Star.
London, England, 1829-07-23 00:00:00

UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE AND VOTE BY

DALLOT.

As these doctrines are becoming daily more canvassed,
we feel certain that the following Extract from a letter in
the Edinburgh Examiner needs no recommendation

from us, beyond its own intrinsic matter and manner.
Although the letter bears the signature of " Aw OLD
LAWYER," it is evidently the production of the expe-
rienced EDITOR himself; a gentleman of long standing
equally in the political and classical world, and whose
numerous opportunities in public life, and high end distin-
guished intimacies and connexions, from the days of the
great Duke of RICHMOND down to our own, render him
not only a competent authority on the points which he
discusses, but—what is even better than that—a most
agreeable companion, and delightful reminiscencer of
past things and persons.

" This principle of Ushered Suffrage is altogether of modern
date ; it is not to be hound in any of our ancient laws, nor is say
of the histories of our ancient and famous Censtinatioo. It was
Ant broached by the Duke of Richmond (the grandfather of the
present Duke) in a letter to Colonel Sharman, and the folly and
unreasonableness of it was instantly pointed eat by no less a man
than the late John Herne Tooke, who, it ever there was a man
deeply versed in the ancient law and Constitudon of his country,
capable of the most acute reasoning, even more so than Mr. Lecke
himself, and ready. as kis whole life proved, to p to death for the
wrongs and sufferings of his countrymen, this was the man. I
bring forward to you, therefore, no mean or coatempdble autho-
rity. Many an booest well-meaning and mistakes man has m
doubt followed the Duke of Richmond's theory. There is some-
thing in the words Universal &d rags' as there is in the words
• Free Trade.' which leads many astray. Mr. Cobbled has told
you with great truth, that It is not ' Free Trade, but a thing that
goes by that name ; so I tell you that it is not ' Universal Suffrage.'
but a this' that goes by that name. Are women to be admitted to
vote? are clever, sensible, prudent, sedate, and learned young men
of SO to be admitted to vote? No. Then what becalmed the ,
venality ? The moment you come to limitations and restrictions,
it ceases to be universal, and the word becomes a cheat. The very
subtilised women and men under et, brings other principles into
operation, vis.--reason, experience, expediency. &c. The only
ground upon which it can be maintained for a moment is the too
great universality of taxation. But in legislation, are we to sup-
port sag false principle by another false principle? Will the present
advocates of Universal Suffrage declare for universal taxation ? If
they would, I will not, and I know of no tight that they have to
bald up ono principle for my adoption more than the other.
" Your friends may believe that this subject is not knew to me.
I'am unfortunately old mush to remember when it was first
started, and this alone, in a matter regarding the venerable laws
and free Constitution under which this nation became so great and
glorious abroad, so rich and happy within, would be of itself
enough for me ; but it so happened that sae of my most intimate
print. friends, the late Major Cartwright, who honoured me front
the first moment that I was called to the bar, by consulting me in
the most important and confidential affairs of himself and family,
had been bit by this universal theory of the Doke of Richmond,
and having enjoyed for some years, both before and after I was
WWI to the bar, as unlimited confidence, friendship, and inter-
course, with the late Mr. Horne Tooke, I bad the great &dna- ,
tags of being present at most of the private discussions between
that gentleman and the Major upon this gantlets. It does appear
to me, that during Mr. Tooke's life the Major, though he never
gave up the principle, wu somewhat restrained by the authority
of this great and dauntless Reformer. who had periled his life for
the Reform which he advocated, but which the Major had never
dose ; and that after Mr. Tooke's death the Major traversed ling.
land and Scotland, sod by the force of his honesty, obtained the
signature of immense numbers to his favourite scheme. Few of
these persons, who no doubt were sincere in praying for Reform,
could have had any opportunity of hearing what was to be said
against this principle, and they must be considered as having agreed
to It In deference to the pure and unsullied character of their vase-
sable adviser.

