The Express.
London, England, 1849-02-14 00:00:00

OUR REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM

MALTON.

" The Earl Fitswillisiiisiiressidderable influence
here." So says Mr. Dod. Despite his crotchets,
Earl Filswilliam is a man who is personally entitled
to all possible respect. Bat we have no respect for
his " considerable inflame," end we propose to illus-
trate that feet by telling the tale of . alma.
Lord Fitzwilliam's influence in Melton is
the direct influence of property i property in
the land, property in the houses, property in
the church patronage, property in the townhouse,
property in the mailtst-plece ; property in the news-
room, property in the river fishery ; property in
the weathercock; nay, almost property in the very
air you breathe in Milton. We beg to inform the
rude north wind that comes bellowing and blustering
down the street at Mahon, shaking cranky window-
shutters, and making the old signboards creak again
—we be to inform it that it is a decided trespasser,
and is liable to be proceeded against as the Act directs;
Lord Fitzwilliam might set up a man-trap fur
it in the market-place, or fix a spring-gun to
shoot at it in the churchyard, or might pot
it into the lock-up, when he could catch it,
for daring to come upon his estate without permis-
sion. We say might, not believing that the noble
lord would exercise his powers—for beyond all ques-
tion he is a good landlord—aye, as good and kind a
landlord as you would wish to find anywhere; but
he may take op any one as a trespasser who setsafoot
in the town. It is all his—to the right u you enter,
to the left as you go out. The Prince tf Currabas,
better known as " Pose in Boots," never was cur-
rently reputed lord of one-half the extent of
road-side property which you will find to
belong to Lord Fitswilliam at Melton. The
town is his, and all that dwell in it. They
could not quench their thirst without his pus-
mission, nor can many of them get out of their hums
without pairing over property throueh which they
are obliged to obtain from the agent a perminive
right of way.
The only political contest within the mammy of
man at Melton wu in 1806, when Lord Heedleiyoilie
had at that time a small property within the Imenegh
limits, tried to obtain one seat, and succeeded ea tbe
poll at great expense. A committee of the Hamm of
Comities' afterwart:s unseated the noble lord for
bribery, and at the election which followed, the
opposition candidate was defeated by a large majority.
There were 113M0 hard things done towards the towns-
people on that occasion which acted se "a warning,'
and they never more rebelled. Bat this was long
ago—those alive are not responsible—so bygones shall
be bygones as to this.
Lulus!, it is only right concerning Melton to vaik
in kindly language. Perhaps few boroughs similarly
situated have, upon the whole, an little to complain at
By old association and connexion the people are
most generally whige. The members they are called
on to elect hold corresponding principles. And those
members, it is right to my, are not usually (as does
occur elsewhere in Lard Fitzwilliam's boroughs), oon-
nexions near or distant, of his lordship's family. One
seat has usually been filled by a statesman of some
note. Burke and Grattan sat for Milton in old
times; Lord Abinger, when he was a whig;
Francis Jeffrey, in 1830; Lord Burlington in '3l;
the present great Lord Chancellor of England,
from 32 to '36; and of the present members Mr.
Denison would seem to have been selected under the
idea that he had a claim opon'the whiga. The other
scat has also frequently been filled as much from public
as from private motives. The late lamented Mr. Rams-
den was elected twice, once with Jeffrey and once with
Pers ; Mr. Gaily Knight was the colleague of Lord
Burlington: and Mr. Childers., who has oat in the
two last pirliaments, is a member much esteemed.
On this ground, therefore, there is little to complain
abate. The members sent to Melton for election are
no doubt almost as good as can be wished.
The real objection is that they " ehould be sent to
Mahon for election." These members represent my
Lord Fitswilliam, not the town. The town has us
veto in their choice. When a vacancy occurs, an
address comes down from London cut and dried. It
is as pithy as may be. A few days after the candidates
themselves arrive. They go to the hotel and send
the Boots to let " the agent "know. The agent calls.
Next morning both the gentlemen walk round the
town, accompanied by that official and some others.
They " pay their best respects" to the electors, cour-
teously, politely, but with proper understanding of
their relative positions. The nomination follows ; no
one offers opposition, and the members are returned.
They give a dinner at the Talbot Inn, to which the
principal electors are invited, who drink Lord Fits-
william's health and theirs—and so the matter end+.
At the last election some gentlemen of good position
in the town took grave objection to the form and
manner of proceeding. A committee had been
formed, whose object seemed to be to receive the can-
didstes and take them round the town. These gen-
tit men icquired, inoffensively, " if they had not better
fix upon their candidates before receiving them ? "
This was an awkward point to start in such a case.
One false step and rebellion might have followed.
The nobl: earl, however, appears blest with an official
agent who unites judgment with his seal. It
was a nice lied difficult position, but he managed it
discreetly. Some one said there was no reason to
complain of those who had been chosen ones before.
Another hinted they were Lord Fitewilliam's nomi-
nees, not theirs. " Lord Fitzwilliam," said his agent,
" would only feel regret should any difference occur
that might perchance afford an opportunity to any
modidate whom the town would not approve !" The
matter went no farther : a little diplomatic treatment
had plastered o'er the sore.
Bat that sore is felt. It smarts and irritates. It
does so all the more because there are in Melton men
of independence of purse as well as of opinion. It
does so all the mare because the town is whig, and
because the members chosen have been men by whom
the right of free, unfettered representation has ever
been upheld. It is anomalous to think that the expo-
nents of such principles shoal-I be practically illus.
testing the system they unsdeesn. Thinking men
at Melton mast and will feel this, and may express it,
too, when the proper tiros arrives.
" What chance would there be, then, for an inde-
pendent candidate?" Against Lad Fitswilliasn's
interest we are bound to answer, none : not the
slightest in the world. Mea of not a little weight in
Melton will candidly declare that however much
more they might agree in principle with any other
candidate, still they should if called upon vote for
Lord Fitswilliam's. " Sir," said one elector, " I
carry on my basin= in my house; my house is Lord
Fiturilliam's: so are nearly all the rest this Ms
the river; if I lose ray heave 1 lose my trade: do
you think I ma vote against my lord re And
although no " screw" whatever is applied--although
Lord Fitzwilliam is as kind as kind can be—al-
though his steward and agent is popular, and in no
way feared—although both are looked upon as just
men who would do no wrong they could avoid—yet
this is the prevailing feeling of the place, and even
the sincerest tories will reply to you the same.
But, in another way, there is a chance for the in-
dependence of the borough, and we own that we
should like to see it tried. Let a fit and able man
a sound reformer, enable otherwise to get a seat,
stand boldly forward,. and call ma lard Fiberfill=
to act on his professions. Should a NM
and such a candidate appear, would tie sold lord
oppose to him a man of his own & e? We have
doubts whether he would go so IL
Under the existing system there are two points
Iffectine Melton that are really interesting.
First. Of what benefit is the franchise to the town?
Second. Of what effect would be the ballot ?
As regards be franchise, no one that we met in
Mahon seemed to think that either much honour or
advantage was conferred upon the borough b 7 the
" privileges' ofelestiegiheiegreatlandlarere stem=
to represent his principles in parliament The honour
was certably more than doubtful : that we readily
confessed. But we had some doubt about the benefit.

