The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-09-19 00:00:00

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Borough.mougcrs, which is expressed in the House
of Commons. Tare choice mart, therefore, be con-
fitted to teem, and controt:led by them, cot by
public opinion ; and as they are too numerous,
tither to agree among theroselves,or to be all gratified
with power arid emolument at the same time, the
Ring's choice is forayer confined to such of them
as he thinks will be able to vanquish the rest ; and
when the choice is ineitle, the Borough-mongers,
who are excluded, immediately commence a vetta.
lions opposhlon, shewing every mark of rage, dis.
appointment, and e4g,Prness to obtain office, very
Antler the dignsy veil of an honourable
contest about reasons of policy and good Govern.
pent.

If the whole realm were assembled in Parlia.
picot, the Ministers would be able to direct their
unclouded attention to the affairs of the nation,
and their security would rest on the common opi.
depending only on their own conduct.—
suppose them to serve the public with zealous
bouesty ; they would always be supported by
public gratitude, and always possess the confidence
which is necessary to the Executive Government
of a free nation.. Suppose them to abuse the trust
his Majesty had placed in their hands for the public
good; the King would immediately be informed
thereof—if they did not amend, he would be in.
treated to dismiss them—and no alteration stilt
taking place (K hied, however, can baldly be sup.
posed possible), they would be refused the means
to carry on the Government, and in compliance
with the wishes of the whole nation, Isis Majesty
would appoint other men freely, selected by him-
self from among all who appear worthy of the
trust.

Such is the constitutional controul upon the
King's Ministers. At present they are subject to
no Controol, but the vexatious opposition before
mentioned, which is always harassing but never
effectual. Votes of the House of Commons must
be obt hued, though they arc but the result of
factious compromises, or disgraceful victories.—
Unless supplies be called for, they arc usually pre-
ceded by a battle, miscalled a debate : venality is
f.e characteristic of the several combatants, and as
:Ministers are able to lavish rewards and hold out
better hopes, they are sure of victory on all im.
portant oecaaious. The Ex.Borotigh.tnongers
are, however, too strung in this vile syltem to
be either Lll9lllll'lll or inactive—actuated by all
t he zrel which sla.:ligs from avarice and ambition, they
arc ever the alert in pursuit of party triumph,
and surccrd so far as to deriri re Ministers of that
estahli.hed and derided superiority, which alone
caul(' exempt them from the necessity of justifying,
watching over, and binding their corrupt adherents,
who are waking for new plunder, and whom
their oppo.l.ails are l/1%1 ays endeavouring to decoy.
Bence it is, that the most Valuable time of a Mini.
bier is spent in roweiuos, and explanations. and
defences; And that the short periods which arc de.
rote .1 to busintss, are not employed in contriving
and execating projects to increase the freedom, the
a defy, anA the glory of the country; but in the
feeble design and management of some expedition
or'artifice,vilii:b, it is hoped, may entrap straggling
tnembers of the faction, and gain new partisans
snare easily span could be done in a lass expensive
manner. F it these ends abuses must be defeoded
and perpetuated; the just complaints of the pen.
pie meet be scoffed at and despised ; and as it 6
inipossible for all this to be done honestly, it is (if
I may again be allowed to use the worth of Mr.
PITT), under the present system, impossible for an
genet man to continue Minister.
The same system has given hilt!) to a new aristo.
cracy of servile wealth, supported only by power,
eutropt. , and intrigue. The high aristocratic
spirit which, when fairly exercised, ran never be in.
jarions; and which by affording protec!ion to the
ei.sak and encouragenieeit to honest ambition ; and
by sareading alaroall a sense of bonobr and gallan.
try, may always be adviotageons, has been in-
veigled flow its lofty ground, and induced to lend
its sitilport to intrigue and cabal. I say inveigled,
as it i. only intratise lie is fl ittered by tt:e effect his.
innti,aice may produce among the Commons, that a
[kyr of the Realm Call be led to neglect the eXer-
else of It gitimate power ::atone his equals and seek •
tot as unit A Cut power in another place.. His true
itorrat carrespands with his ilti.y ; and if he did
t interfere with the other branch of the
t he woold bu able to octal more po tir and dn
snore good in that to which he Pruperly
lfte peopla, however, are the greatest sato:rm.
lows are wade for them without their consent.—
They a:e taxed without their consent, and conic-
quetitly plundered. Then they see the hard pro-
duce of their labour.igaandered by vol.:opt Mirtis.
tors, and even employed to purchase scats for
W
e
rnhe
r, of the House of Coinowoi, who after-
wards vote for a farther increase of the public bur.
dens' without-scruple, remorse, ur regret ! The
inhabitants of small 13oroi,glis are the most unfor.
tu nate' of all : they are tempted, bribed, and ruined.
Tho number of small Boroug',s, now decayed and
snows that the proprietors have acted on
their private ;Merest, and made the trouble of ma.
nagonent the least possible, by discouraging
in-
creasc awl improvement.
• Such are the effects of a system of virtual, repre-
sentation, which, gives un iaftil power to a so-
vereigaty of Borough-mongers, an imperium in im-
perio, invading and trampling upon all the powers,
pm righoi, and privileges which tine true
Constou'ina of air GOV.! ment confers. It is. a•
la stem sa hick c mutat be defended, and must frai
ehauged, or we must perish by' tyranny) worry;
ago toreign tutstreSt.
C.

?'Na Starts-tuts, of to-morrows soil/ contain some Imponr.s.vr
Facrs relating to the late disturbances at Covent-Garden
Theatre, and some interestirig Anecdotes concerning ;he prin:
ripal Pt omortns of them.
• •
As givetl.
___Mnllr. I/I.r.

1
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1''(1 (Ai STOCKS TI.IIB DA 3( AT ON 1.; 0*(1,•-,c...
3 Vef Cent. Red. (shut.) S per Ccnt. Cuus. 01 41 51i
Otnnitim 71 79 61 dis.

THE STATESMAN

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