The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-14 00:00:00

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Mr. HUSKISSfiN presented a petition from the Mayor, Bailiffs,
and Burgesses of Liverpool, in which they took notice of the law
which had lately been passed, and which was about to come into
operation, fur regulating the importation of wrought silk into this
country ; and the petitioners particularly adverted to the clause in
the Act which confined the importations to the port of London ;
and they concluded by praying that the port of Liverpool might not
be deprived of the advantages to be derived from the importation
of silk. He felt it to be his duty to present this petition to the
House, but at the same time he must declare that it was his mis-
fortune to differ from the prayer of the petitioners. When he con.
aldeted that the period to which the operation of the new law was
limited was two years only, he really thought the quantity of silk
goods which could be imported in that time, though prohibited
from being imported in Liverpool, would not do any very material
injury either to the shipping or trade of that port. He thought that
it was desirable, until some actual experience had been acquired as
to the different qualities of silk that would be imported, to confine
the importation of them to that port, where the value and nature
of the silks was most likely to be best understood, in order to
present any violation of the law ; and lie trusted that his consti-
tuents would not find themselves prejudiced in point of trade by
this measure being confined to the port of London, until the re-
quisite experience should be acquired.
On the motion that the petition be laid on the table.
Gen. GASCOYNE wished to say a few words before the pe-
tition should be laid on the table. His Right Hon. Colleague
hail stated that the law could not be productive of any material in-
jury to his constituents, because it was limited to a period el two
years. Btu it was not of the particular time that lie (Gen. Gas-
Payne) complained; what he objected to was the principle of the
measure. He conceived there was much inconsistency between
this part of the Right Hon. Gentleman's proceeding. and that for
which he was so deservedly entitled to the thanks of the country.
The principle adopted in this Bill was tree trade; but yet it was
confined to one port, and that under the idea that no person was
capable of valuing silk gouda out of that port. But there were
persons as capable of valuing silk goods in the port of Liverpool
as in any port of England. But what would be the consequence of
this measure? Goods generally arrived by assortment; but in
that case if the ship should happen to have any silk goods on board,
it would not he able to put in at the port to which it was destined,
until it had first delivered those silk goods at the port of London;
thus the destination of the vessel would be entirely altered, which
must be productive of serious inconvenience. He could not see
any good reason, from what bad fallen from his Right Hon. Col-
league, why he should deprive the ports of Liverpool, of Glasgow,
of Bristol, and all the other ports of the kingdom, from having all
the advantages to be derived from his general system of free trade ;
or why on the contrary for two years those ports should be deprived
of the importation of silk ; and which system might thereafter be
extended to other articles for aught he could tell. He thought
there were very good grounds of complaint on the part of his con-
stituents, and he perfectly agreed with them.
The petition was then laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr. HUSKISSON presented a similar petition from the trustees
of the Liverpool Docks.—Laid upon the table and ordered to be
printed.
Mr. E.WODEHOUSE presented a petition from several gentle-
men, Justices of the Peace far the county of Norfolk, praying for
an alteration in the game laws.
Mr. A. ELLIS presented a petition from the ship-owners resi-
dent at South Shields, in which they noticed the Reciprocity Duty
Bill, and praying that their interests might be protected.
Lord CLIVE said, in Consequence of the intended opposition by
the lion. Member for Wareham (Mr. Calcraft) to the second read,
ing of the Liverpool and Wrmingham Canal Bill, he gave notice
that it was intention to move to-morrow that the second reading
should be postponed to Tuesday next.
BENEFIT SOCIETIES.
Mr. HOBHOUSE presented a petition front the members of a
benefit club called " The Sons of Albion," in which they noticed
the Bill contemplated to be passed regarding Benefit Societies, and
stating that, in the different Acts of Parliament for the regulation
of such societies, there was a dame which directed that any diffe.
rence that should arise between any of the members and the Society
should be decided by arbitration ; and the petitioners observed, that
if this clause should be repealed it would give rise to great litiga-
tion, and they therefore Frayed that this clause might nut be altered.
—Laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.
LICENSING SYSTEM.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from Thos. Edwards, Ir-L.D.,
and a Magistrate of the county of Surrey, complaining of the
abuses of the licensing system. Every body who attended to the
contents of the Reports of this House, and particularly to those of
the years 1816 and 1817, must be aware of the evils then existing,
from the conduct of the Magistrates in granting licenses to public.
houses. He was quite aware that it was desirable, if possible, to
have a number of well-regulated houses for the accommodation of
the public, and which should as much as possible be under such TO.
