New Radnor, in the burgesses of Radnor, Ryader, Knighton, Knuckeas, and Kevenlice-1200. Reading, in the inhabitants paying scot and lot; 30th May, 1716-1100. East Retford. By an act of last session, 1 Will. IV. c. 74, the right of election for this borough is extended to the freeholders of the hundred of Bassetlaw; that is, to the dependents of the Duke of Newcastle. Richmond, in such persons only as are owners of ancient burgages in the borough, having a right of pasture in a common field, called Whitcliff Pasture; 9th March, 1727-280.-Lord Dundas. Ripon, in the burgage holders-190.-Mrs. Lawrence. Rochester, in all freemen, not receiving alms or charity-about 800. Resident 450, non-resident 350.-The Admiralty one member. New Romney, in the mayor, eight jurats, and sixteen freemen-25.-Sir Edward Dering, bart. Rye, in the mayor, jurats, and freemen, inhabiting the port, and paying scot and lot-100.-T. P. Lambe, Esq. Ryegate, in the freeholders-200.-Earl of Hardwick and Lord Somers. Saltash, in the mayor and free burgesses, being members of the corporation-36. -John Buller, Esq. - Sandwich, in the freemen resident and non-resident, except those who receive alms, 900; about an equal number resident and non-resident.-The Admiralty one member. New Sarum, in the select number, i. e. the mayor and corporation, consisting of 56 persons.-Earl of Radnor. Old Sarum, in the freeholders, being burgage-holders of the borough-7.—Earl of Caledon. Scarborough, governed by two bailiffs, two coroners, four chamberlains, and thirty-six burgesses, in whom is the right of election-44.-Duke of Rutland and the Earl of Mulgrave. Seaford, in the inhabitant housekeepers of the town and port, paying scot and lot-50.-Sir John Leach and Charles Rose Ellis, Esq. Shaftesbury, in the mayor and burgesses and the inhabitants paying scot and lot-300.-John Dyneley, Esq. Shoreham, New. The right of election was formerly in the inhabitants, paying scot and lot; but an act of parliament passed, in 1771, whereby it is declared that all the freeholders of 40s. per annum, in the rape or hundred of Bramber, in which Shoreham is situated, have a right to vote-1500.Duke of Norfolk. Shrewsbury, in the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses. Several parishes and villages were voted to be no part of the ancient borough or suburbs; 9th April, 1723-500. Southampton, in the burgesses and inhabitants; 31st December, 1689. Resolved, that the out-living burgesses as well as the burgesses (inhabitants) paying scot and lot, had a right to vote; 17th March, 1695. Mayor and bailiffs are the returning officers; April 3, 1735-800. Southwark, Borough of, in the inhabitants paying scot and lot; 10th November, 1702-3500. Stafford, in the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses resident within the borough 860. Stamford, in the inhabitants paying scot and lot, and not receiving alms or public charities-500.-Marquess of Exeter. Steyning, in the constable and householders, inhabitants within the borough, paying scot and lot, and not receiving alms-80. Stockbridge, in the inhabitants paying scot and lot-110.-J. F. Barham, Esq. Sudbury, in the sons of freemen born after their fathers were made free, and in such as have served seven years' apprenticeship, or made freemen by redemption; 6th December, 1703-850. Tamworth, in the inhabitants, paying scot and lot, and in such persons as have freeholds within the borough, whether resident within the borough or not; 17th March, 1698. In the inhabitants, being householders, paying scot and lot, and not receiving alms; 23d Jan. 1722-250.-Sir Robert Peel, bart. Tavistock, the freeholders of inheritance in possession, inhabiting within the borough-115. Taunton, in the inhabitants within the borough, being potwallers, and not receiving alms or charity-550. Tewkesbury, in the freemen at large, and in all persons seised of an estate of freehold in an entered dwelling-house within the ancient limits of the borough-500. Thetford, in the mayor, burgesses (which are ten), and in the commonalty or common council (which are twenty), amounting in the whole to thirtyone-31.-Duke of Grafton. Thirske, in the burgage-holders of Old Thirske-50.-Sir Thomas Frankland, bart. Tiverton, in the mayor, recorder, burgesses, and assistants-26.-Earl of Harrowby. Totness, in the freemen not inhabiting, as well as freemen inhabiting, within the borough-80. Tregony, in all the inhabitants that provide for themselves, whether they live under the same roof or not; 5th March 1695-100.-Earl of Darlington. Truro, in the mayor, and select number of burgesses-26.