The Sun.
London, England, 1831-08-01 00:00:00

Mr. R. GORDON said if the Hon. Baronet meant that

the voters were free and independent, when it was well
known the Hon. Baronet only represented his ravn pro-
perty, he would assent to those terms. If, however, any
borough in the Bill could be called a rotten or
a nomination borough, it was that of Malmesbury.—
(Immense cheering.) There were thirty-three burgesses
in the borough, and the returning officer was the High
Steward, and it was as notorious as possible, that the
voters had been paid 501. a year each ; when, however,
Mr. Peel's Bill came into operation, the prices diminished,
and this 501. was reduced to 301. a year.—(Laughter.)
This was se much a matter of course at Malmesbury that
the widow of a deceased burgess once asked the steward
what course she should adopt to get her husband's arrears
pair! up.—(Laughter.) There had usually been a number
of dinners given, called " cheese-cake dinners," to which
the burgesses were invited, and each of them found under a
cheese-cake a certain sum of money.—(Laughter.) In
this age of the march of intellect, would the House believe
that of these 33 burgesses six of them could neither read
nor write ; and yet, from the constitution of the borough,
they were called upon in rotation to serve the office of Al-
derman, to license public houses, and do all the public bu-
siness of the borough.—(Cheers, and laughter.)
Sir H. HARDINGE remarked upon the pleasantry of
the Hon. Gentleman, and complained of these general
statements as interruptions to the public business.
Sir C. FORBES said at all events he had experienced
none of the Hon. Member's pleasantry. He begged to
ask the Hon. Member for Cricklade (Mr. R. Gordon) if
he had not a fancy for the Corporation of Malmesbury on
account of many of that body having votes for
Cricklade ? As to the charge of bribery at Malmesbury,
he (Sir C. Forbes) defied the Hon. Member to prove his
statement—(Hear, hear)—if he could prove it lie (Sir C.
in schedule A.—( Hear.) It had always been his happiness,
Forbes) had nod oubt Ministers would very soon place it
when he went to Malmesbury, to meet at dinner the bur-
gesses and their wives—(Laughter)—the burgesses sat on
one side of the table, and their wives on the other—
(Laughter)—and thus made a most delightful party.—
(Loud laughter.) He never saw the cheese-cakes spoken
of, they merely had good substantial roast-beef and plumb-
pudding.—(Laugliter.)
Mr. GORDON observed, in reply, that he had never
had the votes of these 33 burgesses, for it was well known
that he neither could nor would give them 30/. a year.
Mr. W. WYNN observed that all which they had
heard was a very good reason, if it were true, utterly to
disfranchise Malmesbury—(Hear, hear)—and he should
like much better to know whether the facts could be made
out ; for if they could, it ought not to return any Member
at all.
After a few words from Sir Roamer INGers, Mr.
ATTWOOD, and Mr. BANKS,
Mr. ALFAX. BARING said he would defy any of the
districts included in the Reform Bill to send a more ho-
nourable or useful Member to Parliament than the Hon.
Baronet (Sir C. Forbes). All he hoped was, that the fu-
ture voters for Malmesbury would have a less voracious
appetite than had been attributed to the present voters._.
(Laughter).
The Borough of Malmesbury was then voted to stand
part of Schedule B.
The next question was that the borough of Marlbo-
rough stand part of schedule B.
Mr. ESTCOURT, jun. said that to any person locally
acquainted with the neighbouring boroughs to Marlbo-
rough, it would be clear to him that the putting Marlbo-
rough in schedule B was adopting a most unjust principle.
Mr. W. BANKES said, not from any hope of gaining
favour or justice from Ministers, after what had passed on
former evenings relative to other boroughs, he wished to
observe, however, that there was another tribunal to which
they might appeal—he meant the public—(Hear, hear,
and laughter)—where he would find permits less inte-
rested, and less pledged to any particular measure. He
need not enter into any general description of Marlbo-
rough, but he appealed to Hon. Members who have passed
through it, or visited it, that there was not a more rising
or more wealthy borough.—(Hear, hear.) It was '
si-
tuated in the midst of a very wealthy and flourishing agri-
cultural population, and the requisite number of voters
might have been taken from the immediate neighbourhood
to enable it to return two Members. The number of 10/.
houses were 227, and in Caine there were much le,s, and
the population of Marlborough was considerably greater
than that of Caine. He did not complain of the courte