" Mr. Hunt, as far as I know any thing to the contrary, may
have been an undeviating disciple of the Major's upon this matter.
I feel great respect for the talents and public spirit of Mr. Hunt.
I thought his conviction at York only equalled in error (to use the
mildest terms) by the punishment that was inflicted upon him ;
but, VI had called such masses of my countrymen together, and
had seen mink master tithe North of England, I would not have
taken fright at my own power, much less would I have suffered my
friends or any part of them to have been trampled upon and cut to
pieces by a handful of yeomanry cavalry, who, by all accoonts,were
the only disturbers of the peace upon that occasion. I mean no
reproach upon Mr. Hunt ; but I mean to deny that Mr. Hunt is a
person of that high authority in the knowledge of oar laws, or of
such pet Sect freedom from all error as to assume the very infallibility
which the Protestants, whether rightfully or wrongfully. 1 do not
stop to inquire, impute to the Pope of Rome. Bat with respect to
Mr. Cobbett, I have a great deal to say which must preve to his
logical and enlightened mind that be can never assume the Popedom
upon this question. It Is now a great many years ago (I believe
during the peace of Amiens') that I had the pleasure, at the instance
of my old friend, Sir Joseph Yorke, of introducing myself to Mr.
Cobbett as a Hampshire neighbour, and though. it is more than
twenty years that I have not seen or heard of Mr. Cobbett till lately,
otherwise than as all the rest of the world have seen and beard, I
have reason to know that my opinions are as likely to have weight
with him as those of any man in Ragland ; and I would fain recall
to the recollection of Mr. Cobbett, that, though from the Ant
moments of our acquaintance we were perfectly agreed respecting
the Debt and matters of finance, when I attempted to urge upon
his consideration my principks respecting Reform in Parliament,
his mind was not prepared to receive my doctrines at all. and that
be even then considered Universal Suffrage as something little
short of high treason. It is true, and I speak it to his honour, he
did soon afterwards tura his powerful understanding to this great
subject, and I believe I was the person that bad the pleasure of first
introducing my friend Major Cartwright to him ; but, as far as my
recollection serves me, Mr. Cobbett did not then embrace what we
used to call the wild doctrines of the honest Major,' it was not.
I think, till very shortly before the time of the Six Acts that I
ever observed in any of Mr. Cobbett's writings (and I have been an
attentive reader of every thing he ever wrote) any advocacy of the
principle of Universal Suffrage. and though I cannot jut now point
out chapter and verse, I have a strong recollectloo of his tang a
story about that time, la one of his Residers, of his having been
brought over to that principle, sot by the arguments. or even
authority of Major Cartwright, whom be had then known for many
years, but by the Sippancy of some advocate of that principle, who
asked him whether every man who drank a pot of beer was not
tamed? and whether every man was not liable to be drawn for the
militia? New, if Imo aratrate upon this point, I do very medi-
an* contend. that the great mind of Mr. Cobbett ought mot to
have yielded to ouch pakry mama, which are answered at once
by saying. as I do say. and have always said, that there ought to be
no tam upon beer, or any other article of consumption whatever,
/lad that no man ought to be drawn for the collide, or forced to
llght the battles of the country, but thew who have a share in the
Government, takes it can be made well worth their while volun-
tarily todo so, as is She case In the United States of North America.
Then they say there no be no protection without suffrage. Are
women unprotected? And yet it is admitted that they are to be
included from suffrage. So far from being unprotected, read
what old Lord Coke says about women, and he did not sit down
to write a book of gallantry, I assure you. His words are these—
' The three things most regarded by the law are life. Monty, and
down' Before I quit Mr. Cobbett. whom I should have as peat

