Note Footnote 17 — Chapter IX · OF MOTIONS TO AMEND.

: This mode of defeating a measure, however, is not always successful. In 1780, Mr. Dunning having made a motion, in the house of commons “that, in the opinion of this house, the influence of the crown has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished,” Dundas, lord-advocate of Scotland, in order to defeat the motion, proposed to amend, by inserting, after the words, IN THE OPINION OF THIS HOUSE, the words IT IS NOW NECESSARY TO DECLARE THAT, ETC. But this amendment, instead of intimidating the friends of the original motion was at once adopted by them, and the resolution passed as amended.] Return to text