Notations as would preserve public morals and maintain decency
and good order. But instead of the system which was establiehlad
for that purpose producing this effect, the persons whose duty it was
to enforce those regulations were induced, by the great interests which
individuals had in the houses to be licensed, to employ Improper
means to obtain those licenses, regardless of their character, or of
the intention of' the Legislature in establishing the system. It was
upon this ground that the House was called upon to remedy and
correct those evils which had so long existed. It was wall known to
every person that the very granting a Retinae in the neighbourhorel
about London, immediately raised the value of the house from BOOT.
to 20001. and sometimes NM. It must be evident that this money
so applied must be productive in some degree or other to the party;
And it was fair to inter that the parties so baying out their money
levied the same on the public, in the prices charged for beer, sad
by other mai-practices. It was lamentable that a hiseistrete of the
county shoold be obliged to 'peak, as he did in this petition, of the
conduct of hie brother Magistrates. ()a licensing dap the petiticost

stated that he had observed a aeries of jobbing carried ois, -which
was altogether disgraceful to the. Magiseracy.of the lull odd
that a system of partiality in greeting licenses existed to &Agree
quite incredible. In some streets there were ten or swerouthentirill
licensed, whilst in another street there has not a ainglo Nome, sad
which was owing to the circumstance that bo individual bad lakift
the means of preparing the Magistrates to grant. in the laden ins
stance, licenses for the houses that applied. In one division these
were from 8111) to 1000 public house'. In some places Mere were
public houses in clusters, even neat door to each tither, without any
regard to public utility ; whilst in other districts, where individual'
had applied for years and year.' for licenses, in large and popaloue
neighbourhoods, when the convenience of the inhabitants
ra
(pared such houses to Exist, there was no public-house to be plet
with. For his own part heisaw no reason why the selling at twee
should be subjected to this species of restraint any more than the
selling of tea or coffee At all events he was quite satisfied that
the licensing •ystem had produced quite a contrary result trout that
which was contemplated ;by the Legislature. In figotlande
until within the Inst few years, there was acarcely any difficulty
with regard to licenste. Every individual on payMgs falt
81111.
tinge was entitled to his license. In England, too, it Any petrol
wished to sell tea er coffee, he hod only to pay the fee, and n* ob,
jection was made. 'The Excise Officers knew to whom to apply,
and in what situation the accounts were kept. it nem such Ins,
tern were adopted to regulate the selling of %war, he was quits la-
tidied much good would result front it. Another reason why the
licensing system ehnead be put an end to was, that the object for
which it was formed fitful be aa effectually attained without it se
with it. The laws that evicted, i• dependent of the power of the
Magistrates in refusing a licetise. were sufficient to kip the houses
proper state of order. In short, every object conommlated
tam was in face provided for by other *mates in a snore
manner. 'lite pernicious system of jobbing void' cow pre.
rei eil would, by the -siesnovil of the course now pursued undet
the licensing system, be completely put an end tn. Accord-
mg to the prevent system, a person who bought a haulm for
?OW., and could get a license on the following day, "might after,
wards get 12011/. or even 2000/. for the same house; but elthouge
this mode of granting licenses was extremely advantageous to Ind ;
vidoals who invested large capitals in houses fur that purpose, if
operated very much to the disadvantage of . the public, who were
obliged to take bad beer because they had no choice ; the licence-
system had rendered the retail beer trade a monopoly. Among the
many improvements which his.:llajgety's ltlinisters had undertaken,
he regretted that this subject had ',ft caught the attention of the
Secretary for Home Aft:tirs.. He thought the public officers be,
came criminal wlien they neglected to correct pernicioue systems,
having it in theirpower to do so. He had on a former evening
presented a petition on the same subject from Chichester. where the
atones of the system had been carried to an extreme; in which pe.
tition it was alleged that the amendment of the licensing system
would at once lead to a reduction in the number of alehouse'', and
to an improvement in the quality of melt liquor. He thought the
peti•ion deserved the attention of the house.
Mr. ItiS'I'COURT made an observation, the import of which did
not teach us.
Mr. BERNAL presented a petition from an individual named
flenege Booth, a victualler, complaining that his license had not
been renewed.
CORN LAWS.
Mr. Secretary PEEL presented a petition from a place in Perth,
praying for an alteration in the Corn Laws.
Mr. LEYCESTER thought it would be desirable to facilitate
the distribution of bonded corn.
Mr. Secretary PEEL declined entering into soy discurolon ; it
appeared to him more advisable to postpone the question.
Mr. WESTERN presented a petition from the farmers of
Holderness, in the West Riding of the county of York, praying
that no alteration might take place in the Com Laws.
REPRESENTATION OF SCOTLAND,
31r. ABE KC ItO Rl' rove, according to notice, to move for
leave to bring in a Bill to alter and amend the Representation of
the City of Edinburgh. The motion was founded on a petition,
and the Honourable Member commenced by observing, that it was
the wish of the petitioners that he should call the ;so entie» of the
House to die prayer of the petition, before he engaged In the gene.