On inquiry, however, we could not find that Malian
mas were wave or particularly ardent shout public
awilms. Oa political questions they do not seem to
triable **wombats wry frequently. The right of
CSlondia tbasegit tbsle members would seem to be in
$ midis: deemed of little consequence :
rtes memo to be rather to leave
pails mattes be "my lord," than to interfere them-
selves. As to loner geevancee, of oourse they
hiss aiding to represent to parliament on that score.
illieba= le Lord Pitswilliam's: what have the
to do with town improvements? It
wadi be tbsoght an act of great impertinence, and
indeed a waston interference with the rights of pro-
perty, were they to look after their own municipality.
As regards any other benefit they have never been
accustomed to expect it. The members never have
resided near the town; they are usually quite igno-
rant at. any private wants or wishes. They may
give a taw pounds a year to schools and other
charities, bat they never come near save on elections,
sad thee stay no gm. then is needful. Certainly
these facts would seem to say that the advantage of
returning members is not great.
Then as to the ballot. The impress on is that if
the ballot were adopted the electors of this borough
would return to parliament the best man, let him be
whom he might. The tremor there is slew, tie ap-
prehension and alarm, would not be severely felt, if
secret voting were adopted. Still the ballot would
not prevent the nomination of the lord. And many
think that the electors are so accustomed to leave it
to another to think for them that nothing would ',re-
eled, the nominee's return.

