Unhappily, instead of raising a great public question, on which he was in the right, on which he had a good chance of succeeding, and on which he might have been defeated without any loss of dignity, he chose to raise a personal question, on which he was in the wrong, on which, right or wrong, he was sure to be beaten, and on which he could not be beaten without being degraded.

Instead of pressing for more English regiments, he exerted all his influence to obtain for the Dutch guards permission to remain in the island.
The first trial of strength was in the Upper House.

A resolution was moved there to the effect that the Lords would gladly concur in any plan that could be suggested for retaining the services of the Dutch brigade.
The motion was carried by fifty-four votes to thirty-eight.

But a protest was entered, and was signed by all the minority.

It is remarkable that Devonshire was, and that Marlborough was not, one of the Dissentients.