. ,
cal principles of the question. He had himself given the perttioti
the maturest consideration, and lie was fully satisfied both of the
magnitude of the grievancee complained of, and of the possibility
of their remedy by the means proposed. He wished that the duty
of bringing forward the question had . fallen into better hands; lie
would, however, endeavour to discharge it to the.best of his ability.
He had on a former occasion stated all the details of the grievances
arising from the want of a general elective franchise in the city ot
Edinburgh. That city had a populatiou of upwards of 100.000
souls, and yet the electors were only 37 in number; nay, the choice
of a representative devolved cm s majority of these, or only lo
persona. The abuse of this privilege was too scandalous to he de.
fended, and the fact was so notorious, that those who sought to
amend the system would be met, he was sore, by no direct argu.
menta. The main argument against him was, that ureter pretence
of seeking an amended representation of the city of Edinburgh. it
was endeavoured to work the way towards a complete Parliamentary
Refo:m. He should also be asked, he knew, why he di I nut extend
the measure to other great towns—Glasgow and Aberdeen ? But
he did not mean to conceal, that if the experiment airs to succeed
in Edinburgh, he should be very happy to extend the same beech('
still further. Vet, however beneficial a total change might be, he
wished for no sudden or alarming innovation. On those grouted* be
meant to proceed. Ile was well aware that he should have
to encounter the opposition of all those high-mettled anti.
reformers who imagine that every alteration is a step toward*
revolution. With such persons he was not disposed to argue.
But there was another class of persons who, though able
to recognize just and salutary principles, were terrified and with-
held front their adoption by the alarmists' to whom he had before
alluded. To that class he would addresshimselfennicularly. •fle
would even declare that he admired the caution and prudence by
which they were guided ; and he felt himself bound, before she
asked their concurrence in the measures he proposed. to demonstrate
at once their justice and their practicability. The proposirien
which he submitted to the House was a simple one, and the case ot
the city of Edinburgh lel been selected because the Town Council
of tutu thy was alone in respect of its elective franchise, and sot
associated with other bodies, as in Glasgow. There were othes
reasons for comment ng with a particular case ; if the experiment
were to succeed, so that 'he new electors should send a respectable
and honest Member to Parliament, hopes might then be afforded
of the extension of the benefit. as experience would furnish an at.
gument in favour of the gradual improvement of the representa-
tion of Scotland; but if the giving the right of election to tee
householders of Edinburgh should lead only to riot and dined r,
they who opposed the praline measure would be completely jueritieu
in resisting any further reforms There was also another advantage
attending the mode of proceeding which he had chosen ;if are
defect should be found from practice in alterations new made, they
might be qualified or modified in any subeemient changes. But
there was another class of persons who, perhaps, might think the
present measure so much modified Red restrained as to be vile and
conteniptible; that might be the opinion of the young and incoo.
;literate; it might he the opinion of those who were ignorant to
human nature, and who were not aware how hard it was to con,
ciliate the minds of men, or how wise it was to innovate by slow
degree'. That numerous and respectable body of men, whom to
should fearlessly designate as the reformers of Scotland, had no
objection to a partial measure; on the contrary, they would rejoice
in its success, while at the same time aware that if it were defeated
the general cause would not be matetially. prejudiced. The course
he adopted would leave it in the power or Parliament to pause if
any thing objectiunable might arise. It lied lot, laden!, been said of
him (Mr. A.) that be was a republican, but it was said that he hao
consented to lend himself to the furtherance of republican views;
that assertion he would most absolutely repel; nay, he would is,
vile gentlemen to refer to the petition itself, and study both Ca
manner and its contents ; there they would find nothing butee
simple statement of grievances ' • they would find in it the language
of men who were willing to throw themselves at the feet of dta
House, and who, so far from entertaining any idea of subverting
the constitution, testified in the strongest terms their attachment
to it, The mere perusal of the petition would suffice to dissipate
many of the prejudices which were excited against the measure.
It had been urged, also, by way of argument against him, teat
Edinburgh had prospered under the present system, and also that
he had not brought forward any instance of malversation on the
part of the Magistrates. As to the first point, he was rejoiced a;
the increase and prosperity of Edinburgh, but he denied that It Lad
thriven from the auspiciouspresence of the Town Council; on the
he believed that it had thriven in spite of the Town
SinceEmm-
he had been a Member of that House, many measures
p
brought forward, the objects of which were to promote
echoiainil t r
beena ry,
the interests ot ldinburgh. In all these cases, in which the pros-
perity of-that city was in question, the parties anayal egaiest each
other were, on one side the Town Council, and on the other the Le.
habitants. In all these cases the inhabitants had succeeded; theta
views and measures had always obtained the sanction of Parini-
: meet, notwithstanding the effects of thellouncil to defeat them.