This is a fair, impartial view of Mahon. It remains
alone to describe the town itself. New Mahon is
sixteen or twenty miles north east of York; half way
towards the coast. The population is about 5,000. Its
situation, in the centre of alarge agricultural district,
renders it a place of some resew: for farmers. Its
earn market re larger and amend mills, some of which
are new, are constantly preparing flour for the manu-
facturing districts of the county. Beyond this, Mahon
is a stagnant place. Its streets, irregularly built, awl
almost !desolate, show no symptom of prosperity or
trade. The pavement is as bad a: bad can be : the
lighting far from good. When towns are held by
numerous freeholders each man has an interest in em-
bellishing his own, and contributing his quota for ge-
neral improvements. But when a town is held by
one proprietor, his agent has, of course, no chiler duty
than to keep down the outgoings, and make the land-
lord's rent-roll as considerable as he can. Melton is a
striking illustration of all the disadvantages of whole-
sale proprietorship in towns.
By the Boundaries Act two outlying hamlets were
included in the borough. One of these, Old Melton,
is entirely Lord Fitswilliam's property: the other
5 is held by tory landlords. Old Melton is the
rof the two, and increases Iced Fitswilliam's
' mace. But, on the whole, these places were
fairly included in the boundary, and there is no com-
plaint to make of direct jobbery in the transaction.
By the addition of these hat lets the population of the
borough is made up to 7,000. The electors are 550.
A small place this to return two burgesses. We re-
member strong attacks upon the borough in the
course of the reform debates, when Mr. Wilson
Croker undertook to exhibit whig iniquities. Hera
is a rather valuable extract from one of his speeches :
When this bill was ant pupated, the noble lord nil he
should take population ea his principle of proceeding. lie
proposed to didnuaehles all boroughs with a population of
leas than 2,000. To those with a population of between 2,000
sad 4,000 he proposed to give one member; all existing
borough. of more than 4,000 and leer than 10,000, were to
have two inemten; and all unrepresented towns having
above 10,000 inhabitants were to be enfranchised, then
under 20,000 having one member, and those of more than
20,000 two. • • • But from then rules the noble lord has
since dferread. e • • Molten, for instance, with a popula-
tion of ,005, is still to be allowed to elect tics menabcrs,—to
smock the common sense of the Maw of Commons, to belie
the principles on which the minister affects to act, and to
insult and exasperate the people.

