It was to no purpose that the King was told, what was nevertheless perfectly true, that not one half of the members who had voted for Littleton, could, by any art or eloquence, be induced to vote for an augmentation of the land force.
While he was urging his ministers to stand up manfully against the popular prejudice, and while they were respectfully representing to him that by so standing up they should only make that prejudice stronger and more noxious, the day came which the Commons had fixed for taking the royal speech into consideration.

The House resolved itself into a Committee.

The great question was instantly raised; What provision should be made for the defence of the realm?
It was naturally expected that the confidential advisers of the Crown would propose something.

As they remained silent, Harley took the lead which properly belonged to them, and moved that the army should not exceed seven thousand men.

Sir Charles Sedley suggested ten thousand.