The Sun.
London, England, 1832-01-20 00:00:00

Ivstetn. The measure was calculated to produce great
advantages, and be, therefore, most heartily wished to ace
it passed into a law, and would give it his support with-
out quarrelling with the minor details because they might
not be absolutely perfect.

An Horr. MEMBER said, that under the new system
Scotchmen would be excluded from that House, except so
fir as they represented places in Scotland itself. He
thought, therefore, that the number of Scotch Members
ought to be increased, in order to place Scotland on the
same basis with England. Acting on that principle, he
thought that Scotland would be entitled to at least sixty
Members, but he believed that this Bill proposed to give
only fifty Members for Scotland.

Mr. HUME said that it appeared to him that the
charge made by some Hon. Members against this mea-
sure was its greatest recommendation—he meant that it
effected a total change in the system of Stotch represen-
tation. He said so, because he thought that nothing
could be worse than that system. He was always aware
that it would not satisfy all parties in Scotland, but it
satisfied the majority, because it would be productive of
benefit to the country. The question he would ask was,
whether it would effect such a change in the present sys-
tem as to give the mass of the people a voice and an in-
terest in the representation of their country in that House ?
He thought it would give to the mass of the people such
an interest, and, therefore, he supported it. He must
make one observation on the speech of the Gallant Gene-
ral who sat below him. That Gallant General had
spoken with approbation of general principles ; but would
he act on them—would he consent to a measure by which
every 30,000 people should choose a representative to be
sent into that House—a measure by which the whole
country would be divided into districts for that purpose?
That would be a measure of principle—it would be the
most fair method—and it would not be open to those ob-
jections to which the present was perhaps liable; for he
admitted, indeed, that in the various systems adopted for
England, and for Ireland, and for Scotland, there were many
objections ; and, indeed, the whole was a perfect anomaly.
—(Hear, and loud laughter from the Opposition.) Gen-
tlemen need not halloo before they were out of the wood.
If the new system was an anomaly, the old one was still
worse.—( Hear, hear.) It was the most anomalous and
absurd system that could be conceived.—(Hear, hear.) He
should be very glad when the change was effected. Ho
was prepared to be content with the new plan, and so
were the people ; not because they should get all that they
wanted, but because they should get much that was good.
—(Hear.) He was sure that the general results would
be advantageous, and therefore he supported the measure.
There was no doubt that the Ministers had not done all
that could be wished, but he believed they had gone quite
as far as they could at the present time. The difficulties
that surrounded them afforded them excuse, or else he
should have have wished them to reject all the petty
boroughs, and to have given the 30 or 40 they would then
have to spare to Ireland and Scotland. He knew, how-
ever, that in carrying such a measure, they would meet
with the greatest difficulties. He urged the Ministers to
press the Bill through the House, and he was sure it
would give general satisfaction ; it would indeed give dis-
satisfaction to the proprietors, and to those who bad hitherto
held the election in their own hands, but to the great body
of the people it would be most acceptable.
Sir G. MURRAY explained. He was not a friend to
the application of general principles in legislation, in the
manner supposed by the Hon. Member for Middlesex.
What he had said was, that as general principles had been
applied to England, they ought to be applied to Scotland.
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
FRAUDS IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
Mr. RICE obtained leave to bring in a Bill for the
better prevention of embezzlements in the Government
office'.