When it was said that be had not adduced any instance of abuse,
nor brought home the charge of malventatioe to any individual, ha
would merely protest against the necessity of so doing. He war
only bound to show that the measure war to
produce benefit to the community at Ciir7.4edas ca
He would however
4owl
state, that the power residing in the Council to choose Members of
Parliament was only a bust vested In them for the benefit of the
people. Wear.) TM right to elect embers was left with them,
am Parliament deerepil sbe of it most beneficial to the
people, and Parlismant etblbt nolo alter that disposal Vilatletlf it
ceased to hebenaicial Detaldiewittite did not feel Mond to mention
or pordeobeiip asy inatistaslaatotigtontatioo, he would aPltbst
Mt* rim millif.h.l4ollrkb 4166 3tift Council, whothap.
it wee ma poommk Ind mom easy, to eel* bacon such eases. us
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II

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J

greeted. It appeared, from the History of Scotland, that it was
in the year 14119 that the mode of election, called in Scotland self-
election, was first established. The preamble of the Act which
eetablished It showed clearly what was the'right of the people pre.
rious to that easement; that preamble stated that the provisions
of the Act were alleviated to avoid " the clamour of the common,
sent Ample persona." This expreetion sufficiently showed what were
the rights of the peose before that period ; and surely it was now
as competent for Parliament to restore those rights as it ever was
to rewind them. From the year 1409 down to the Resolution,
the Scotch books were full of Acts, made in consequence, as
the preambles stated, of the malversation and corruption of •the
maesustra and officers to whom the franchise was emnisted.—
In the reign of Charles 11. so great were the grievances andso low)
the trompininte, that It was found necessary to grant a conmiieeion
to Inquire into the matter; the recital of the Act stated, that the
murmurer of the bonnigiu; proceeded from the misconduct of the
Magistraten, who preferred their private interest to public fluty, and
squandered the revenues of the boroughs among their relatives and
etinporters. The Convention Parliament saw the cell, and was
willing to find a remedy; but the only true and rational remedy
that cool-I have been devised was free eketicii. From the year
!Th4 down to the present time the misconduct of the Magistrates
had been the constant topic of complaint. and the evil continues
just is it was. The effects of it are, first, to exclude the people
from their constitutional tights: and next. In make a venal and
ceettipt magistracy. who have lost the respect of the people, and
who are morally unfit to choose the parliamentary reptesentati eve.
lie would adduce, In favour of his arguments, the opinion of a
great man, a lawyer and a philosopher, who, for the benefit of his
country and of mankind in general. heed left his (minims on record ;
the piomort of the opinion was, that the tampering of a cor-
rupt magistracy infected the morals of the people no the ore
hand, and on the other introduced corruption and venality into
the! Mouse of Parliament; that was the opinion of Lord !imbues.
He bad only one other ar,rument to dispose of. It lieu been said
that they should nteke no alteration. becanse by en doing they would
encroach upon the articles of union. He would roil; if those gen.
itemen whom he had then the honour of admiressieg recollected
what ton:, place in the year 17 Si ? Aceordimig to the A rite., of
Union heritable jurisdictions had been retained—they had not only
been retained, but were also so completely reeognised as property.
that they were sold, mortgaged, or seized, by time next Mar, all
other heritable propetty ; vet it was &Oiled necessary by Parlia-
ment the, they ehould be abolished, and accordingly tiny were so.
The Qmierier Sessions also had been rentodeliela and tins met in.
deed a most imminent innovating on the Arim 1... of I 'Mon ; tor it'
'thelre len. any one point more jealously regarded than another by
tNe people of Scotland—if they desired security against any one
innovation rime than another—it was against the introduction of
English law and Englieh punishments into the law of netitlanit.
Ile would nsk the llocse what they had to be afraid of? lie could
understand that any man might he afraid of entrusting power to an
ignorant mob ; but none hut the most corrupt Mid shake at the
imrodtimion of a more general elective franchise amonget tile en.
lightened inhabitant,' of the City of Edinburgh. To whom were
they granting the elective franchise if they conceded it to the
householders of Edinburgh ?—Was it not to independent men,
many of them connected with the admieietrat Om of jimetice_all loyal,
antimgenerally speaking. in point of fortune, more affluent nom the
householders Of any city in the kingdom, London excepted (Ilene)
In England the elections were in many instances popular—there
was no hostile feeling rimer° against property; on the contrary,
when rack and property were united with good muttn, they in-
variably received the preference, even at the mos; palmier election,.
