Page images
PDF
EPUB

4 Elgin, Cullen, Banff, Kintore, and Inverury.

5 Aberdeen, Montrose, Brechin, Aberbrothock, and Inverbervie. 6 Forfar, Perth, Dundee, St. Andrews, and Cupar.

7 Crail, Kilrenny, Anstruther West, Anstruther East, and Pittenweem.

8 Dysart, Kirkaldy, Kinghorn, and Burntisland.

9 Inverkeithing, Dumfermline, Culross, Queensferry, and Stirling.

10 Glasgow, Renfrew, Rutherglen, and Dumbarton.

11 Haddington, Dunbar, North Berwick, Lauder, and Jedburgh. 12 Selkirk, Peebles, Linlithgow, and Lanark.

13 Dumfries, Sanquehar, Annan, Lochmaben, and Kirkcudbright. 14 Wigton, Stranraer, New Galloway, and Whithorn.

15 Ayr, Irwine, Rothsay, Inverary, and Campbeltown.

In the above districts, the respective town-councils of the sixty-five towns, or burghs, nominate one delegate, each; and by the majority of these delegates one Member of Parliament is elected :in other words,

1269 persons choose 65 delegates, who elect 14 Commissioners. But in Edinburgh. 33 persons elect

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

1 Commissioner.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

Londonderry.

Sligo.

Cashell.
Clonmel.
28. Tyroneshire.
Dungannon.

29. Waterfordshire.

Dungarvon.

Waterford.

30. Westmeathshire.

Athlone.

31. Wexfordshire.

New-Ross.

Wexford.

27. Tipperaryshire. 32. Wicklowshire.

Each of the 32 Irish counties returns 2 Knights 64

[ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Of the above,

358 are Landholders.

PRIVATE INTERESTS*.

88 are Military Officers.

24 are Naval Officers.

62 belong to the Profession of the Law.

33 are Bankers.

62 are connected with the East India Company †.

34 are connected with the West India Trade.

It will be obvious to the reader that many members of this class are connected with more interests than one: for example, some bankers hold lands; and some land owners hold military and naval offices, as well as places and pensions: a few are connected with commerce.

+ Ten Directors of the East India Company sit in the House of Commons,returned by three proprietary boroughs, four boroughs containing between them 850 voters, one Scottish burgh, and one Scottish county, containing 161 votes. Independently of their small salaries of 3007. each, or 3000l. between them, these persons bring a patronage to bear directly upon the votes of the House, amounting yearly to not less than 250,000l. derived from their share (according to the accounts ordered to be printed in 1826 and in 1829) of the following average number of annual appointments, viz. one writership to China, at 10,000l.; 68 writerships to India, at 50007.; 460 military, medical, and clerical appointments, at 5007. each. This is exclusive of the local patronage of the India House, the patronage connected with the Company's shipping, with the supply of stores for India, and the trading investments. Of the fifty-one Proprietors and others in Parliament, exclusive of the Directors, twenty-eight are returned by proprietary boroughs.

The number of votes at the India House possessed by the Directors and Proprietors having seats in Parliament, is exactly 100; which, at the present price of stock," are worth 22001. a piece; so that the personal interests of members are involved in maintaining the monopoly, to the extent of 220,000l.

There are eighteen members who have served the Company in India, fifteen being retired servants of the East India Company itself. Six of the eighteen members receive pensions from the Company, amounting to from 1000l. to 20001. a year each. There are in the House but two members who have resided in India, not servants of the Company; and these are both East India agents and proprietors of stock.

Notwithstanding the connexion with the East India or other interests, resulting from the obvious condition of the member, it is not to be supposed that the bias arising from it is the sole one, or that it is sufficient to overrule all others. Many of the members are connected with conflicting interests, in which they are fully as much involved. Still, however, this arrangement of the members into classes exhibits the abstract strength of each class, and its capacity to form a phalanx in the House to support peculiar interests in opposition to others. It moreover will explain many apparent inconsistencies in the logic and conduct of members on various occasions, who may be content to support a particular interest, until other interests clash with it in which they are equally interested.

Besides the members who are obviously connected with the East India Company, there are others, returned by their influence, and in some cases, it is said, by their funds.

There are 17 Peers who are possessed of 31 votes at the India House: they have relatives possessed of 18 votes; making together 49 votes, which are worth 107,8007. -Spectator Newspaper.

51 are engaged in Trade and General Manufacture. 63 are Placemen and Pensioners. Of these, one third are immediately connected with the Peerage.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

155 Fathers, Brothers, Cousins, Grandsons, Nephews, and Uncles of Peers.-That is, 169 Peers have 257 relatives of the above degrees in the House of Commons.

157 Members immediately connected with, or related to, Placemen and Pensioners.-These are independent of the 63 mentioned in the class of PRIVATE INTERESTS.

DEPENDENCE ON PRIVATE NOMINATION.

Members returned by Government influence, viz. :-by the
Admiralty 2, Treasury 5, the Court 1, Warden of the
Cinque Ports 1

By Peers

9

354

By Commoners, who return either themselves or their friends 111

Total

Independent Representatives of Counties and Towns

Total number of Members

.474 184

. 658

ABSTRACT

OF

LAWS AND RESOLUTIONS

RELATIVE TO THE

ELECTION OF MEMBERS

TO SERVE IN

PARLIAMENT.

ELECTIONS.

WRITS FOR A GENERAL ELECTION.

In summoning a new Parliament, a warrant, signed by the King, is issued to the Lord Chancellor, commanding him to issue as many writs as have been usual on like occasions.

ingly made out by the Clerk of the Crown.

Such writs are accord

TIME BETWEEN THE TESTE AND THE RETURN.

On calling every new Parliament, there shall be forty days between the teste and return of the writ.-7th and 8th of William III., cap. 25.

WRITS ON VACANCIES, AND DURING A RECESS.

for making

The Speaker shall issue his warrant, during a recess, out writs for electing Members to serve in the room of those who may die, or become Peers of Great Britain, upon receiving notice, by certificate under the hands of two Members, of the death of such Member; or that a writ of summons has been issued under the Great Seal, calling any Member to the Upper House of Parliament.

3 L

« PreviousContinue »