The Sun.
London, England, 1833-08-02 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,-Amidst the numerous reforms so loudly called
for at the present crisis, there is one which, in my
opinion, is infinitely more required than triennial Parlia-
ments, vote by ballot, and various other measures daily
and hourly forced upon our notice. Yet strange it is,
that this same abuse has never yet been alluded to by any
of our popular representatives in the Lower House, al-
though confident I am, that were it but once corrected,
the dreaded event of Lords and Commons coming into
hostile collision, would be at least rendered highly im-
probable.
I allude, Sir, to the absurd irrational privilege enjoyed
by the Peerage, of voting by proxy. In private life we
should consider it a hardship, were we compelled to em-
ploy John Hobby as our shoemaker, merely because we
had formerly employed his father Thomas in the same
cap why ; still more should we grumble, were the said
John Hobby to make our shoes by proxy, without ever
being at the trouble of ascertaining the length and breadth
of our foot. Now, the people of this country are actually
compelled to intrust their dearest interests to a set of
Right Hon. Political Hobbys, who know no more of the
measures they vote upon by proxy, for regulating the laws
of Great Britain, than the said John Hobby does of the
measure of my foot, which he never saw. Absurd as
this must appear to every people under heaven, except
honest confiding John Bull, this is but a minor part of
the grievance. Not only are our Right Hon. and Right
Rev. Hobbys entitled by law to make our shoes by proxy,
but even when on the bed of death—at the last struggle
of suffering humanity—even then, are these privileged
routers authorized to monopolise the measures of their
fellow-countrymen. And still more wonderful, even after
death has closed the scene, and the noble dust is returned
to whence it came, even then does tile defunct Political
Hobby cobble the liberty—the privileges of the people of
this country.
Sir, is it not a libel upon human nature, that such
gross, such disgraceful scenes should be witnessed in the
nineteenth century ? Is it not a foul blot on the first
reformed Parliament of Britain, to tolerate such an in-
famous QUIZ upon rational beings? And still, Sir, such
is the fact. Did not the Earl of Plymouth and Lord
Dover vote in the House of Lords by proxy, on the Local
Courts Bill, on Wednesday the 10th of July, at half past
one a.m. ? and were tbev not both gathered to their fathers
that very day ? Did not his Grace the Duke of Sutherland
vote, on Saturday the 20th of July, at a quarter past
four A. M., on the Irish Church Temporalities Bill, al-
though his Grace departed this life at Dunrobin Castle,
in Sutherland, on Friday the 19th, at a quarter past three
? I add no more, but leave the subject to abler
hands.—.l am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
N—n, 29th July, 1833. VERAX.

DISSENTIENT TO THE THIRD READING
OF THE (IRISH CHURCH BILL.

1. Because the Bill imposes upon the clergy of Ire-
land, already defrauded of their rightful property, the new
charge of the church cess, heretofore borne by the land,
which is at once a mockery and a wrong.
2. Because this charge will absorb so much of the
fund to be provided by taxing the clergy that for many
years no part of that fund, and at no time any conside-
rable part of it, will be applicable to the proposed im-
provement of small livings; so that to injustice is added
delusion.

3. Because the Bill suppresses ten bishoprics, not
for purposes of reform, but for purposes of finance, in
order to supply the deficiency created by an act of in-
justice.

4. Because the Bill, affording an unworthy triumph
to the Roman Catholics over the law they have distorted
and the clergy they have persecuted, encourages future
aggressions; while, failing in its professed objects by the
inadequacy and fallacy of its financial provisions, it hu-
miliates the Protestants without contributing to the future
efficiency of the Established Church,
(Signed) ELLENBOROUGH.