-Viscount Falmouth. Wallingford, in the mayor, aldermen, bailiffs, and eighteen assistants, together with the inhabitants paying scot and lot, and not receiving alms-150. Wareham, in the mayor and magistrates paying scot and lot, and in the freeholders of lands or tenements there, who have been, bona fide, to their own use, in the actual occupation, or in the receipts of the rents and profits of such lands or tenements for the space of one whole year next before the election, except the same came to such freeholders by descent, devise, marriage, marriage-settlement, or promotion to some benefice in the church; 19th Jan. 1747-150.-John Calcraft, esq. Warwick, in the commonalty of the said town, 31st May, 1628; in such persons only as pay to church and poor in the borough, 23d Jan. 1722. confirmed to be in such as pay to church and poor, 18th Feb. 1793-1200.— Earl of Warwick. Wells, in the mayor, masters, and burgesses, and in such persons as are (by consent of the mayor and common council) admitted to their freedom, in any of the seven trading companies, on account of birth, servitude, or marriage-500.-Clement Tudway, esq. Wendover, in the inhabitant housekeepers within the borough not receiving alms; but persons coming by certificate to live in the borough have not a right to vote; 21st Nov. 1702-140.-Lord Carrington. Wenlock, in the burgesses-300.-Earl of Bradford and Cecil Forester, esq. Weobly, agreed to be in the inhabitants of houses of 20s. per annum, paying scot and lot, 13th January, 1698. Resolved to be in the inhabitants of the ancient vote-houses of 20s. per annum value, and upwards, residing in the said houses forty days before the day of election, and paying scot and lot; and also in the owners of such ancient vote-houses, paying scot and lot, as shall be resident in such houses at the time of the election; 3d March, 1736-85.—Marquess of Bath. Westbury, in every tenant of any burgage tenement in fee, for life, or ninetynine years, determinable upon lives, or by copy of court-roll, paying a burgage-rent of 4d. or 2d. yearly, being resident in the borough, and not receiving alms; 1st June, 1715-50.-Sir M. M. Lopes, bart. Westlooe, in the mayor, aldermen, burgesses, and freemen-70.-John Buller, esq. Westminster, City of, that the right of election for the city and liberty of Westminster is in the inhabitant householders, paying scot and lot, of the united parishes of St. Margaret and St. John, and of the several parishes of St. Paul Covent-garden, St. Anne, St. James, St. George, Hanover-square, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, St. Clement Danes, and St. Mary-le-Strand, (including so much and such parts of the said parishes of St. Martin-in-the Fields, St. Clement Danes, and St. Mary-le-Strand, as are within the liberties, district, limits, or jurisdiction, of the Duchy of Lancaster,) and of the liberty or district of St. Martin-le-Grand, in the county of Middlesex, and of the precinct of the Savoy; March 19, 1795-14,000. Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, united by Elizabeth into one corporation, though two boroughs; and send four Members. Agreed to be in the mayor, aldermen, bailiffs, and capital burgesses, inhabiting in the borough, and in persons seised of freeholds within the borough, and not receiving alms; 7th May, 1730-500.-Sir G. F. Johnstone. Whitchurch, in the freeholders only of lands or tenements, in right of themselves or their wives, not split since the act of the 7th and 8th years of the reign of King William; 21st December, 1708-70.-Viscount Sydney and Viscount Middleton. Wigan, in the free burgesses.-Sir Robert Holt Leigh and John Hodson, esq. Wilton, in the mayor and burgesses, who are to do all corporate acts, and receive the sacrament; 17th March, 1710—80.—Earl of Pembroke and Mont gomery. Winchelsea, in the mayor, jurats, and freemen-40.-Earl of Darlington. Winchester, in the mayor, recorder, aldermen, bailiffs, and corporation-120.— Sir H. P. St. John Mildmay. Windsor, in the mayor, bailiffs, and select number of burgesses only; 2d May, 1689. Is not in the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses, but all the inhabitants have the right of electing; 5th April, 1697-430.-The Treasury. Woodstock, in the mayor, aldermen, and freemen of the borough—400.—Duk e of Marlborough. Worcester, agreed to be in the freemen not receiving alms: 7th February, 1693. In the citizens not receiving alms, and admitted to their freedom by birth or servitude, or by redemption, in order to trade within the city; 11th February, 1747-2500. Wootton-Basset, in the inhabitants paying scot and lot-150.-Earl of Clarendon and Viscount Bolingbroke. Chipping-Wycombe, in the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses, not receiving alms -170.-Sir J. D. King, bart. and Sir Thomas Baring, bart. Yarmouth, Great, in the burgesses at large-730.