some new-made placemen with ready admission to a seat; which he of course vacates, as soon as he can do better, and his place is usually supplied by some stop-gap, until another seat be wanted. For such purposes, Yarmouth, and a few other Boroughs, may be styled the Necessary appurtenances of the House of Commons. This far-famed Borough, which for more than 50 years contained only one resident voter, has been rather unfortunate in its representatives. Sir John Trevor (the Speaker), was expelled the House in 1690, for receiving a bribe of 1000 guineas for passing the City of London Orphan-Bill; and Sir Theodore Jansen was expelled and taken into custody, by unanimous resolution of the whole House, in 1720, "for notorious breach of trust as a Director of the South Sea Company." A Land Owner. RICHARD BETHELL, Esq. To. Res. 28, Southampton-buildings; SIRJOHN-VANDEN-BEMPTDEJOHNSTONE, Bart. A Land Owner. Co. Se. Hackness, Yorkshire. R. of E. In the freeholders of the three Ridings; and, according to a decision in 1735, those whose freeholds lie in the Ainsty have a right to vote. N. of V. Nearly 20,000. Pop. 1,183,000. On the disfranchisement of the Borough of Grampound in 1821, for bribery and corruption, an act was passed to give this immense County the power of sending four Members to Parliament. Still, although its share in the representation, agreeably to the ratio of its taxes would be 46 out of 658 (the present number of members in the Commons' House of Parliament), yet the rotten Boroughs of Gatton and Old Sarum (the first of which has a population of only 40 persons, and the latter neither house nor inhabitant; and both together paying no more taxes than amount to the yearly pay of Captain Shelley, one of the members for Gatton), possess, together, an equal share in the democratic branch of the legislature, with this most extensive and populous county; the territory of which is in fact as large as that of many kingdoms. And yet the members representing the 40 persons of Gatton and Old Sarum vote for taxes and measures which are to influence the fortunes and lives of more than a million of inhabitants of Yorkshire;their voices being of just as much consequence on a division of the House of Commons, as those of the members for the largest county in England. It is impossible that a contrast in the national representation can go farther than this; unless, indeed, we substitute for Gatton, the Borough of Newton in the Isle of Wight, which, like her sister Old Sarum, has certainly the merit of being free from election bribery ;-because, like her, she has neither inhabitants nor electors to bribe!-The anti-reformists must certainly have some very awkward misgivings, when, looking at such monstrous anomalies, they have the hardihood to assert that "the people of Great Britain and Ireland are well represented," and that "the fabric of the constitution ought to remain untouched," for that "the system has worked well:"-Such falsehoods are equalled only by that other old constitutional lie, that "THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND TAX themselves ('` THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES!!!" A memorable struggle for the representation of Yorkshire took place in 1807, between Lord Milton, Mr. Wilberforce, and the present Earl of Harewood (then Mr. Lascelles). This was certainly the most expensive contest that ever distinguished the annals of electioneering. Lord Milton was supported by the Whig party; Mr. Lascelles by the Tories; and Mr. Wilberforce by the Dissenting and independent interests. The election was carried on, with doubtful success, between the two party candidates for fifteen days; but Mr. Wilberforce was at the head of the poll during the whole time. On the fifteenth day, being the length of time allowed by law, the election terminated in favour of Mr. Wilberforce and Lord Milton; the numbers at the final close of the poll being, For William Wilberforce, Esq. 11,808 Lord Viscount Milton 11,177 Hon. Henry Lascelles. . 10,990 This contest is said to have cost the three parties nearly half a million of money! -The expenses of Mr. Wilberforce were defrayed by public subscription, and such zcal was manifested in his favour, that more than double the sum necessary for the purpose of supporting his election was raised in a few days; and one moiety was afterwards returned to the subscribers.-A similar instance of popular fervor has never occurred, except at one of the elections of Sir Francis Burdett for Westminster, that of Mr. Cæsar for Hertfordshire in 1736, and those of the celebrated Mr. Wilkes for the County of Middlesex. A SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE HOUSE OF COMMONS. 40 Counties (Yorkshire 4) in England send 82 knights. 25 Cities (Ely none, London 4) 166 Boroughs, 2 each 50 citizens. 332 burgesses. 5 burgesses. 4 representatives. 16 barons. 12 knights. 12 burgesses. 30 commissioners. 15 commissioners. 64 knights. 4 citizens. 1 representative. 231 citizens and Total number of Members 658 burgesses. N. of V. Vary between 500 and 1000. This is a costly borough. A candidate This Borough was for a long time under TAVIST shire. LORD WIL uncle to M.P... other i LORD JO Offi. P To. R Rel. S and R. of E. I inhabita N. of V. E. 1. T leet of me": Out of T sul te pr |