The Press.
London, England, 1853-09-17 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

THE IMAGINARY HANSARD.

A PORTION OF TffX ANTICIPATED SPEECH ON THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW

REFroix BILL, IN MARCH, 1N54.

" The inhabitants of Gravesend are taking active stepii to bring under Ministerial
notice the claims of that prosperous and increasing place to return a Member to Parlia-
ment. They are said to have received unofficial 'but satisfactory intimation that their
demand will obtain all attention."—Liberal Sunday Paper.

Lord Jolla RUSSELL (in continuation) : And now, sir,' proceeding
with my list of the towns which her Majesty's Government have
thought that we should enfranchise, I come from Fto G. Sir, I have,
I trust, sufficiently explained the reasons upon which we base our
proposed system. Those reasons will, I hope, be found to apply with
full force to the case of the locality lam about to name. We consider,
sir, that the claims of the town of Gravesend—(Hear rear)—to return
a Member are too strong to be resisted. An important station for our
steam navy. ( Laughter.) Honourable Gentlemen may laugh, but let
me tell them that it' this country be embroiled with every part of the
world, as she nearly is at present, and assuredly will be, if her
Majesty's Ministers continue to hold office, we shall, at no bite date,
have to fall back upon such vessels as the Father Thames, the Jupiter,
and the Diamond for our national defences. Is it wise, theret4e, to
insult a port where these vessels find their natural home, iby refusing
it political rights? (I/ear, hear.) But again, sir, I have stated that
her Mikjesty's Ministers are desirous to confer the franchise on scien-
tific men. At Gravesend, sir, is one of the most remarkable buildings
which have ever been devoted to science,—l mean the Observatory,—
and although I admit that this edifice is at present chiefly frequented for
the purpose of discussing tea and shrimps, and though its one
telescope is now let out at a penny per head, Ido not despair—l will
not—l have no right to despair, of seeing it restored to its
nobler object, and that those whose habit is less the taking
of observations than of sights may rise to better things. (1/ear.)
Again, sir, we have considered that the population of Gravesend is a
fluctuating one. The resident inhabitants are chiefly shellfish-
sellers; chemists who deal in hair oil, toothbrushes, and cigars; ginger-
beer-venders ; keepers of cheap and unclean eating houses. usually
called, I believe (my honourable friend the Secretary to the Admi
ralty will correct me if I am wrong), slapbangs ; females whose frank
hospitality is unfettered by conventional shackles ; river pilots ; marine-
store-keepers ; Jews ; artists in black paper ; lodging-house owners ;
bankrupt small-coal men; and crimps. (Hear, hear.) Now, theme
occupations may not sound very euphoniously ; but when 1 remind the
House that the m►jority of measures known under the name of our
free-trade policy, and especially the remission of taxation concocted
by my honourable friend the C H A NCELLOR of the ExcimeuEn, have been
calculated to benefit these and similar classes, I am unable to be-
lieve that the House would wish us to be so inconsistent and
illogical ►►s to refuse to complete the boon by giving these individuals
a voice in the Leg►slature. But I have said that the population of
Gravesend fluctuates. This, sir, is a strong reason for giving it the
franchise. During SOMO months of the year the humbler commercial
classes of London make Gravesend their 1 1111 l and the Government
has a peculiar feeling fin• those who trade upon the humblest capital,
political or otherwise. It is, moreover, the favourite resort of attor-
neys' clerks ; and I conceive►, sir, that an infusion of legal principles
and habits of attaichn►ent to the law is ealeulated to do the utmost
good to a population, to endear the Constitution to it, and to imbue it
with those great doctrines which placed the house of Bedford—l mean
of Brunswick—at the head of these realms. (1/ear, hear.) Another
reason which occurs to me is, that I do not consider that the aris-
tocracy (I mean such portion of the aristocracy as is not Whig) should
have too potent a voice in any English town. Where this is the case
we have, as in the old Reform Bill, sought to counteract it. Now, I
am informed, for I do not myself know the place, whether any person
whomsoever shall even land at Gravesend entirely depends upon two
Peers. Now, I ask the House whether Eli ? (Mr. B. OSBORN E, appa-
rently convulsed with laughter, whispered an explanation. His
lordship smiled and resumed.) Oh, two Piers-1 see. Well, I won't
press the point. 1 find I have been misled by my honourable friend's
Admiralty spelling, which is on a par with his Admiralty grammar.
But, sir, I would add that in addition to the reasons I have already
stated, and which to my mind are perfectly valid, I have a personal
reason for desiring to confer any benefit in my power upon Gravesend
If any value be attached to the constituency which elected the Leader
of this House to his seat, let it be remembered that he obtained his
majority from those who are familiarly called the 'Long-shore men.
To their disinterested suffrages he owes his place here, and he would
ungrateful, anti the House which owns his leadership
- inconsistent, if representation were refused to a
.y, and one which, like Gravesend, is. with the
mentioned, composed of nothing but 'Long-shore
entertain the same views and principles. (Hear,
propose that Gravesend be included in Schedule I)
Member. And now, sir, for another place to which
will apply—l mean the Isle of Dogs.

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