-The Treasury. It is unnecessary to give any account of the representation of Scotland, since it is notoriously little more than one great rotten borough, over which the Treasury has a controlling influence. The late Lord Melville always boasted that he could return thirty-nine out of forty-five, who represented the entire kingdom of Scotland! The Duke of Montrose is now considered the patron-general, for the Treasury, of Scotland. In Ireland, the spirit-stirring exertions of Mr. O'Connell; the disfranchisement, in 1829, of the 40s. freeholders; and the limitation of the qualification to vote for county members to those possessed of a clear yearly freehold of £10 per annum, have introduced changes in the exercise of the elective franchise, and the disposition of parliamentary patronage, which cannot yet be definitively ascertained. Before the Disfranchisement Act, the small freeholders could be created at pleasure, and were entirely under the influence of their landlords; the county voters are now under the influence of the priesthood and the "Great Agitator." From the results of the general election, it would appear the Duke of Wellington was correct in his anticipation that the change of the elective eligibility for shires would destroy the influence of the great landowners over the returns. In nearly all the contests this year, they have been defeated, or, as in the case of the Beresfords at Waterford, compelled to enter into compromises little less mortifying than defeat itself. With the loss of their power, it is to be hoped they will lose a part of their government patronage. Formerly, a county member, if he supported the ministers, or if he were in opposition to the ministers' opponent, had what is called "the patronage of the county," that is, he appointed excise and custom-house officers, officers of militia, &c. Possessed of this influence, the claims upon his friendship were numerous; and as long as any thing remained to be given away, he dealt out his favours to the gentlemen who brought their voters to support him on the day of trial. These latter men, forming another link in the chain of political corruption, distributed their favours to their tenants who had made the greatest number of freeholders on their estates. In the Irish peerage, there has been no reform; and they, at least, continue to be returned on the old corrupt and slavish principles. They are virtually nominated by ministers. When a peer dies, government intimate, through the Irish secretary, by whom they wish the vacancy to be supplied; this invariably procures the election of the desired person. So much for the independence attached to rank and property! We shall conclude our account of the representation by inserting two statements: the first exhibits the proportion in which the members are returned for the different sections of the United Kingdom; the second is a brief recapitulation of parliamentary patronage, and, at once, shows the description of persons and interests virtually represented in the Collective Wisdom of the Nation. The statement for Ireland will require some allowance, from the causes already mentioned. Members returned for the different Sections of the United Kingdom. The county of Cornwall, 42; of Wilts, 34; of York, 32 ...... 108 Sussex, 28; Dorset, 30; Suffolk, 16; Stafford, 10 74 sex, Northumberland, and Notting-each 8 48 ham, The counties of Cambridge, Cumberland, Hertford, and Warwick,. Bedford, Chester, Derby, Durham, each 6 24 Huntingdon, Leicester, and West-each 4 28 morland, Monmouth, 3; Rutland 2 5 Wales, 24; Scotland, 45; Ireland, 100 ... 169 Making the total number of members 658 PARLIAMENTARY PATRONAGE. Members returned by 87 peers in England and Wales...... 218 21 peers in Scotland .... .... Total returned by peers 31 51 300 Members returned by 90 commoners in England and Wales. 137 14 commoners in Scotland 19 commoners in Ireland Members nominated by government .... Total returned by commoners and government PROSPECTS OF REFORM IN THE REPRESENTATION. The great popular movements among our neighbours cannot fail to have some influence on the approaching deliberations of the Boroughmongers, and incline them to listen to propositions which, prior to the warning events on the continent, they would have repelled with sovereign disdain. The results of the general election show that the side of mere bigotry and oppression has received no augmentation of force: Mr. Brougham's return for Yorkshire and Mr. Hume's for Middlesex are events of interest, by demonstrating not only a decline in aristocratic ascendancy, but also the progress of political information among those classes which have heretofore been in great part impassable, and kept aloof from popular influence. It would, however, be a fatal error to suppose the Oligarchy are about to abandon their usurpations. Of this we see not the slightest indication. When the beer-monopoly was about being dissolved, the prices of public-houses fell enormously; but we have not heard of any fall in the market price of boroughs. Till then-till this infallible sign appears-our readers may rely upon it there is no measure in contemplation likely to be productive of substantial benefit to the community. |