pride and pleasure ia diverting from what I consider his present
errors on this point, as I have had in endeavouring to bring over
to the question of Reform same of its most basest and powerful
opponents, I wish to know as a logician, tees what resod Mr.
Cobbett gave Mr. Hobbonse such a cutting tap in the Bar con-
taining the account of Lord Blandford's India for dodmingkits-
self a' wild Reformer.' I read that pauses with lignite dailibt.l
for it was the very argument I once used to Mr. Sheridan, and for
which I had with that gentleman a most serious quarrel. I should
be glad to know if Mr. Hobhouse has ever breached any Reform'
more wild or less known to the Constitution than Universal Suf.
forge and Voting by Ballot ? If so, I have never beard of it ; but
of this I am certain, that new theorists will arise. some Spencean
or Agrarian Law man, who, as I know was once proposed before
by a disciple of this theory, u a reward to himself for his services
in that cause, may propose that his share in the scramble should be
' Alawick Castle, and fifty pounds a year.'
" I desire not to be misunderstood by you with regard to my
sentiments of Mr. Cobbett in general ; by himself it is impossible
that I can be misunderstood; for he must have seen and known
that at all times, and under all circumstances, sines I first had the
pleasure of his acquaintance, I have publicly and privately, as far
as the influence of my poor word could extend, done him every
justice in my power, and held him up as an honour to the country
that gave him birth. I have felt indignant at the shameful manner
In which he has been treated by the public press ; at the manner in
which he has been plundered without acknowledgment by many
in and out of Parliament ; and no man rejoiced more than I did
when I beard of his return from America to his native land. I
read with Mahe delight the manner in which the Editor of the
Morning Amend, so highly to his own honour, did justice to Mr.
Cobbett in every respect in his leading article of last Monday.
The able manner in which Mr. Cobbett has always advocated the
interests of the laborious and industrious part of my countrymen,
has been read by me with the greatest satisfaction. It is, how-
ever, possible that a man may be right in many things, and wrong
in one thing. In this address of Mr. Cobbett and Mr. Hunt to
the Reformers, which I shall take care to have inserted in this
Paper, I see nothing to complain of—nothing to which I am not
ready to subscribe—excepting the following sentiment The
test is very plain, very short, and easily put to the parties ; if they
be explicit for Anownsi Parliessents. ifoimersel Suffer. and rm. by
Belisi; be they who they may, receive them as friends ; support
them ; adhere to them. and do every thing in your power to give
them weight and consequence ; U they do not answer this test, treat
their professions with scorn, regard them as imposters and as ene-
mies, and act towards them accordingly.' New, I cannot consent to
have the late Mr. Herne Took*, nor myself, who profess to be his
disciple upon the subject of Parliamentary Reform, nor the pre.
seat Marquis of Blandford, held up to the world as imposers. I
cannot bet express my utter astonishment that Messrs. Cobbett
and Hunt should by the above sentiment bold up to the confi-
dence and support of the Reformers of England that' Wild Re-
former; Mr. Hobbes'', and to their scorn and enmity. such a men
as the Marquis of Medford ; for, however unintentional It may
be, and I really believe is, such mast be the logical inference from
these words. Mews. Cobbett and Hunt quote as their great
authority to you for this doctrine et UnisnesslaStroge, "Ile really
great and good Duke of Richmond; as they ate pleased to call
him. I bappeoed to have seen this ' really great and good man,
when be was =Sodas a whams upon the trial of Mr. Horne Tooke
for his life. at the Old Bailey, in 1794 ; and of all the sights I ever
saw, nothing made such an impression on my mind as the contrast
then exhibited between the prisoner at the bar, who had always
opposed this Duke's scheme of Universal Suffrage, standing up with
the heart of a lion, and ready to lay down his life for the Reform
which he had advocated, while the witness, covered with blushes
and confusion, seemed ready to sink into the earth at the
manner in which be had abandoned his Universal Suffrage and
every ether species of Reform, and was at that very moment, as
Master. General of the Ordnance and Member of the Cabinet, one
of the prosecutors of Mr. Horne Tooke, and doing all that in him
lay to have him put to death, fee endeavouring to abolish, as the
Marquis of Blandford is endeavouring to de pawl every close and
rotten borough in the kingdom, and for denouncing the very axis.
tame of this borough power as a monstrous usurpation upon the
ancient free Constitution of his country, and the proprietors
these boteughs as an oligarchical faction, equally the master and
the enemy of the King and of the People, and to whom, among
the other epithets of his just and respleydent satire, he had given
the name of • their new Majesties.' If half as much could be said
spinet Ignatius Loyola, the father of the Jesuits, I answer for it,
that learned, and, as I think, grossly calumniated body of Mho.
rious schoolmasters, who call themselves his disciples. would re-
name their father with scorn and indignation."

MINERAL SPRING AT WINKFIELD,
NJUR WINDSOR.

From the beneficial properties contained in these waters,
lately discovered on the estate of Captain FORBES, in
Windsor Forest, who has erected a most romantic and
capacious pump-room, with extensive gravelled walks,
for the accommodation of the visitors, we think it will
not be unacceptable to such of our readers whtfie avoca-
tions may preclude a visit to Harrowgate or Cheltenham,
to learn (from an analysis taken by,Walker, of Brighton)
that this spa contains all the medicinal properties of those
celebrated springs: they are, moreover, free from iron,
and are transparent, colourless, and without any unplea-
sant taste or smell. About 1,400 persons have already
taken these waters; and it may not be uninteresting to
detail the following cases, which hare occurred in the
neighbourhood:
A gentleman, afflicted with determination of blood to
the head, and who had used aperient medicines of all de-
scription till they became inert, had recourse to these
waters, and is restored to health.

A patient, labouring under violent spasmodic affec-
tions in the region of the stomach, though 67 years old,
has received the greatest relief; another in a severe fit
of gout.
From their diuretic qualities, they have proved most
efficacious in several dropsical cases, as well as in bilious,
dyspeptic, and epileptic cases.
The only inconvenience felt at present is the want of a
large and commodious Hotel, or some lodging-houses, in
the immediate neighbourhood : which defects, however,
from the numerous frequenters to this romantic spot,
which are daily increasing, will (we should think) soon
be obviated.

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE..--At a General Meet-
ing of creditors held yesterday.at the Theatre. it was resolved that
a committee be appointed to devise the hest mews of relieving the
cancers from Us present heavy embarrassments.

HORTICULTURAL SOClSTY.—Tuesday a mooting
of this Society was held at the Society & bout. The Marquis of
Bute and several scientiflc gentlemen were hawed for. Mr.
Dinky read the Report of the Committee relative to the late fee.
The amber of Fellows of the Society to wheal tickets were sold
was sal, at U. ls. each ; tickets said to nsa•members, at ens
pines, 3,315; ditto, at die guinea and a half, Stir ; ditao, at two
guineas, 309. The total number of tickets sold was 4,411, pro.
dudes 5,1351. SS. Ild. Of the tickets said eel/SA% were pre-
sented at the gardens. The sum doe to Mr. Gmesr, who pro-
vided tie repast, was stated to be 3,1011.123. giber menses esd
mated at 1,b941. lie. ed. lambi so estimated balms la favour of
the Society of 1232.175. id.