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.
A few days later, the bill of pains and penalties against Duncombe passed the Commons.

It provided that two thirds of his enormous property, real and personal, should be confiscated and applied to the public service.

Till the third reading there was no serious opposition.
Then the Tories mustered their strength.