The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-02-21 00:00:00

SIR. ROWRING.

Lord ARCHIBALD HAMILTON wished to ask the
Right Hon. Secretary (Canning), if there was any objec-
tion, in point of fact, on the part of the Brit sh Govern-
ment, to his submitting a motion to the House relative to
the late imprisonment of Mr. Bowring at Boulogne; and
if it could in any way interfere with any negoelation at
present pending between them and the Preach Govern-
ment.

Mr. CANNING.—Before he undertook to answer the
question, he would state his impression of it. To ascer-
tain if he correctly understood it, he understood the Noble
Lord 404, if there was ■np thing palitieal in the relit-
tiors between the British and Frrn•h ()averments that
would render the motion allude Ito in,zpedient in point
of rime ? Ile had no hesita.ion in replyinr, that in point
14 time there was no objection of that nature on his part,
to prevent the Noble Lord pursuing any course be thought
proper.

NVMHER OF VOTERS AND RIGHT OF VOTING.

Lord J. RUSSELL said, th it if he were not aware that rd to it upon its:own gi-oun N. The Noble Lord-hal
oppositid II sus likely to he in 'de to the motion of "chic ' slid, that the appoiutu.ent of this Committee was a mat-
ho had giveu notice on a tumor night, he shout I wit ter of course ; but instead of that, it was one which im
have troubled the House with a sin 2le ohs• r cation in sti; - volved the most serious and even the most tyrannical
port of it. Ito was about to in .lie for a plain arithme ical consequences. It w.ss proposed to appoint a Cumtnittee
vateitient of the number of votes Win rtiturs,e4 Meas!wrs to examine the nature of the votes, and to ascertain the
to the several cities and boroughs, and the rivit of voting number of voters in every town. There were, indeed,
a• it uas tent iffy exerctse lin atom. cities aid loiroitg!ii.. horonglis in which, frum the recorded votes in cases of
To stick a motion he should Co have rooceived that any disputed elections, the number of electors might to some
objection could be made. Understanding, !louvre'', dist degree of correc:ness be ascertained, and to these that
it nits to be oppose I, he should state shorty to the l inic.e p irt of the cons• goences which he was bound to regard
the grounds and precedems upon it hick he was e• titled as most tyrannical did not apply. But when there had
to tall far such a refiwn. A remarkable faiilizv had been no disputed election, how was the number of voters
been afforded of late years, on the other sided the lions , to be, at anv tine', found out (hear,) Were they to
in granting any papers and documents which were cats u- go to every-borough and examine their private records,
fated to afford information on any subject whicii was ait ihiiir private records only, but were the Coinmur.s of
brought un ler its consideration. He ti mild mention one 1
England to order in the Charters of the boroughs ? Is t
or two instances of recent occurrence which were dice. t. p oposed to resort to a measure which had not been fr. .
ly in point. His Noble Friend below him (Lord A. Ha. i b.,Ortrti to even in the reign of James the Second r A
milton), who had shown so laudable. though so fruitless stretch of itisju:sitoriai tyranny which had no: be :I re-
a zeal, for the reform of the representation in Scotland, sorted to bat in thAt and the preceding reign; Whi, if

a. it sta.: Imo exercrse iin tlee‘e clues a:l'd boronglia in which, from the recorded votes in cases of
to To g cl, a motion he should ter have conceited that any disputed elections, the number of electors might to some
of objection could be inoile. Understanding, boa ever, dist degree of correc:nrss be ascertained, and te these that
d. it ties to be opposer, he should state shorty to the flmr.e p trt of the cons. qiiences whir 6 he was bound to regard
the grounds and precederirs upon hick be wss e• titled at most tyrannical did not apply. But when there had
he to rail f suds a return. A remarkable fa-iliry hal been no disputed election, how was the number of voters
re been afforded of late years, on the other silted the lions , to be, at any time, found out (hear,) Were they to
in granting any papers and documents which were caleu. go to every-borough and examine their private records,
lated to afford information on any subject which was a,t ilvir private records only, but were the Commons
or
it. bi ought un ler its consideration. He tt oidd mention one England to order in the Charters of the boroughs ? Is t
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or or two instances of recent nccurrense which were p .oposed to resort to a measure which had not been 1,.
ly in point. His Noble Friend below him (Lord A. Ha. boiled to even in the reign of James the Second t A
milton), who had shown so laudable, though so fruitless stretch of imiu;sitorial tyranny which had not be u
re-
la zeal, for the reform of the representation in Scotland, sorted to bat to th.tt and the preceding reign; Whi, if
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