laft twelve months, were difqualified. — And laftly, That they would not reject any person's vote for receiving alms within the said year preceding the election,

It was thought neceffary to ftate the above as a guide for future elections in this town,

Upon the above decifions, Sir William Wake, one of the fitting members, and Samuel Whitbread, one of the petitioners, were declared duly elected.

Upon the death of Sir Robert Bernard, the prefent Duke of Bedford was chofen recorder in his room, and has fince prevailed upon the corporation to make an additional number of freemen in his intereft, to counterbalance the others, who, not having been made twelve calendar months previous to the last election in 1790, could ne influence the election of the prefent members (Colhoun, and Whitbread, jun). But, upon every future election, it is thought the Bedford interest muft as formerly prevail.

CORPORATION.-The liberties of the corporation extend above nine miles in circuit round

the town; and a member of Bedford, many years fince, bequeathed to it a field or two in the fpot now called Theobald's row, Red-Lion-street, Eagle-street, and its environs, near Red-Lionfquare, London; the leases whereof expiring some years fince, the estate is become fo confiderable, that the corporation obtained an act of parliament to empower them to give portions to fervant-maids, for the encouragement of population, fees with poor children, bound apprentices, and other charitable donations.

RIGHT OF ELECTION is nominally vested in the burgeffes, freemen, and inhabitants being householders, and not receiving alms. The mayor and the two bailiffs are the returning officers.

NUMBER OF VOTERS-which were, according to Willis, about 1000, are now increased to 1400.*

PATRON-The Duke of Bedford.

COUNTY

* This number being too numerous to be influenced by that corruption which would rank it among rotten boroughs, the candour of history obliges us to rank it among the many that are made under the controul of aristocracy.

COUNTY OF BERKS.

POLITICAL CHARACTER,

THIS county, like Bedfordshire, has half of its representation fubject to ariftocracy. The intereft of Lord Craven has generally fufficient weight to influence the election of one reprefentative: the other depends on the attachments of a few of the leading property in the county to the ministry or oppofition of the time being,

ABINGDON.

POLITICAL CHARACTER.-This is one of the few boroughs over which ariftocratical influence or corruption has not yet been able to extend its controul, which is owing moft probably to the two following causes: first, the borough fending only one representative, has only half the temptation for an opulent neighbour to enflave it; the other cause is, from the freedom of elective conftitution, which feems thus to defy all arbitrary encroachments. For, though it was chartered fo

late

late as Philip and Mary, and its corporation and representative power vefted in the felect body, yet, by the exertion of its inhabitants, they have not only obtained the conftitutional right of electing the members by the inhabitants at large, but likewise of their mayor and magiftrates, which is the only fecurity of their independence, and which a self-elected corporation would have long fince fubverted.

ORIGINAL REPRESENTATION. This borough, as a town of great trade, fent once, (11 Edw. III.) upon a peremptory fummons, to the council, or national affembly; and received its charter, Nov. 24, 1557, from Philip and Mary, who then imprivileged them to fend one burgess to parlia

ment.

CORPORATION confifts of a mayor, two bailiffs, nine aldermen, and fixteen affiftants. The mayor and bailiffs are the returning officers; and the electors, according to national right and justice, are the inhabitants paying fcot and lot, and not receiving alms or any charity. (Jan. 18, 1680, and Jan. 8, 1689.)

NUMBER OF VOTERS,-600.

REMARK

REMARKABLE RESOLUTION.

March 3, 1698. The house refolved, That the proceedings of William Hucks, efq. (in prefuming to make ufe of the authority of the government, to the borough of Abingdon, in order to be elected a burgefs for the faid borough) is a fcandalous reflection upon the government, and tends to fubvert the freedom of elections of members to serve in parliament.

II. Ordered, That the faid William Hucks, efq. be taken into custody.

Remark. Were the house always to decide in fimilar cafes fo agreeably to the conftitution, the government would reform itself without the aid of the people.

But the following paffage, extracted from Burgh, fhews this patriotic refolution had not a very long influence:

"Sir Simon Harcourt complains fadly of ill ufage in his election for Abingdon, A. D. 1708, reflecting feverely on the house, and the wicked arts used against him; infisting to the laft, that

"he