The Sun.
London, England, 1817-09-06 00:00:00

roll. IHE SUN.

LETTEg. IV.

ItEFOIII OF PARLEA:tIENT.

.111 R. Ent-rott,—As we are now tranquil, arid
cotnparatively free from factious discussions, let,
US endeavour to settle, if reason Can settle it, the

great question of a °RP:Foam oe. PAttLiAmENT.
To cut the dispute ai short as possible, let uS
consider only taco pat; ; 1.4, those who are sa-
"tislied with Parliament as it is ; and 2d, those
ossilao would have it altered, in some way or other,
according to their particular notions of R•seoatq.
"che former party have in their favour the strong
bold of experience. A century has note past, and
a year beyond it, since Parliaments were made
septennial. In which period, whether we have
advanced or whether gone backward, in any of the
'particulates which constitute the happiness or the
glory of a nation, is a question which will admit,
I apprehend, of only one answer ; and that the
most satisfactory. The couclosino is—being will,
let us remain so. Noluigus lieges
Tie other party, who wish for a change, op-
pose theory to experience.. They who Whnt
Change in the duration of Parliaments ought to
know that Triennial Parliaments have been twice
tried (in 1640 and 1694), and twice rejected.
-But the greater part think the Representation it-
self more or less imperfect. It scents, however,
noth;•nt: very paradoxical to assert that, as far as
,representation implies resemblance, •an opulent,
enlight emit d, maim', must be best repre-
sented by au opulent, enlightened, liberal set of
Legisators ; and that whatever tends to introduce
needy, ignorant, and desphate men into its Sc.
nate, must tend, in the same proportion, to destroy
the reAeniblance ; .and to corrupt instead of int-
. proving its Council. But if the Parliament con-
sist already; for the most purr, of opulent, en-
liehtened, and liberal men, what new quality.
seould the Reformers wish to introduce into it, by
their alterations. Here they will answer, at once,
INDEPENDENCE. They would have a set of men
• riot to be moved or biassed by the power or in-
ileence of the Crown. But they must be moved
by sonte influence, or they would not be men.—
By elrose influence then should it be ? By that of
the People. The people then are wiser, and more
•to he trusted, than the Crown. But why have
you a King ? To govern the People. That is, to,
govern, tficre who are, by your provisions, to, go
vern him. For if they govern his chief Council,
.they must eventually govern him. What then is
this, bur, like Shakspeare's drunken sailors, to
mike one a. King, and another Viceroy over hint?
Dies the I,ertection of a Government consist in
being ineffectual ? Or would that be a perfect
• machine, teltich having • one weight or spring to
ne>ve it, should have another of equal or sopetior
power to prevent its moving ?
• 13,': perhaps some great evils arise front what
is. called the imperfect stal'e of our represent a.
:Linn ! Soule persons, perhaps. or number of

. persons, are unhappy or oppressed, because they
aia nor represented ; or some Members of Par-
t_ fiatneur art ialproprly, because they do not act
for any particular body of people. It raay•safely
and positively be Lsserted, that none are unhappy
un this-account ; unless they have been taught to
be so by Arbitrary theories, or visions of improve-
ment. That none can be oppressed on this se-
ct-pint is most certain, since all, whether repre-
sented or unrepresented, are equally under the
. Idles, which are most mild, beneficent, and mer-
ciful. But, in fact, none are unrepresented;
since every Alember, when once be enters the

House, represents his proportional share of the
whole empire. Observe too, that in all time fer-
mentations which have been raised on pretence of
a Reform in Parliament, no strong or earnest ef-
forts have ever been made by those large towns
which at present send no Members : nor by those
parts of the Empire, which, according to theory,
have not their proportionable share of representa-
tives, No 1 The stir has always been made by
?shells to these places; whose endeavour is to
force representation upon them, even against
their will.
But perhaps the Members who are not elected

according. to theory act improperly in consequence;
and such a man is a bad ►Member of Parliament,
because he sits for a rotten borough, How rotten
those places may be in themselves, I know not ;
but cettainly.they communicate no part of their
rottenness to time Members who represent them.
Nor can this be honestly denied by any one who
reflects, that through this very channel our most
illusirioos patriots and statesmen have usually
found their way into Parliament. Let then Ap-
pleby, Oakliampton, Mahnsbury, Wendover;hold

up their heads, since they first introduced to pub-
- lie notice the two PITTS, father and son, Fox,
. and ButtKE ; and let the other close boroughs
take courage with them for similar services ; since
, if they had not been what is called rotten', young
men of genius, but unknown to fame, could never
~.I)ave forced their way into them. What place did
Mr. HORNER represent, lately so much and so
justly lamented ? First St. Mawes, and then st.
Ices. What borough introduced the late Speaker
into rarlidment ? Helston.—These men brought
110 poison of rottenness with them into the Par-
liament ; but became the glory of it. Shall we
then he proud of the men, and ashamed of the
-Mode by which their services were obtained 1—
Theory says, Yes. But Common-sense says, No :
convinced that no Reform is wanted in a Parlia-
ment into which the worst reputed boroughs have
• introduced the best and ablest servants of the
But will Common-sense be heard ?—Never,
while Faction has so loud a voice. But be as-
sured of this, that till Reason shall silence Fac•
tion, there can be no prospect of tranquillity for
the Country; nor any unalloyed enjoyment of the
practical benefits which our inhnitable Constitu-
tion.secures to us. Experience is certain : The-
ory hazardous. Hold then to the first, and dis-
card the second ; however specious her pretences
may be. Whither she may lead you is uncertain.
But to stand firmly, where you hare long stood
gloriously, is Safety, Wisdom, Virtue.

SOIF.RS,