The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-10-28 00:00:00

ON THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION.

The annexed observations on the question of Reform we
'Yiaeted from an awful little work recently published, ear
tuirJ " A Concise and Imparttal Essay ea the Bellied
Coatlllation." The suilior, Mr. Juha D. Porridge, is, as
we can rotten from his title-page, a Solicitor at Law, and
he his slown in his book very extensive legal reading. His
.übjeet seems to have been to present to the public a clear
historical statement of the laws affecting the prerogatives of

the Crown, and the privileges of the people, conceiving, in
• 'the present state of the country, that nothing could more
• •fisetually contribute towards removing erroneous inspres-
siuus, leading the public millet to form correct views
of old be considered public rights, than a fami-
lia pocuolis exposition of the principal laws on
tb the fabric of our political system is erected. In this
undertaking he has ahewn diligence and research, and his
book cannot fail of proving useful to those who wunlil wish
to make that branch of legal learning their study. To his
legal tract be has annexed some general remarks upon
elections, the borough system, and the expediency of Re.
lot m; but although IHr.flurridge earnesey desires a Reform,
is not that scheme of Reform which would captivate the
n,innary politicians of the present day: So far is hr from
advocating Universal Suffrage, that he ocema to think the
right of suffrage is already too generally extended. The
qualifieation of forty ahillings freehold property, in his opt-
Pistil, might no longer to be observed, ■s it opens a door
to the tide of corruption at contested elections." He, how.
ever, advocates the expediency of limiting the duration of
Parliameuut to the term of three years. The following
remarks on the question of a reform in the mode of electing
Iterribeis to serve in Pailiament, will also shew the general
style of the work :

The purity of our constitution mine enlightened
men have conceived has been coutantimited, and
therefore a radical Reform should take piece, first
isy a more equal representation Of the people in the
House of Cimino'le, and lastly by an immediate
reform in the domestic economy, by the abolition
of all sinecures, useless offices, and unmerited pen.
sons, &c. " Chaque nation chit se gouvereer selwe
le beAoin de set allures et la conservntron du bien
puMque :"
This idea also coincides with the popular senti-
ment that has prevailed many years past ; which
has by some been deemed indispensable to our us.
simnel welfare, and particularly as our taxes at this
present time are necessarily very heasy. It is there-
ire hoped that the Committees of the (louse of
Commons will be productive of much good. Every
candid person lutist admit, that when Ministers
Ih'mselves acknowledge (ht certain newspapers)
that the sale of mate in Parliament has been the
practice and established custom of their predeces-
• s, as well known, &c. as that the sun duth shine
at noon day, it is time for such a subject to be
▪ and again discussed (if necessary) by their
delegates in Parliament; for when an innovation of
11,11 dangerous complexion begins to foul the spring
la Purity, we know hot to what extent the stream
way he tainted with it in process of time, if a remedy
be 'not soon applied to the bleeding wound. Mon-
te..(iieu says, " When once a republic is corrupted,
their is no peolibildy of remedying any of the ris-
mg evils but by removing the corruption and re-
storing . lost principles : every other correction is
either useless or a new evil." And again be says,
" When once the principles of government are con-
rowed, the very best laws become bad and turn
ogairist the state."
• Whatever veneration the people of the' present
day might have for the practice and precedents of
..• door ancestors, yet when the fernier is had and the
latter inapplicable, measures and resolutions found-
►d VII, them cannot be jtimilied. As to precedents,
, Jodi' siatesmeo anti lawyers, in say humble con-
eel:lnm. pay toe mug h deference to them : and cer.
.brim it is, that our precedent run rarely he found to
be completely applicable to two Mlles at remote
periods ; therefore, though precedents might assist
~ and be us.fut,iniplicitelefereace ought not to be
• paid to them•; for dime do (4fter a time). we shall

broorpemere inecbtratica, and be apt to adopt lore-
:. cedentolor print-44e.. and thereby never exercise
. %nay own judgment aufficiently, and common sense
iabstki be %bouldered out of the question.
'Ain critical and important case of national mo-

ssstut coati before our iirrm.nt Ministers, I should
hope 111141 believe they ;ire fully udtquate to display
• svavalacb svi.dons in their mrll•urrs or resolves as

very. aE their predecessors : end-.why afloat we
• askhyst•?. I am not convinced that men of the pre-
:ll-rat-lit .44 (take them generally) are infra& in cepa-
, air iheis forefathers: then certainly the exilic's-
, 4. jire .arf die aimer'sbould bit first considered before
gy rcedents. -.

By way of Arengthesing my argument. I will
-jusoaktike. the liberty •f quoting a sentiment from
;Fier inmost* Tartan's 'perch on the question of the
ittigtotby p the said; the sh:urs.lity of acting

41.