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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. y errata )d to nt ne pelure, ipon d 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 t-* •• • 6 i i I 'So SKETCH OF THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS V ;i^i r.i. tOR A' •' ' ' ' ■- ^ '^ CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM s I I IN THB ■" , ( ... REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE, 7 , ; INTRODUCED INTO THB PARLIAMENT GREAT BRITAIN '■"■ FROM ' ■ •- ' . , ;if J- :, ^ 1770 to 1812. ■ ! /. I J • .« LONDON: PRINTED BY T. DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS. ' - 1812. . . . HOUSB OF LORDS. Monday, Ma^ Wth, 1770. The Earl of Chat ham, in moving 2i\\ Address to the king, la desire he zcould dissolve the present parliament, stated, that " instead of depriving a county of its repre- sentative," alluding to the case of Mr. Wilkes, " one or more members ought to be added to the representation of the counties, in order to operate as a balance, against the weight of several corrupt and venal boroughs, which perhaps could not be lopped off entirely, without the hazard of a public convulsion*." * " Purity of parliament," said his Lordship, in his answrr to an address of thanks from the city of London for the above declaration, June 1st, 1770, " is the corner stone of the Commonwealth; and as one obvious means towards this necessary end, to strengthen and extend the natural relation between the constitution and the elected, I have publicly expr€ssed my earnest wishes for a more full and equal representation, by the addition of one knight of the shire in the county, as a farther balance to the mercenary boroughs. I have thrown out this idea with the just diffidence of a private man, when he presumes to suggest any thing new in a high matter. Animated by your approbation, 1 shall continue humbly to submit it to the public wisdom, as an object to be most deliberately weighed, accu- rately examined, and maturely digested." And again, in a Letter to Earl Temple, April 17th, 1771| he said, " Allow a speculator in a great chair, to add that a plan for a more equal representation, by additional knights of the shire, stems highly seasonable ; and to shorten the duration of parliament not less so*." * Almon's Anecdotes of the Earl of Chatham, 8vo. II. p. 84. and Ad- dresses from the Court of Common Council to the King, 1760-70. 167-8. i HOUSE OF COMMONS. Thiindaif, March 21s/, 1770. Alderman Wilkes moved, " that leave be given to bring in a bill, for a just and equal representation of the people of England in parliament;" which being se- conded by Alderman Bull, was opposed by Lord North, and lost without a division*. « {( My idea," said Mr. Wilkes, •• in this case, as to the wretched and de'populated towns and boroughs in general, I freely own, is amputation. I say with Horace, Inufiles ramos ampulans, fcli- ciores inserit. — I will at this time, Sir, only throw out general ideas, that every free agent in this kingdom should in my wish be represented in parliament; that the metropolis which contains in itself a ninth part of the people, and the counties of Middlesex, York, and others, which so greatly abound with inhabitants, should receive an increase in their representation ; that the mean and in- significant boroughs, so emphatically sliled the rotten part of our constitution, should be lopped off, and the electors in them thrown into the counties; and the rich, populous, trading towns, Birming- ham, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, and others, be permitted to send deputies to the great council of the nation *." * Wilkes's Speeches 1786. 8vo. p. 54-71. — Parliampntary Register, 1776. ill. 45il-442. HOUSE OF LORDS. Friday, June 2tl, 1780. The Duke of Richmond was introducing his bill to restore annual parliaments, to procure a more equal representation, and to regulate the election of Scotch peers, when he was prevented from proceeding by the alarming riots in Palace-yard *. * By his Grace's bill it was intended to enact and declare, " That every commoner of this realm, excepting infants, persons of insane mind, and criminals incapacitated by law, hath a natural, unalien- able, and equal right, to vote in the election of his representative in parliament. That the election of members to serve in the House of Commons ought to be annual. That the manner of electing the Commons in parliament, and all matters and things respecting the same, be new-modelled according to the present state of the king- dom, and the ancient unalienable rights of the people. That the number of members in the House of Commons bei'.g 558, the total number of electors should be divided by that, to give the average number of those, having a right to elect one member." " My sentiments on the subject of parliamentary reform," said his Grace, in a Letter to the High Sheriff of Sussex, Jan. 17", 1783, *' are formed on the experience of twenty-six years, which, whe- ther in or out of government, has equally convinced me, that the restoration of a genuine House of Commons, by a renovation of the rights of the people, is the only remedy against that system of cor- ruption, which has bro\ight the nation to disgrace and poverty, and threatens it with the loss of liberty*." * Pari. Reg. 1780. XV. 359-366.