The Sun.
London, England, 1831-10-07 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.

So great has been the desire in the fashionable circles to hear
the discussions upon the all-engrossing subject of Reform, that a
very large space below tht bar of the House of Lords has been
appropriated solely to Peeresses and other ladies of distinction,
who are accommodated with seats. Indeed so great is the
number of these ladies, and such their anxiety, that many
are seen mixing in the dense crowd of the other sex, and some
standing upon chairs to command a view of the whole House.
The interest they take in the proceedings must be evident from
their remaining in such a place for many hours each night, and
in such an atmosphere, the thermometer varying from 80 to 90
degrees. The arrangements made for the accommodation of the
public Press, are upon as liberal a scale as could, under existing
circumstances, be expected, and it is a duty we feel, in com-
mon with our brethren, to offer our best acknowledgments
to Mr. Putman, the Deputy Usher of the Black Rod, for
affording such facilities. We regret, however, that we have
been unable to receive all the benefit intended to be conferred
upon us, in consequence of certain ladies being so anxious
to obtain the best situations, as actually to thrust themselves
amongst the reporters. In particular, one Noble Countess, who
was on the first night introduced (probably without a due consi-
deration of the laborious duties the reporters have to perform) by
a Noble Peer into the reporters' box, takes the same situation
nightly. Two or three Peeresses have also mounted the railing
surrounding the reporters'-box, and there sat for hours at a time.
These are productive of inconveniences which we are confident
the ladies do not intend to create; but they seriously interrupt
the reporters' duties. En passant, during the debate on Wed-
nesday night, a Noble Peer in his speech quoted some expressions M
of the late r. Canning; the Marchioness of Clanricarde, the
beautiful and accomplished daughter of that Illustrious States-
man, who was among the bevy of Noble Ladies, the moment
she heard that honoured name was observed to be deeply affected.

THE BOROUGHMONGERS AT WORK IN

THE CAMP.

SCOTS BILL.
(From a Correspondent of the Morning Chronicle.)
Rumours have been afloat for some time that it would be at-
tempted, among the details and verbiage of the Scots Bill, to con-
ceal the real nature of the measure from the country, and till
the Bill should come into operation for the first time the mask
should not be taken off. Then, and then only, the country
would see, with surprise and disappointment, that the prin-
ciples of the English Bill had not been extended to Scotland ;
and, consequently, a great proportion of the population, chiefly
of the most sober and industrious, would be found to want the
votes in the election of their representatives, and that, too, for
no other reason than that they lived to the north of the Tweed,
and had been duped out of that share in the representation which
they confidently expected to enjoy.
Perhaps the Learned Lord, who, by law, forms the whole
Privy Council of Scotland, has been disabled by his numerous
vocations from applying his critical talents to the review of the
details of what was considered his own Bill, but left such a trifle,
as beneath his notice, to some Tory or boroughmonger ofthe old
school, who, to suit the times, is so well disguised among the
garments of Reform, as to have rendered his nature invisible to
his Lordship, or his political friends, without the aid of spec—
tacles, or some other optical instrument, to show such minute
objects as may injure the action of the functions of political life
in Scotland.

In the English Bill it will be easily seen, without such aid, by
those who are not wilfully blind, that no kind of English pro-
perty in lands or houses, worth 101. a year, whether it lies within
or without the limits of a city, town, or burgh, is to want its
voice in choosing its representative. The 101. tenants in cities,
towns, and boroughs, and, also, all owners occupying to the ex-
tent of 101., are to have votes for the Member of such city, town,
or borough. And every owner within the limits of all cities,
towns, or boroughs, whether freehold, copyhold, or burgage-
hold, are also to have votes for the County Member, unless by
reason of the occupation thereof he or any other person might
acquire a right to vote in the election of a Member or Members
for any city or borough." See English Bill, and sec. 18 thereof, &c.
In the Scots Bill, 26th of September, sec. 28; it is proposed to
exclude all the last class from voting, so that a great proportion
of the property of towns in Scotland, having 101. qualifications,
Will not be represented. In manufacturing towns, such properties
may be estimated at nearly, or perhaps more than one-half.
It is unnecessary to give another swatch (although several
others nearly as bad could be given) of this extraordinary Bill.
Suffice it to say, that these, as well as all the other differences
between the two Bills, indicate a great disposition to limit the
franchise in Scotland.

Lord Althorp and Lord John Russell, and the independent
Members in the House of Commons, would do well to look a
little after this Scots business, which, it is to be feared, they are
delegating to others, or too careless about. They need not be
over fastidious about giving or withholding from Scotsmen what
they are giving or continuing to England, if such gifts enlarge
the franchise.
As the Scots Bill cannot be the work of a real Reformer,
the garments should be lifted up that cover the man, whoever
he may be, that has manufactured it, or adjusted its clauses; and
it will, perhaps, be found, like the Patriarch of old, that the
hands are the hands of Esau, but the voice is the voice of Jacob.