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384 LUCAS. defend him from the danger by which he was threatened; therefore, to avoid the impending storm, he fled from Ire land. After he had spent some time in banishment, the exertions of his friends rose superior to the influence by which he had been oppressed. Upon a new vacancy he returned to Dublin, and was elected one of the represen tatives of that city in parliament. The same patriotic principles, and the same exertions in behalf of the constitution, for which he had been hitherto so remarkable, invariably distinguished his con duct in and out of parliament. On the very first day of the session of 1761, the Commons ordered that leave be given to bring in the heads of a bill to limit the duration of parliaments; and Dr. Lucas, Mr. Perry, and Mr. Gorges Lowther, were ordered to bring in the same. This favourite and constitutional measure had been most strongly recommended by Dr. Lucas, in imitation of the English septennial bill: he accordingly presented, on the 28th of October, the heads of the bill, which were re ceived, read, and committed. Several amendments were proposed and adopted in the committee; and, on the 9th of December, Mr. Lowther having brought up the report, moved, that the Speaker should attend his excellency the lord-lieutenant, with the heads of the bill, and desire the same might be transmitted to Great Britain in due form; and that his excellency would be pleased to recommend the same in the most effectual manner to his majesty. On this the House divided, forty-three for the motion, and one hundred and eight against i t . Thus was Mr. Lucas's first patriotic bill lost, t o the n o small disappointment and mortification o f the people out o f doors. I t i s highly ma terial t o observe, that i n proportion a s patriots fell off i n parliament, they sprang u p out o f i t . The ministerial triumph was followed b y n o popular disturbance, but great discontent: i t produced a more alarming effect upon the castle: riot and insurrection they could easily have subdued, and the quelling thereof would have justified the very measures that had excited them. But the people's I