The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-05-11 00:00:00

es much a right to hold their Opinions as he '
hol to 'unroll his. ills wished to see the great
is sly of the people peoptrly represented in thAt
!lase; and. whenever owes of this nature.
where corruption was clearly Proved, came be-
fore them, they ought to set with decision. If
he were uhli to Come to the alternative, he cer-
t4;oll wont for this Bill—but, he confessed that
Coe would ith great pain, because he thought
Ise llou ght to go farther. The Noble Lord
h.ri very party stated, that the great body of
householders and cop holders had not a vote
~,,,,aghotit the country. On that account, lie
(- meowed. the House ought to adopt some
etronger measure; instead of giving the right of rut.
;og at the Barnstaple election to the freeholders
of the neighbouring hundred—to persons who al-
ready had a right of voting for county Members.
There were nu bodies of people, who had
hat Ihe right in this country. Such
arm to be fo in
4tipti
anchester, Sheffield, and
Birmi nglia in sofas worthy of remark, that
the freeholders of the City of London had not a
right to vote for Members for that city. Consider-
.,g this circumstance, it would be well. he con.
nveil, if the right of voting were generally ex.
•oiderl. If the alteration in this case were merely
.ietided to give to a greater, instead of a smaller
limber, of electors, the power of selling themselves,
[ • certainly would oppose it—hut he considered it
c.,rely an incipient step towards a proper con.
'Aeration of this important subject by the House.
Mr. V. IlLsea spoke against that part of the
Bill, which admitted non-resident householders to
the right of voting.
Szr J. Mscaistotut said, the object of this Bill
had been ini.taken. It was not for punishment,but for
reformat:on. Punishment was to be sought through
she medium of the Courts of Justice—but the
House was only called on to guard the parity of
'4.4:nom 11'ould the House say to the people, by
rejecting this Bill, 1, We men, in future, that
two M•nihers shall he returned for this borough,
hy the influence of bribery ?" Would they say
01.. and encourage the continuance of the most
..,ameful corruption? He never would support
any plait of reform where he did not see a great
rnietical evil—and an evident and attainable re.
niedy. He never would act on those scandalous
reports, that were repeated from month to
month, from generation to generation. and winds.
he believed, had tended more than any other
rouse to alienate the minds of the people from the
Constitution. But, when a case came before them
like the present, supported by all the noon-tide
hri4litries• of evidence, he would lend his utmost
s.rt to remedy the evil which it disclosed. Here
was a case of corruptieu in an electoral body—a
cite fully made out—end, therefore, proper for
consideration and correction. An Hon. Gentleman
(Mr. Martin) had asked, t, what merits do the in-
habitants of the hundred, to whom the electoral
blotchier is to he extended, possess. to entitle theat
to such a boon ?" Their merit was, that they would
be the means of creating a great popular election—
and that, therefore, the difficulty of having recourse
to bribery, would be very much increased. A.
NOM Member (Mr. Blake) had objected to the
clause admitting the votes of non-resident free.
'inkiers. Now, in fact, that clause, of which he
(Sir James) highly approved, constituted the whole
Bill—and the Hon. Member might, with greater
propriety, have objected to any other part of the
Mil rather than to that.

Mr. V. BLAKE explained.
Mr. Fowles, as we understood, spoke in favour
ut instituting prosecutions against the guilty.
Lord CLIVR said, in forming this Bill, he had
Other object in view than that of preventing the
r-Lurrence of those disgraceful scenes, which, it
was proved in evidence, had been prtvalent at the
election. If there were any objectionable
~iiits, they could be amended in the Committee.
The gallery was then cleared for * division,
which, however, did not take place. The Bill
we., as we understand, read a second time.
The SPEAKER was then desired not to issue his
warrant for the electiou of a Member for the
borough of Barnstaple before the Ist of June.
On the motion of Mr. J. P. GRANT a Message
VMS ordered to be sent to the Lords to request a
copy of the Lords' Committees on the affairs of the
Bank, .1.1e4,._

Mr. J. P. GRANT gave notice that lie would,
to-morrow, move for the production of certain
pepera connected with the Ophthalmic Establish.
intr.%