--Autlientic Copy of the Duke of Ricjmiond's Bill. — Letter to William Frankland, Esq. HOUSE OF COMMOiNS. Tuesday, May Ith, 1782. The Hon. William Pitt moved, " that a com- mittee be appointed to enquire into the state of the re- presentation in parliament, and to report to the House their observations thereon." He was seconded by Alder- man Sawbridge ; but Sir Horace \lann moving the order of the day, it was carried by a majority of twenty — Ayes \6\ — Noes 141. fmd the original motion lost*. * Mr. Pitt said, " he would not in the present instance, call to their view or endeavour to discuss the question, whether this species of reform or that; whether this suggestion or that was the best; and which would most completely tally and square with the original frame of the constitution ; — it was simply his purpose to move for the institution of an inquiry, composed of such men as the House should, in their wisdom, select as the most proper and best qualified for investigating this subject, and makir-i' a report to the House of the best means of carrying into execution a moderate and substan- tial reform in the representation of the people *." • Pari. Reg. 1782, VIL 120-141— Wyvill's Political Papers, L 442— 480. h Housi: or commons. IVedni'sdaijy Mai/ 7, 178 J. The Hon. W^illiam J'itt moved, " That the most eircctiial and practicable measures ought to l)e taken for the better j)reveritiiig botli bribery and expense in the election of members to serve in parhament. 2. " That whenever it shall be proved before a select committee of the House of Commons, duly appointed to try and determine the merits of any election or re- turn for any |)lace in the kingdom, that the majority of tite electors had been guilty of c(Mrupt practices in such election, it will be proper in all such cases, that such place shall from thenceforth be disabled from send- ing representatives to parliament; and that such elec- tors as shall not (by due course of law), be convicted of any such corrupt practices, shall be enabled to vote at the election of the knights of the shire in which such place shall be situated. 3. " That in order to give further security to the independence of parliament, and to strengthen the com- munity of interest between the people and their repre- sentatives, which is essential to the preservation of our f;xcellent constitution on its true principles, it is pro- per that an addition should be made to that part of the representation which consists of members chosen by the counties and the metropolis*." Mr. Henry Duncombe seconded the motion, but the order of the day being moved by Mr. Povvys, was carried. Ayes 293, Noes 149, Majority 144. i ♦ Mr. Pitt gave notice to the House that if the above resolutions were carried, he should then move for leave to bring in a bill to HOUSE OF COMMONS. Wednesday y June }(ith, 1784. Alderman Sawbridge moved, "That a commit- tee be appointed to enquire into the present state of' the representation of the Commons of Groat Britain in par- liament*." He was seconded by Alderman Newnham; but Lord Mulgrave moving tiie previous question, it was carried, Ayes 199, Noes 125, Majority 74. • Mr. Saw.bri(lge went at large into the state of the representation in various parts of the country, and asked " whether such a system as that which at present prevailed could be called a fair, an equitable, or a satisfactory one ? His object would consequently be to have all the light which could be thrown upon the subject, collected under the inspection and cognizance of the House, that they might see whether any thing farther ought to be done or not, and then what the specific remedy ought to be. His motion bound the House to no species of reform, but merely put the matter in progress, and would serve to convince the people of their sincerity, on a subject where so much expectation had been raised." A similar motion of the Alderman's, on the 12th of March preceding, had been re- jected by the former parliament, 141, against 93 •. • Pari. Reg. XV. 186-213. XIII. «95. provide for the disabling of such places from sending members to parliament, in which the majority of electors shall have been proved guilty of corri'pt practices j and a bill for the better securing the independence of parliament f. t Pari. Rtg. 1783. IX. 088 736.— Wyvill's Pol. Pap. 253-5. 636-675- HOUSE OF COMMONS. n Monday f April ISlh, 1785. The Right Hon. William Pitt moved, " That leave be given to bring in a hill to amend the represen- tation of the people of England in parliament*," which being seconded by Mr. Henry Dimcombe, the House divided. Ayes 174, Noes 248— Majority 74. * " His plan," Mr. Pitt observed, " consisted of two parts: the first was more ininiediatr than the other, but they were both gra- dual. The first was calculated to produce an early, if not an im- mediate, change in the constitution of the boroughs; and the second was intended to establish a rule by which the representation should change with the changes of the country. It was, therefore, his intention to provide in the first instance, that the representation of thirty-six of the most decayed boroughs, which should be dis- franchised on their voluntary application to parliament for an adequate consideration, should be distributed among the counties, and that afterwards any which might still remain of a similar de- scription, should have the power of surrendering their franchise, and the right of sending members be transferred to such large and popu- lous towns as should desire it *." » Pari. Reg. 178.5. XVIII. ♦2.83.