The Sun.
London, England, 1831-05-19 00:00:00

THE LORD ADVOCATE'S SPEECH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CALEDONIAN MERCURY.
24, Moray-place, Saturday evening, May 14.
am concerned to observe, both from the News-
papers, and other sources of information, that great mis-
conception appears still to prevail as to the impart of cer-
tain expressions which I am supposed to have used in the
Council Chamber of this city, when addressing the Town
Council on the day for election of their Member ; and that
far more importance is, on both sides, ascribed to those
expressions than in truth belongs to them. You will per-
mit me, therefore, through the medium of your Paper, to
correct the erroneous accounts which have been circulated
of my statement, and to explain to what it really amounted.
In the first place, I never said, or insinuated, that I be-
lieved nothing was fixed or determined as to the rate of
qualification to be introduced in the new Bill--and that it
might as well be 1001 , or 501., or 25/., as any lower sum.
What I said, in reference to these sums, was exactly the
reverse of this supposed intimation.
In the second place, and what is far more material, I
said nothing at all upon this subject of the qualification, as
on the authority of the Government, or in the character
of a person acquainted with their designs. On the con-
trary, I took pains to explain that I had no other grounds
of knowledge or belief than were open to every one who
heard me—that, if I had been intrusted with the councils
of the Cabinet, I certainly should not feel myself at liberty
to reveal them ; but that I was in no danger of betraying
what had never been confided to me.
After this declaration, what I said on the subject of the
qualification was nearly as follows :—I mentioned that I
had received many complaints as to the rate of qualification
' in the former Bill, especially as to house property in coun-
ties, and many suggestians as to its being raised or varied
in different situations; all which I had repotted, as in duty
bound, to the Government. I then said that these, and
every other respectful suggestion, would, of course, be fully
considered by the Ministers ; and while I had not the
slightest reason to believe or suspect that there would be
any change in the qualifications formerly announced, I
felt
confident that it would be considered as one of the prin-
ciples of the Bill to keep to what would be looked upon in
this country as a very low qualification, by which I meant
something far below 1001., or 50/., or the half of 501.
These, I think, were nearly the words I used ; and I am
perfectly certain that such was the meaning I intended to
convey. I stated nothing whatever as to my knowledge
(or conjecture even) of the intentions of the Ministry, and
meant merely to intimate that, while I had not the slightest
ground to suppose that they would make any change in the
qualifications specified in the former Bill, it was my own
confident belief and persuasion, as an individual, that they
would consider the lowness of the qualification as a funda-
mental principle of the measure.
I may add that since I made these observations I am
more and more confirmed in the belief that no change will
be attempted in the rate of qualification formerly announced.
—I have the honour to be, Sir, your very obedient servant,
F. JEFFREY.

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Mr. BANKES is said to have been particularly
unfortunate in the choice of his Committee, the arrogsnce
and hauteur of some of whom was past bearing.