Why, he would ask, should the ilimuee anticipate a diderein result
in Scotland? At present in that ceuntry the people were excluded
teem all eempathy with the electors or the elected. In England the
remind dependency existing between cite electors and the elected
was productive of harmony to all; but in Sereland the right of
electine was enntined to an exclusive class. There, iliere was no
such thing as popular election. but in Eoglsnd there were nume-
rous instances in which the people exercised the neat :teen to its
fullest extent. None of the Scotch Members of that House could
say that they represented the people of that cautary—tiny merely
represented a small class. whose Interests they were bound to :,trend
. to, or, it' they opposed then,' they opposed the interests of those
whom they rimpreented. Would it not he prepisterous to witness the
/Topic of Edinburgh applying to sonic other Member of that
ti mew. renticsiing Inns to oppose a Pleasure introduced by the Re-
presemative of their own city ? tit nue hear.) Vet such was the
raw with mill Scotland. It was not the ecople who were :clammed,
but a class whose interests often varied (roan these or the great ma's
of the ',lmitation of that country. Could anything be niece mini.
tying to the people of Scat land, than to se: ,be i!,lLinitants of Eng_
lard and Ireland possessed of all the advantages of pen, ular election
troll s-hi II they themselves were whoily .:mended ? They hot not
O'er, a single solitary occasion upon which to menden their opt_
pions. A more tteimititiaele or a More injurious mode of repre-
sentinit a cnrr.try could not well be comnived. Ile eatrrated the
Reuse to consider whether it was wen% their while to carry the.
nenple of Scotland along with them, and if so. to show, i•i one
nmetence at bast, a disposition to electele to the desires of the
nilmabitarts ef that portion of the empire. (Hear. hear.) The
IL/mime:de and Learned Gentleman then moved for leave to bring
tea Bill to amend the representation of the city of Edinburgh, and
Alt down amidst loud cheers.
Mr. DUN DAS said that he mild not caneent to the motion.
which bed a direct tendency to sweep away chartered rights wicelt
lied the experience of time to support them. 'Pile Hon, ammd
Leonard llontlentan had upon a former on- stun brought the rune
measure berme the !louse. and it had tailed after a considerable
discussion of its probable effects; and yet again it came before
them in the seine shape, and with the tame prospective view of
boating down and trampling upon chartered privilege.. which had
rerciveti the seal of ages in confirmation of their ut:iity, and under
which the city of Edinburgh I: od risen into comfort and affluence.
There was no charge made against the I orporamion of any impurity
in the exercise of their elective franchise, and yet the lion. and
Learned Gentleman would induce the House to deer mile them and
their names for ever • for who would or who coniml believe that
Emir charter had been destroy cd unless some atrocious conduct upon
their part superinduced its destruction ? %Thy should the House
qutt the path of right and of justice fur the sake of altering
the representation of the City of Emlinbugh ? The Itieht lion.
Gentleman concluded by quoting the opinion of Lord II ardwicke,
that the articles of Union should he maintained entire. and stated
that be conceived it to be an imperative dutj so to n.nititein them.
Mr. .1, P. GRANT said, that according to the articles of Uninn,
a distinction was drawn between public and private !defile. The
litter could not be altered. except upon the grounds of public
etditr ; lint public rights might be altered as occasional policy
might require. In the representation of England there were many
defects, rind he apprehended that there was no Gentleman who
would net lend himself to remedy such defects. Why should they
be Ices wither: to do so in the case of Scotland ? It hail been mild,
that the l,egiislature was not in the habit of interfering except in
Cases of corruption ; but lie firmly believed that that 11.mse never
altered the elective franchise by way of puniehnient.—for, as a mat-
ter of distributive justice, nothing could he more unjust ; because
tee innocent would be thereby punished with the guilty. He
dereght they would do well to seize the first favourable opportunity
et trying the experiment of granting a popular election to Scut.
„land. and in doing so no better place mad he selectee! than Etlin-
burgh t for from thence the House might learn the read sentiments
of the people of Steotland. In England the elections were of such
a various character that there was no class which wail not repre-
sented, while in Scotland there was no class which was represented;
lend therefore it was impossible that Scotland emmuld neliotain jowlf
upon any other footing than that of a colony .:r pro% ince, until the
system of its renerientation was altered.
Sir G. hK said that if the charters of Scotland, which had
existed for so many ages, were in this instance to be brokea down,
it would be but the first step to the introduction of more extensive
• i movatmens. la no case in England did that House interfere with
or alter the representation of any place whatever, unless upon the
Freund of corruption. and surely it would not be so far iticon-
taetent as to adapt a dinerent principle with regard to Scotland.