pursued towards Caine, but he wished that justice should
be equally dealt out to all places. He knew net who
was the protecting Saint of Caine, but be knew that
Caine had been preserved, while other boroughs of greater
consequence had been disfranchised. Against Marlborough
there had been no charge, and yet the House was called
upon to deprive it of one Member. He declared that he
knew not upon what principle his Majesty's Ministers had
been guided in the selection they had made.
Mr. HUNT had known the borough of Marlborough
ever since be was seven y ears old ; he had also known
Chippenharn and Caine for the same length of time,
and no person could pass along the road io
which those places were situated without perceiving
the situation of Marlborough and Chippeoh in over Caine,
vet Caine had been preferred, and why ? No man could
doubt the reason, Caine was the nomination borough of
the Marquis of Lansdowne ; but Marlborough happened to
be the borough of the Marquis of Aylesbury.—( Hear, hear.)
He should therefore vote that Caine, as well as Marlbo-
rough, should stand in schedule B, so that Marlborough be
taken out of it altogether.
Sir C. WETHERELL said he had frequently travelled

the road on which Marlborough and Caine were situated,
and he could say that in Wiltshire it was a matter of sur-
prise—nay, to use a Wiltshire phraise, they were all set
agog, in consequence of Caine being what Caine
was, and that Marlborough should not be allowed
to be what Marlborough was.—(Hear, hear, hear.)
Ministers by their measures were taking away half of all
the boroughs in schedule B, leaving their ancestors to take
away the rest—(Laughter)—and though his Learned
Friend the Attorney-General might lay down the doc-
trine of confiscation, he (Sir C. Wetherell) felt perfectly
satisfied that there was another place in the country where
such a doctrine would undergo nvision, and would not be
confirmed.

Lord ALTHORP considered there was nothing in the
borough of Marlborough to give rise to discussion.
The CHAIRMAN then put the question that the borough
of Marlborough stand part of schedule B, which was
agreed to.
The next question was, that the borough of Great Mar-
low should stand part of schedule B, which was agreed to
without opposition.
The next question was, that Oakhampton should stand
part of schedule 8., which followed the same fate as the
last.

The CHAIRMAN then put the question, that the
borough of Riegate should stand part of schedule B, when
Mr. YORKE arose—He was not bound or pledged
in any way whatever, but was sent to Parliament
by the constituency of this horeugh to use his own discre-
tion in voting for or against any measures. He denied
that it was a nomination borough.
Mr. HUNT thought that this borough ought to have
gone altogether into schedule A. The whole of the pro-
perty, with but few exceptions, belonging to Lord Somers.
Lord ALTHORP observed that his Majesty's Ministers
at one time thought with the Hon. Member for Preston,
that this borough should be included in schedule A; but,
upon inquiry, it was discovered that the population
was somewhat above the line marked out for boroughs
in that schedule, and they had therefore come to
the determination of placing- it in Schedule 11, for doing
which, he trusted the Hon. Member would not think
his Majesty's Ministers had acted with impartiality.
Mr. HUNT did not accuse Ministers of partiality, but
be believed that there did not exist 20 householders in the
whole of this place.
A MEmsEa denied the statement of the Member for
Preston to he true. Riegate alone contains upwards of
22S householders.
_ .

The CHAIRMAN then put the question that Riegate
should stand part of schedule B, which was agreed to.
The next question was, that the borough of Richmond
stand part of schedule B, which, after a few observaiions,
was agreed to.
The next question was, that the borough of Rye stand
part of Schedule B.
Colonel EVANS said the population of Rye in 1821
was 3599, and it was a sea-port with an inland navigation
of 30 miles, with Winchilsea adjoining, both making a po-
pulation of 6425. His being in the House was a proof
of the independence of the constituency of Rye, for he was
returned in opposition to the Corporation candidate. He
would leave this borough to the generous chivalry of
the Hon. Member for Boroughbridge, whether it should
not be left out of schedule B. The Hon. Member moved
that Rye be left out of this schedule.
Sir CHARLES WETHERELL spoke in favour of
returning two Members for Rye and Winchelsca, and
observed that the lion. and Gallant Member might
have appealed to him on more homely ground than
on his chivalry, for he happened to be a burgess of Rye.—
(Laughter.) lie, however, knew the gallant officer bad
taken Rye by storm during the last election, and that
very disgraceful scenes had taken place there.
After several Members had spoken,

Col. EVANS said he would withdraw his amendment if
the feeling• of the Committee were strongly against him.
He complimented the Noble Lord (Althorp) upon bringing
forward so great a measure as this Bill, and said, as lie
found the Noble Lord against him upon a case that he
offered to the Noble Lord's notice, he should withdraw
his amendment.

