Hasilrig saw his mistake, of which Thurloe did not fail to take advantage.

"The old Peers," said Thurloe, "are not excluded by the _Petition and Advice_: divers are called,--others may be"; and the occasion was taken to pass a resolution expressly reserving for such of the old peers as had been faithful the privilege of being summoned to the Other House, should the issue of the debate be in favour of the existence of that institution.

The divisions on this incidental resolution were the largest recorded in the Journals of the House--the previous question for putting the resolution being carried by 203 to 184, and the resolution itself by 195 to 188.

Though the majority was but small, the gain to the Court Party was precious, because on an unexpected point.

But the Republicans had done themselves no good by their style in the main discussion, A miscellaneous assembly always resents the ungenerous, and the sneers at the existing composition of the Other House had seemed ungenerous.