If thee established the principle of extendeig the elective franchise
to the imoneeholdere of Eilinbareh, the eorpo;soloti of which was
creninly small, upon what principle could they refuse to extend it
to large corporate towns? Why not apply time principle to Lon-
don, and extend the elective franchise to toe buten:l:olden instead
of the nervy ? If the experiment was to be made at sit, it ought
metier to be made on some English borough, than, by making it
in Semlioal, to interfere with rights sanctioned by the articles of
Comm llowever. he would contend that hovaig once broken down
the harrier, it WOniti be impoetable to sal wirre the system of in-
novation would end. It was asked what i!,ll4;t:r could be ante-
healed ? He apprehended no but it they once adopted the
principle, they would not find it so easy to strip us they might
imagine. Thee would be drawn on, not merely to householders pity.
ing rents of M. but until they admitted the full principle of universal
suffrage, and gave the elective franchise to p er•on Rover 2lyears of age.
If the present system in Scotland was :niacin( veto, they would have
telt it ere this; but, on the contrary, there was no portion of lir!
empire which had made such progress ia wealth,and in the various
branches of knowledge and education, as hail Scotland doing
the last half century. About two years since a pettier., similar to
that upon which the lion. and Learned Gentleman niunded his
motion, wait adopted in a theatre in Edinburgh, where there cer-
tainly was a numerous attendance,•owing douloless to the number
of persons of talent who were expecoO to. and who did, attend.
They were not, however, likely to be drawn together in such num-
bers again, and therefore the pveset.t petition was not got up at
such a meeting—in fact the people of Edinburgh knee scarcely
anything about it. An address had been sent round to them, re-
questing that it might be as numerously signed as the former; and
It also complained that they werelukeaarnu in support of the mem.
sure. From this he would at once say—it there was no feeling on
the part of the inhabitants of Edinburgh, there was no ease made
out fur the alteration of the elective franchise. (Hear, hear.) lie
entreated the House out to consent to the motion, because, upon
the same principle, they might disfranchise the Ceirparations of
Salisbury and other places.
Sir R. FSHOUSON was anxious to address a few words to the
English Members, for from the blembers fur his own country ha
feared he could anticipate but slender support. Ii England the pries.
ciple was, that the Member should represent the people ; and Udell
principle was correct, the Scotch hi etnbeee were hot sent as they
ought to be sot to that House. They were Pen tby close boroughs, or
if from s county, a Member was sent who had not perhaps • tingle
acre of load. It had been intiniatedrhat no feeling existed infleot land
with recred to its system of representation : but the fact Was Mean.
timed that, with a single exception, all the boroughs of Scot-
land jigged In a petition to that House for a reform ef the elective
franchise.
tilts FRANCIS BURDETT then rose, but owing to she low
toes of voice is oskh bo yoke, we were unable foe some time to
catch his eherevadeas. We understood him to say, that the Ud-
one before the Boom famished strong and cogent mesons why the
friends to the pcieciples whidt be hod long advocated should perm.

vu. in'theit efforts. He agreed with much that bad fallen from
his Honourable and Gallant Friend (Sir F. Fergus's); but he \in.
&mood biota() observe that everything in Scotland was Imperfect.
Now, with this opinion he could not coincide; for a more perfect
system—a more scandalous and untilushit:g exclusion of s worthy
and intelligent people—a system of more perfect corruption—a
more disgraceful perversion of public means to particular private
ends. it would be difficult for the ingenuity of man to devise.
(Hear, hear.) On this occasion he felt, perhaps, less zeal than
had accompat.ied or ditected some of his former exertions, hearse
he saw, from the motion being special in its nature, it was impoa.
fible to support it on general principles. He count not, however,
help wiabittg that the country would unite, and struggle for their
great and common good. The opposition that was offeredeo any.
thing like reform wits like the corruption of Scotland—it had no
fellow. it lied no wade mart t instead ',fits being imperfect. it was
"lotnN terra algur rotundas." (Hear.) Individual.' who supported
the existing abase,' bat consciences sit tremblingly alive to any
innovation- that it became necessary to show them one reform would
not open the doer to annther, to persuade them they might without
inennaiatency do al act of juteiee. Those who would advance mea-
sures like the peeve must be able to affix the immovable seal—
must pewees the power of Hermes, for nothing short of this could
close the never-rlceping eye of that (louse. On this occasion an
opportunivi offered, of which Gentlemen might avail themselves,
to show their dispettition to entertain t. enelicial measures ; but in-
stead of th:s thcy aought to put a apeke in the wiled of generalreform.