The question was then carried, and Rye was placed in
schedule B.

The next question was, that the borough of St. Ives
stand part of schedule B ; which, after a few observations
from Mr. L. Bumea, was agreed to.
The next borough was Shaftesbury, which was placed
in schedule B, without any observation.
The CHAIRMAN then pot the question that the bo..
rough of Sudbury stand part of schedule B.
Sir JOHN WALSH rose, and after going into a long
statement relative to the number of inhabitants and house-
holders in the borough, he stated his determination of
taking the sense of the Committee upon the subject.
After some observations from Lord ALTHORP, Lord
Miurox, and Mr. WRANGHAM, the further considera•ion
of this borough was postponed, for the purpose of giving
an opportunity of getting further evidence upon the subject.
It was then agreed, after a few words from Mr. BARING
and Sir C. WETHERELL, that Thetford should stand part
of Schedule B.

Thirsk was then voted to remain in Schedule B.

On the tnotionCifL;dALTLIROP, the case of Tat-
ness was postponed.—Wallingford was voted into sche.
dule B.

The next question was respecting Wilton.
Sir C. WETHERELL complained that the lots were
put up too quick.—(Loud laughter.) The name of every
borough ought to by called over at least twice before it was
knocked down.—(Laughter.)
It was then proposed that Saltash be removed to sche-
dule B.

Sir C. WETHERELL asked the grounds of this re-
moval. They might, perhaps, apply in other cases.
Lord ALTHROP stated that it had been proved the
borough of Sahash was in the parish of St. Stephen's,
Saltash, and that the parish had upwards of 2,000 inha-
bitants.

Mr. BARING thought that the new system recom-
mended by the Bill, would, in its general provicious, so
increase the amount of its democrate influence, that he
should catch at anything that would afford a counterpoise
to that influence.

After a few words from Colonel Evans and Mr. Hughes
Hughes, the borough of Saltash was added to those in

schedule B.

On the motion of Lord ALTHORP, was ordered
that the Howe at its rising should adjourn to Tuesday.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and
the House adjourned at Twenty minutes past Seven.

The fictitious narratives of Mr. GALT," says
the Edinburgh Evening Post, "are not mere works of
amusement. They are pregnant with instruction and
knowledge. He is never guilty of the sin of being tedious
or heavy, all his characters live, move, and have being,
and his pages are illuminated with the reflections and ob-
servations of a sage and powerful intellect. Whoever pro-
fessed to have a doubt regarding Mr. GALT'S capabilities,
need only read the pages of Boyle Corbet to have his scep-
ticism removed. Although we shut his volumes always
with a pleasing regret, his industry is sleepless, and we are
taught to look forward to a new feast."

BLACK JOKE BEFORE THE JUSTICES.---
A case came before the Justices yesterday which afforded
some amusement. The defender, a black man, was prose-
cuted for a quarter's nursing of a child ; and though his
written obligation was produced, and he had entered into
payment, he now denied his liability.—" What reason
,
have you for resisting your written obligation?" asked the
Justice.—" Very good reason, nay Lord, very good."—
no
D; olynonu
ddeennyy ttliiieatleitntyernt,oritbiengyo;uir:rtilt,iantgg?o"—fo,r nothing, Oh no,
now."—" Why?"—" Because, my Lord, I see the child
since."—" Well, what then ? what difference does that
make Oh, my Lord, much difference; because I seed
a child white—no black child at all—some white man must
keep the child." The Court was convulsed with laughter,
but the Justices told him it did not matter whether the
child was black or white, for he had granted an obligation
en black and white, which they must enforce by decree
against him.--Edinburgh Observer.