--Wyvin'8 Pol. Pap. 372—442. 9 HOUSE OF COMMONS. • Thursdmjy March ith, 1790. The Right Hon. Henry Flood moved, " For leave to bring in a bill to amend the representation of the people in parliament," and was seconded by Mr. Grigby; but Mr. Pitt threatening to move an adjourn- ment, the motion was withdrawn *. t * " My propositinn," said Mr. Flood, " is that one hundred members should be added, and that they shoidd be elected by a numerous and responsible body of electors; the resident house- holders in every county : — resident, because such persons must be best acquainted with every local circumstance, and can attend at the place of election with the least inconvenience or expense to themselves or the candidate; and honsehoMers, because, being masters or fathers of families, they roust be sufficiently responsible to be entitled to franchise. They are the natural guardians of po- pular liberty in its first stages, — without them it cannot be re- tained*. * Pari. Reg. 1790. XXVII. 196-218.— Wyvill's Pol. Pap. II. 536-663. 11 1' ti 10 housl: of commons. Monday y April 30M, 1792. Mh. Grey gave notice of his intention of moving, in the next session of parUament, for a reform in the representation of the people; when Mr. Pitt declared his decided hostihty to the measure, and was supported in it by several members, who were usually hostile to his administration*. * At a general meeting of the friends of the people, asso- ciated for the purpose of obtaining a parliamentary reform, April 26th, after approving of and adopting unanimously, an address to the people of Great Britain, on the objects of their association, it was resolved, *' That a motion be made in the House of Commons, at an early period in the next session of parliament, for introducing a parlia- mentary reform. ** That Charles Grey, Esq. be requested to make, and the Hon. Thomas Erskine to second the above motion. Signed by the vmaninious order of the meeting, W . H. Lambton, Chairman*." * Pail. Reir. 1792. XXXII. 449-498.— PiucrVaings of the Fricndi, of the People, 19, 20. 11 Hr)USE OF COMMONS. Monday J May 6th, 1793. Mr. Grey presented a petition from certain persons, members of tlie Society of Friends of the Peo- ple, stating with great propriety and distinctness tlie defects which at present exist in the representation of the people in parliament, whivh they declared themselves ready to prove at the bar; urging the necessity and im- portance of applying an immediate remedy; and praying the House to take the same into their serious considera- tion*. Mr. Grey declined bringing forward any specific plan of reform, and moved " for the appointment of a committee to take the petition into consideration, and report such mode of remedy as shall appear to them proper." The Hon. Thomas Erskine seconded the motion, and, after two days' debate, the House divided, Ayes 41, Noes 282.— Majority 241. * The petitioners, in concluding, thus forcibly recapitulated the objects of iheir prayer. " That your honourable House will be pleased to take such mea- sures, as to your wisdom may seem meet, to remove tlie evils arising from the unequal manner in which the diflierent parts of the king- dom are admitted to participate in the r^^presentation. " To correct the partial (hstribution of ihe elective franchise, which commits the choice of representatives to select bodies of men of such limitted numbers as renders them an easy prey to the artful, or a ready purchase to the wealthy. " To regulate the right of voting up* i an uniform and equitable principle. "And finallytoshortenthedurationof parliaments, and, by remov- ing the causes of that confusion, litigation and expense, with which they are at this day conducted, to render frequent and new elections, what our ancestors at the Revolution asserted them to be, the means of a happy union and good agreement between the king and peo- ple*." * Pari. Reg. 1";93. XXXV. 375-522. 12 HOUSE OF COMMOIS8. Fridai/, May 261/1, 1797- Mr. Grey moved for " leave to bring in a bill to reform the representation of the people in the House of Commons*," and was seconded by the Hon. Thomas Erskine. On a division there appeared, Ayes 93, Noes 258.— Majority 165. * Mr. Grey proposed that, " Instead of ninety-two county members, as at present, there should be 1 13 : instead of two for the county of York, for instance, two for each riding, and so in other counties, where the representation is not proportionate to the extent of soil and population : that each county or riding should be divided ii. "> grand divisions, each of which should return one representative, and that the right of election should be extended to copyholders, and to leaseholders for a certain number of years. That the other members should be returned by householders; that great towns should require a greater number of electors to one representative ; that the country should be divided into districts, and no person per- mitted to vote for more than one member; that the poll should be taken through the whole kingdom in one day; and that the dura- tion of parliament should be limited to three years*. ♦ Pari, Reg. 1797. Vol. II. 577-057. u 13 HOUSE OF COMMONS. Friday