But even this bill, though it had for its object only to free a portion of the coast from the ravages of this traffic, was opposed by Mr.Gascoyne, Dent, and others.
Petitions also were presented against it.

At length, after two divisions, on the first of which there were thirty-two votes to twenty-seven, and on the second thirty-eight to twenty-two, it passed through all its stages.
When it was introduced into the Lords the petitions were renewed against it.

Delay also was interposed to its progress by the examination of witnesses.

It was not till the fifth of July that the matter was brought to issue.

The opponents of the bill at that time were, the Duke of Clarence, Lord Westmoreland, Lord Thurlow, and the Lords Douglas and Hay, the two latter being Earls of Morton and Kinnoul in Scotland.