Iteeetned impossible to remove the suspicions ettertainedby certain
Geallenter. They made it a practice, too, whenevtr one abuse
was mentioned, to meet it by showing that these were numerous
others in existe:tce ; bat surely this was no argument against refor-
mation ? An Honourable Baronet tsiir G. Clerk) bad alluded to
Bath ; and Mere was no system perhaps more disreputable than
that of this city. The few apothecaries returning the mock-repre-
sentativea of Bath. were about equal in number to the electors who
returned the chain represeotetivest of ihtinhorgh. Meat.) But
ibis was the way in which their ccanplaints of corruption was met.
However this might sound. the gentlemen on the other side of the
H nose said, " We can beat our drum as loudly as you can yours."
(Cheers.) Ott this occasion he did hope lute Hon. Friend, the
member for Cline (Mr. Abercromby), who brought forward this
motion for the second time, recommended, as it was, by the good
sense displayed in the temperate manner of its production, would
meet with support from some part of the 31inistry. lie hoped this,
fur measures at a gond and hemsl description had certainly been
letterly effected. (Chsent.) But they hal been of by Minis-
ters, let it net tw forgotten, in conjunction with What his Hon.
Friend (Mr. Tieroev) heel on a pies-ions evening most happily
called •• his llnjesty's Opposition." (Hear.) Otte good turn de.
served another; that the Opposition had contributed to the success
of titters there could be tie doubt; and of this Opposition he
most say. theugh he diaclaimed connexion with any particular
party, that in has memory one every way more highly gifted never
sat in that House. (Hear, hear.) Ile repeated. he hoped the libe-
, cal part of the Administration, who might be called the cork on
which the weevil swam; he bared they would step forwar I and
lend their influence and their elnquence in favour of the present
motion. lie appealed to hut one part of the Administration; for it
scented to consist of strangely opposed elemeata--of two halves.
linked together like slaves to row iti the ,:titre g.lley. (Cheers and
laughter.) 11'hat power kept them together, lie was at a
loss to imagine: who was the Mezentius compellins them
to serve in this State he could not tell. 'tile Administration
as now constituted remindtd him of Curhota in the Tempest: it
was a thing with two voices; a two-bodied, two-headed nonde-
script ; a sort of • contplc.riu iu taiero." Ile visited to know if the
principles of philosophy, those abstract principles which a Right
lionour.thic Member bed said, might be pushed to excess. He
'visited to know, and he called on the Right Honourable Gentle-
man to show if they were not practically and beneficially to be
brought into action ? He knew of no occasion more proper than
the present, when an appeal was made in behalf of a most
learned and enlightened class, in every respect entitled to call on
the just feeling of the House. (Hear, beer.) They would see
whether that spirit which talked of "rolling back the tide of civili.
ration" was inclined to advance or not ; whether or not they were
still to be influenced by these darkened and bigoted minds which
dreaded the light. because they did pot know to what it might lead.
(Cheers.) lie defied the ingenuity of the Right Honourable Gen-
tleman to whom he had alluded, to show any reason why the pre-
sent motion should not be acceded tn. 11 hat was proposed if
carried into effect would be productive of permanent good, and be
trusted the citizens of Kdinbargh would, therefore, be allowed a
shste-4 small sheer, of the privileges extended to other'. If, how-
ever, this were refuse& he consoled himself with the hope, that the
expression of such a determination to fly in the face of the people
of the United Kingdoms, would cause all to joist in their demand for
general reform. He repeated, that he trusted this would be the
result when they sew it was vain otherwise to hope the attainment
of rationel freelom. (Hear, hear,) Yee, his consolation was, that
they would become a united band of tenfold force on the question
of Reform, of the necessity for which the longer he Hied tne more
tie became convinced. Unless they paid some attention to the
abuses which existed, there would come, as Lord Chatham said,
•• a voice 11'0111 without." which it would he impossible for them
to resist. infusing new health into the decrenid and crazy constitu-
tion. lie was obliged to confess lie should have liked the motion
better had it leen more connected with the general principle of re-
torm, the only reason for his not being able to give it his full eon.
currency was, it appeared too much like " the be-all and the end-
all." (I I eior.) if the House opposed the motion, it would amount
in his opinion to telling the country there was to be but little re-
liance placed on the numerous protessions it had heard. (Cheers).
Mr. W. DOUGLAS opposed the motion. He agreed with the
Honourable Baronet that tea wend grounds had been shown ; and
and if Me question were extended to the general principle, be
should consider it liable to even greater objection than at present.
Mr. J. C. PELHAM said a few words in support of the motion,
which were scarcely atulibl).
