The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-23 00:00:00

lower the influence of our country instead of to ae-
complish, as might be done by deference to, and
through the agency of, our present institutions, the
maintenance and elevation of our present position.
(Hear, hear.)
T have thought that the eminent person who asked
me what I should say to my constituents should with
your indulgence receive an answer, and I hope that
what I have said may be productive of some advan-
tage, and may at least lead my constituents and
others of the people of England to ponder well on the
aspect of affairs during the interval which shall
elapse before the changes with which we are
threatened are proposed. I want to induce what in
old days was called "the landed interest "—I do not
mean merely or mainly the 'squires, but the occupiers
and cultivators of the soil—dispassionately to review

their position. We live in a period when those who
wish to be respected must respect themselves. You
will not have your rights conceded, you will not have
your fair and legitimate privileges maintained, if yon
yourselves, not knowing your own case, are silent and
prepared to submit to any unjust arrangement that
may be proposed Men suffer injustice, not only
from the ignorance of those who injure them, but
also from neglect of their own interests. lam quite
sure that if the case of the land had been fairly put
before the Parliament of 1832, it is so strong and so
full of elements which command the interest of
Englishmen that a very different arrangement would
have been made.

Understand that lam not for a moment attempt-
ing to revive a quarrel, now long forgotten, between
ourselves and the great centres of manufacturing and
commercial industry. Ido not grudge Manchester,
Liverpool, or Bradford, or the great towns of
Lancashire and Yorkshire, their representatives. I
am glad to see them in the House of Commons. I
am quite willing to admit that if they can establish a
claim it ought to be recognised in any great changes
which may take place. (Hear, hear.) I now offer
no argument, I pat forward no scheme, I give to the
country facts—facts collected from authentic and
authoritative documents—and if any one cm contra.

diet or refute them they will have ample opportunity
to do so before the next session of Parliament. If
they show that four towns having but one-third of the
population of the county ought to be represented by
eight members, while the county itself has but two,
let them offer their arguments to the fair and impar-
tial judgment of the people of England. (Cheers.)
If they can deny that, taking population as the
element of representation—which, by-the-bye, is a
great concession ; it is a test which many refuse to
take, but it is their own test—if they can deny tha►
one-half of the population of this kingdom is repre-
sented by 140 members, and less than the other
moiety by .120, and that because they live in towns,
let them go to the market-place of every town and
prove that what I am stating is "romance " and mere
imagination. As long, however, as we have public
records, and ar, long as those documents are, by
means of a free press, accessible to the whole people,
I do not believe that these statements can be refuted
or denied. It is only as facts that I offer them ; I
leave it to the people of England to draw from them
their own conclusions. (Hear, hear.) If there is to
be a political change, it ought to be one devised and
carried out for the advantage of no party whatever.
(Cheers.) It is to calm, comprehensive public
opinion that I address myself. If the question is
fully and fairly considered, if the due influence of the
landed interest in all its ramifications is recognised,
I care not bow you reconstruct your Parliament, I
care not how you adjust: your franchise, I believe
that the institutions of this country will be main-
tained, and maintained because they answer the
wants and wishes of the people. (Cheers.)
I thank you for the kind manner in which you
have received me today. I have not entered int o
party polities. Ido not depreciate parties. I am a

London : Printed and Published by AT.FIII3) Ire, at the Office, 1)0, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of Middlesex, on Saturday, the 23rd day of May, 1m57.