y April 25th, 1800. Mb. Grey moved, " that it be an instruction to the committee appointed to consider of his majesty's most gracious message respecting the union between Great Britain and Ireland, to take into their consideration the most effectual means of providing for, and securing the independence of parliament*." Mr. Tierney seconded the motion, which was rejected on a division. Ayes 34, Noes 176. — Majority 142. * After objecting to the increased influence of the crown which might arise from the introduction of 100 Iri^h members, in the pre- sent state of the representation, Mr. Grey said, •' AUhough 1 do not agree that it is necessary for those, who disapprove of any spe- cific plan, to propose a substitute, I am ready to state what I consi- der calculated to remove some part of the inconvenicncies which we apprehend. I would suggest that forty of the most decayed bo- roughs should be struck off, which would leave a vacancy of eighty members. I should then propose that the ratio, on which Ireland is to have 100 representatives, should be preserved : and the propor- tion to the remainder 478 would give us 85 members for that country. The county elections would give 69 members, and 16 remain to be chosen by a popular election, by the principal towns. By this motion it is only intended to keep parliament in its present state, to prevent it from becoming worse*." * Pari. Reg. 1800. II. 347-377. )l' ■sr v » 14 HOUSE OF COMMONS. Thundayy June loth, 1809 Sir Francis Burdett moved, "That this House will, early in the next session oF parliament, take into consideration the necessity of a reform in the represen- tation*." Mr. Madocks seconded the motion, and the House divided. Ayes 15, Noes 74. — Majority 59- 1,- k •i,!' -i? \ * " My plan," said Sir Francis Burdclt, " consists in a very few, and very simple regulations, and as the disease we labour under has been caused by the disunion of property and political right, which reason and the constitution say should never be separated, the re- medy which I shall propose will consist in reuniting them again. For this purpose I shall propose, •' That the freeholders, househclders, and others, subject to direct taxation, in support of the poor, the church, and the state, be required to elect members to serve in parliament. " That each county be subdivided according to the taxed male population, and each subdivision required to elect one represen- tative. ** That the votes be taken in each parish by the parish officers ; and all elections finished in one and the same day. V " That the parish officers make the returns to the sherifT's court to be held for that purpose at stated periods ; and " That parliaments be brought back to a constitutional dura- tion*." * Cobbett'8 Pari. Deb. XIV. 1041-1071. 15 HOUSE OF COMMONS. Monday, Maii/ 21st, 1810. The Hon. Thomas Brand moved, " That a com- mittee be appointed to enquire itno the state of the re- presentation oF the people m parliament, and of the most efficacious means of rendering it more complete, and to report the same with their observations thereupon to the House * ." He was seconded by and, on a division, there were, Ayes U5, Noes 234.— Majority 119. • Mr. Brand stated, " that he did not mean to touch the right of voting for county nu^inbers, except by letting in copyholders, and assimilating the mode of voting in Scotland to the practice of this country ; but that, whilst he left the right of voting so far un- touched, he should propose to disfranchise the boroughs, in which the members were returned upon the nomination of individuals, and, as the numbers of the House would be diminished in that pro' portion, to transfer the right of returning such members to pcpulous towns, and to apply any surplus to the more populous counties; that he would recommend the duration of parliament to be made trien- nial, together with a concurrent arrangement for collecting the votes by districts and parishes. And that, with a view to the inde- pendence of parliament, persons holding offices without responsibi- lity should not be suffered to have seats in that House *." ♦ Co')l)ptt'« Pari. Dsb. XVII. 123-164. 16 HOUSE OF COMMONS. lii i is Fridat/, May Sth, 1812. The Hon. Thomas Brand moved, " for leave to bring in a bill to repeal the act ol George II. c. 14. and , to entitle copyholders to vote for knights of the shire*." The Marquis of Tavistock seconded the motion, and the House divided. Ayes 88, Noes 215.— Majority 127. - * Mr. Brand said, •' he would also propose to get rid of nomi- nation, and to throw the representation of the close boroughs into an enlarged representation of the more populous counties. One part, therefore, of the plan which he had in view, was to bring in a bill for the abolition of those boroughs, and the consequent ap- propriation of a more extensive suffrage to the more populous coun- ties, from whence an equalization of members to the different parts of the empire would arise. He did not wish to make any innova- tion, but rather to restore to the constitution what the great inno> vator Time had taken from it*." ,) if * Votes of the House of Commons, 1812, No. 80.— Morning Chroni- cle, May 9, 1812.— Cobbett's Pari. Deb. XXII. . . . THE END. t' T. DAVISON, Lotnbairi-street, Whitefriars, London. 'e to and e * " and OIIll- into One igiu ap. }un- parts ova- ino» oni->