Lord A. HA M ILTt oral Mr. Secretary CANNING rate to-
gether; but his Lordship being first in possession of the Chair,
the Ittght lion. Gentleman resumed his seat. Ills Lordship said
would not detain the Holm, for tie was himself most anxious to
learn the sentiments of the Right Hon. Gentleman on this ques.
tion. The only argument lie had heard opposed to the motion was
one which he thought entitled to very title weight. It was con-
tended that the present measure, if carried into effect, wonld amount
Pa an infraction of some of the articles of the Union. It was well
known that the Union had been violated by the abolition of the
heritable jurisdiction, and in numerona other instances; reason-
ing on such a foundation as this was not calculated to have much
effect on the House.

The LORD ADVOCATE said, he considered the subject be-
fore the House one of considerable importance, and from that feel-
ing rose to make some observations on what had fallen from the
Noble Lord who had just addressed the House. The two Bills
which he had brought into the House, anti which were read a se-
eland time, were lost from circumstances which had occurred in that
House. The fate of those bills was not attributable to any con.
flexion or arrangement which he had with any Member of the
(louse of Innis. He disclaimed any collusion or arrangement to
proivre the failure of those Bills, which was entirely owing to the
difference of opinion which prevailed as to their merits. It was
because some parts of the Bills were approved of by his friends, and
others disapproved of, thut the Bills had not succeeded. As no
union of opinion existed with regard to the Bills, he had not the
support he calculated on, and they, in consequence, had failed on
the second rending. Haring said so much in explanation of what
bad fillen from the Noble Lord, he would now advert to the ques-
tiini I core tie House. The case of Edinburgh had been inquired
into; it had gone through a severe ordeal, and nothing had
bcvn elicited to stamp an unfair character upon its proceedings.
The person who was in office in Edinburgh, was a man of high
character, and had effected great good for that city. He thought
if they abolished the charter of Edinburgh, they could not stop
there, hut 'Mould extend the principle further ; and when the en-
tire qmstioii of Parliamentary Reform came Wine the House, then
they could discuss the principle. If the principle involved in this
motion was to be acted on. Edinburgh alone should not be the ob.
jr-ct of attack. If they wet-a to try an experiment, Edinburgh
should not be the example of that experiment. The thirty persons
in whom the right of election was vested, were themselves chosen
by large bodies, and therefore the objections taken to the unpopular
mode of election of that city was not as strong as was insisted on ;
the Convener of the Guild of Trade was of the same principles as
Gentlemen opposite, whicti showed that they bad not such grounds
for complaint as they would wish to enforce. Ile objected to the
idea of the !possession of a house of lof. a year being a sufficient
qualineation to vote for the representation of the City of Edit).
burgh ; such houses were inhabited by gentlemen's servants, and
persons in a sphere of life which precluded their being so compe-
tent to exercise a duty of such importance. The general feel-
ing was said to be adverse to the present state of things ; he was
SLITC the respectable portion of the inhabitants of Edinburgh were
opposed to any such arrangement as he had alluded to; they would
oppose the ntrosule. He was himself oppns•td to it; and lie
thought that if they attacked the chartered rights of Scotland, they
would soon come to the boroughs of England.
Mr. H. DRUMMOND. as we understood, made a few observe-
dons, the import.oe which we could slot collect.

--
Lord A. HAMILTON explained.
Mr. Secretary CANNING said, from what had fallen from the
Noble Lord (A. Hamilton), and as a mere spectator of what had
occurred with reference to what he had alluded to, he felt himself
eased upon to take part in the debate. In that character Iteshould
tell the Noble Lord, that in the allusions he had thrown out, he
seemed not to have attended m what what had fallen hoot the two
Hon. 31embers who had last adiltessed the House. Ile had said
that there was collusion in the mode of disposing of the Bill ; that
imputation bad been distinctly disclaimed, and that disclaimer
should be deemed sufficiently satisfactory ; be knew no tribunal in
such a case, except the honour of the intividual, to which an appeal
could be made; toe charge or volition had been met by a distinct
denial, which, was the only mode of extracting the sting from the
accusation of the Noble Lord. In corning to the question imme.
diately before the Hr.use, he answered the call which the Hon.
Baronet (Sir Francis Burdett) had made upon him in such compli.
utentary terms; he, however. did tint know by what mode of sea.
sorting he could be expected to give his vote for the measure then
before the House. From what had been stated by the Hon. Ba-
ronet he seetned to expect that he should vote for the measure, but
it was an arbitrary interpretation of hie conduct to suppose
that he would support innovation for innovation sake. He was
opposed to Parliaoseutary Helene, and, far from being thought
favourable to such a measure, be had been ac used of giving de-
cided opposition to that question—of having plated his opinion,
not upon variable, transitory. end evanescent principles, biat upon
the grounds of the danger which that question might produce. He
thought the endurance of any ineesvenience from the present state
of the mpresestatitm, preferable to the excitation and. bickering
which the discussion of that qualm would inevitably produce.
As he was opposed to Parliamentary Reform, he could not vote for

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