FINANCIAL REFORM.
REPEAL OF THE MALT TAX.-MEETING OF

-•
AGRICULTURISTS AT BATTLE.
Yesterday, a meeting, convened by requisition
of a cumber of the malt and hop growers end leading urn-
calturiara in But Sure:, was held at the George Inn, Battle,
for the purpose of considering the propriety of adopting mea-
sures to procure the repeal of the malt duty, and in support
of the financial reform movement. The meeting was nume.
newly and respectab'y attended, and comprised several of
the ludo. ra of the district, but wee composed maialyof
farmers. On the motion of IL M. Curt** Eq., M.P.,
J. V. Shelley, Esq., was called to the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said he felt that at this time there
ought to be on the part of all connected with the cultivation
of the soil, whether se landlord or tenant, no difference of
opinion. They met to lake measures for the repeal of the
malt and hop duties, and to pass resolutions in favour of
retrenchment and filmiest reform. lie referred to the meet-
ing of the Protectionist Society recently held at Brighton.
At that meeting the perions present derided to endeavour to
get back again protection, but in the event of feline
is that then they would go for retrenchment and re-
lief of burdens. Now there was no more &u-
-prises a position for a man to be placed in than
between two stools, and he was incliced to think
that in endearmaring to get back again that which was gone
and which all sensible men felt was gone for ever, they were
grasping the shadow and losing the utterance. He also re-
ferred to the meeting of the anti-Melt-tax Association, in
Bridgeetreet, Loudon, held is the week before last, et which
it wee stated a deputation from them had not been treated
with great cordiality by the Protection fleelety., who had
taken a month to consider whether they would join in the
movement for the repeal of the malt tax. At that muting
Mr. Fisher Hobbs, a well-known farmer and protection*
said unless certain persons came leeward sad helped them
better, the sooner the Protection Society wee die
' banded the better. From this falling be augured
that abetter time wee coming. The protection societies
had taught them that they bad power ; and he trusted they
would now use that power for their own purposes. It they
' were satiefled that the repeal of the malt tax and hop duty
I would conduce, not oily to their own advantage but to the
advantage of all dame of the community—if they were sans.
tied that they were in a good casee--they had only to seek
leaders am mg themeless; sad if they did that, those who
now hung back would then help them, rather than lose poli-
tical hawse. The Chancellor of the Exchequer always
Jed them that if they repealed the malt duty they must sub
albite some other tax ; but, instead of delog that, they aunt
make the ministers num (Cheers.)
Major CURTE', in propodar the first !swindles, said
the object of the present metier was to procure relief from
the deans under which they were labouring, discrete which
was uneximpled In Sussex, and, owing to their peculiar
crop., unequalled in England. Mon well acquainted with
this district and the neighbouring aunty of Kent Informed
that many fors would be obliged to stop at Michael-
mas ant, unless some bold measures of relief were 'dada's
tend to them in the meantime. It was neceseary to meet
and take strong measures: half measures wen useless.
That meeting was not called se mash to declare their disap-
' prove of the malt to
_• they had declared that already, but
it was felled to compel—that was the und—to compel the
repeal of the duty on malt and hge, and to take measures
secordine to the relief required. They required immediate
relief. Relief in the muse of years would be useless, for
some of them would be dead sad others ruined. He asked
the farmers of Susses tai the farmers of England whether
they were taking the proper course. He knew that he was
about to enunciate ma unwinds: esehdert bat be must tell
them that until they could make up their suede that they
could obtain no relief from prAecture they would obtain no
relief elsewhere. (Applause.) They might petition, and as
seem Is their petition had been preseated It would be laid
aside sad Resales- The next oneestion wen what should be
done ant f IS was absolutely ntoweary toe theta to
go on with disk Sea ; it was ispsodbla ter
di em to to bask. Rust alga a IPzeig apt.
aka to the saki on him to soaves*
a toonty emoting to tabs kilo sainieratin the subjects they
were going to come der OA% Until they could
be
make op their dads te kelpa all partly—by aver/
an. whether he had a wino nem eft &bloat ead ; whether
it wen Ibe Dna et likhnewl or Mr. Cohdeha—(cheers)—
tbiff weal Ist me milt Me sena :
Their mit ais main_ k' now opprearela oyoration ;
theta pamme all Os dpi ft aWI ass ; sad Oat tt Is pus-
Yasimpoohim ea the baraisme dams, insandi as it Is a tea so
IffilloodielbmillAV ma OM isfail Is Os Ihriews,
the amemltier tams Is will ast ink by the de.
ward beer bet by Oa sesirialen taloa by the
eat nay he wean
Mr. M. esnia, end sand ken eine Mr
tied=M show abs diadem alas et as ink aid bps de-
Treaska he NM. was pas new to nem, wed the
ant waist was what was fa be dean non wore anal
bedpan The Liverpool Aiseskisa, we soil. had baked
their trap with the repeal et ihe malt duty. AR he seal
say was, it was a t..pei g bk. The Anti•Meitoket Am.
elation had test a Mfg is the Protection tasty la
Boad.stion, to sok ter esiemass. Mr. Nowdegete and r.
declared at ease they would not vote fora in
;hrolidetiritalt day, and the Doke of Rik .d like the
ins k sofipain. said, "Ge thy way this tine. sad whaa a
mere earewdeat nom yens I .111 sell thee." .)
Mr. T. SMITH neva a esesintisa GC ehe
hop duty, white son sessadai by Mr. NOAZZI, serried.
Mr. J. SMITE aired that be as a hoe boar bat when
they bad free trade 'bang the kenos awe smlllMd to free
nude at home, to pow win fay plowed sal ass it se they
pleased ,• and be nova a adage. to that 11•11.
Mr. ORTON nanded. The farmer., be said, had got
ever; *bey ware in the ditsh and *sal be glad et
Igleihe d
umktease et altar Kr. Cobtka or any one eke to gat
lasi' ea
The Ma. Mr. IMAM moporbd the resoluta Be.
trombonist nut be aesei and he thought the mean
squadron on the Masa sent add be abandoned. Thee of
what ass was a field nushal with Ida 6,000 f, a year and the
44 admirals ?