Star.
London, England, 1831-07-08 00:00:00

BOROUGIIMONGERING SYSTEM.

A reasonable antipathy to the borough system
may be entertained, because, among other mis-
fortunes it has to answer for, it appears that owing
to its influence we lost America. That loss can,
in its consequences, scarcely be estimated. To
say nothing of its having made dire enemies out of
partners, and deprived our population of the means
of emigration to friendly shores, which enjoy a
moderate climate, it brought on our enormous debt,
and feathered the nests of the boroughowners at
our expense. The continuance of the system also
determined the French war and its consequences.
It is true, with respect to America that the nation
partly from a domineering spirit, and partly from
ithe wish to make others share in taxation, contrary
to acknowledged constitutional principles,was easily
lured by a government of arbitrary disposition to
enter into that fatal contest; but it soon saw its
error—at least, whilst retrieving and settling dif
ference3 was practicable—and the elections of those
days for counties and open towns show it; but the
very great majorities of close boroughs stuck to
the headstrong administration, and their own pro-
fitable intercourse with it, and America was lost.
The analysis of the list of voters, at different pe-
riods, given in the Parliamentary history, affords
the following proofs :-
1775.—Address to support the coercion of Ame-
rica, and continue the system of taxation, car-
ried by 278 to 108, viz.—
County Members, of which no Scotch, . 23
Open cities and towns, including one Scotch, 56
Out of 245 close boroughs, . 29

los
1778,—Mr. Fox's motion to send no more troops
to America, and to enter into terms of concilia-
tion ; against, 259 ; for, 165.
Subdivision of the last—
County Members. . 41
Cafes and open towns, . 79
Boroughs. . . . 41

Only five Scotch Members, 161-4 not made out.
1780.—Dunning► against the influence of the
Crown ; for, 233 ; against, 215.
Majority—County Members . . 63
Ditto, Welsh, • • 7
Ditto, Scotch, • . 2 72
Cities and open townsAiglish, 60
Ditto, Welsh, .5
Ditto, ..—.— Scotch, 4
Burgesses, . . . 72-161

233
Minority for Ministers—County Members, English, 7
Ditto, Welsh, 3
Ditto, Scotch, 111

Of this description . 28 only
1782.—Sir John Rous's motion to withdraw con
Hence from Ministers : for, 227 ; against, 236.
For— English counties, . . . . 55
Wel4h ditto (no Scotch), . . . 7
English open towns, . . . 98
Welsh towns, . . . . 2
Scotch ditto, . . . . I
Boroughs, out of 242, . . . 64

227
Against—English counties • • . . 19
Welsh ditto, . . .
Scotch ditto,
Open towns, English, • .
Ditto, Welsh. • . • 9
Ditto, Scotch, • • . 11
&roughs, . . .118

216

IatiNSINTAIIIINN OF 'NOLAND.
As nearly as can be made out from the lista and
statements in the Parliamentary histories, and in
Prynne and other authors, the representation of
•
England at the accession of!
Henry V 111. consisted in number of Mimbers of . 296
Of which for counties 64
Cities and towns now of open representation
Boroughs, of which the greater part were not
then private property, and consisted of more
voters, Cornwall, for example, having only
six boroughs

298
This King added twelve Members for Wales,
and two for Cheshire, and either by grant or
restoration of some of the sixty-tour boroughs
which bad ceased to send Members to Par-
liament, added in a11.....58

Edward VI. at his accession bad therefore in the
Commons . .
He added in large towns and boroughs now closed 44
.........
Queen Mary therefore found a House of ... 340
She added, chiefly in boroughs, now private property 25
Queen Elizabeth at her accession, in the Commons ... 403
She added or restored chiefly in boroughs now
in nomination ... ... .. .. 62

James I. therefore found
He gave representatives to the Universities,
and grants or restores

... 467

- 27

Leaving the representation at ...
Charles I. and 11. added to the representation .. 19

In the last reign the county of Durham was
added, some boroughs and some towns, the
last writ being to Newark, malting a repre-
sentation for England of ..
The alteration from the accession of
Henry VIII. being for counties .. 16
For cities or open towns not more than 26
For boroughs chiefly become nomination 173

... 513

Total aided .. 215
So that the counties, which, at the accession of
that king, bore a proportion to the whole repre-
sentation of about 1 to 3i, were reduced to that of
about 1 to 5i ; and the numbers and weight given
since that reign to the boroughs which for the
greatest part have become nominations, compared
with the aggregate added to counties and open
towns, is more than 4 to 1.

THE GA Ram,: Tit EAT RE.—Wednesday last,
just before the usual period of opening the doors,
th 3 following notice was posted upon the wails of
this house : —" The public are repectfully informed
that, in consequence of the serious inconvenience
arising from the warmth of the weather, the Gar-
Theatre will not open this evening, and will continue
closed till early in October." There were but few
persons present, so the notice occasioned but little
diiappointment. This house, though unlicensed, has'
been decently conducted, and might, had not the
example set by it occasioned the opening of many
others in the neighbourhood upon the same plan,
have turned out a tolerable speculation. As it is,
we fear it has hastened the ruin of several persons.
Of the true causes induced the proprietors to close
the House so suddenly, we are totally unacquaint-
ed. It is raid, but we cannot vouch for the au-
thenticity of the statement, that in consequence of
the great increase of such ploces of amusement,
in and about the metropolis, the Secretary of State
had directed certain police regulations to be put in
force against them.