons resolved not to agree to the amendment, demanded a conference, and appointed a committee of managers.