Note 62 — Chapter XIII · ON THE STATE OF THE CONSTITUTION UNDER CHARLES II.

The principles laid down by Hatsell are: 1. That in bills of supply, the Lords can make no alteration but to correct verbal mistakes. 2. That in bills, not of absolute supply, yet imposing burthens, as turnpike acts, etc., the Lords cannot alter the quantum of the toll, the persons to manage it, etc.; but in other clauses they may make amendments. 3. That, where a charge may indirectly be thrown on the people by a bill, the Commons object to the Lords making amendments. 4. That the Lords cannot insert pecuniary penalties in a bill, or alter those inserted by the Commons, iii. 137. He seems to boast that the Lords during the last century have very faintly opposed the claim of the Commons. But surely they have sometimes done so in practice, by returning a money-bill, or what the lower house call one, amended; and the Commons have had recourse to the evasion of throwing out such bill and bringing in another with the amendments inserted in it; which does not look very triumphant.