1831.] Ajf airs in General. 445 



that I objected ; and even of this body, I spoke in no terms of disrespect. I 

 did, and still, protest against giving to the inhabitants of houses, rated at from 

 10 to 20, a majority somewhat more than three-fifths of the elective power 

 of all the towns in England. I objected to place this overbearing force within 

 the immediate sphere, not of the respectable solicitors of the country, but of 

 inferior practitioners of the law the description of persons whom the act for 

 petty courts would bring into operation against the more respectable members 

 of tne profession. 1 did object to increase the franchise of that lowest kind of 

 shopkeepers, who have always been found most open to bribery ; but I did not 

 object, as has been represented, that the humblest classes of my fellow-subjects 

 should enjoy its just share in that elective power.' " 



The case of one of the members for Colchester, as decided by the 

 committee, is a striking instance of the closeness with which the letter of 

 the law may be pursued in some instances. A petition was brought by 

 a Mr. Mayhew against Mr. Spottiswoode, one of the successful candi- 

 dates. The petition was against the return of the latter gentleman, on 

 several specific grounds, the principal of which were, corrupt preference 

 on the part of the mayor, as returning-officer ; an allegation of bribery, 

 on the part of Mr. Spottiswoode's agents ; and thirdly, that Mr. Spottis- 

 woode held an appointment under the crown, as king's printer, con- 

 jointly with Messrs. Strachan and Eyre. 



The grosser charges of bribery and corruption being given up at 

 once, Mr. Harrison proceeded to state that he was content to go upon 

 the ground of Mr. Spottiswoode's ineligibility, that gentleman holding a 

 situation, of considerable emolument, under the government, which 

 placed him within the immediate operation of the statute of George III. 

 for securing the independence of parliament. Mr. Adam, on the other 

 side, contended that the statute referred to by his learned friend applied 

 only to persons who had beneficial contracts with government, but that 

 the office of king's printer, being held under a patent granted by the 

 crown, could not be considered as coming within its provisions ; and it 

 was not denied that Mr. Spottiswoode's predecessor, Mr. Reeve, had sat 

 in parliament whilst he held a share in the patent, subsequent to the 

 passing of the act in question. 



The discussion continued on this point ; and the committee having 

 retired, and consulted for some time, counsel were called in, when the 

 chairman (Sir Robert Heron) intimated that the committee had declared 

 the election to be void. 



This decision unseats Mr. Spottiswoode, and will form a precedent 

 with regard to all other members who hold offices under government by 

 patent* 



The enormous abuses of the ambassadorial salaries and pensions have 

 been again urged upon the House by Mr. Gisborne. Let him persevere : 

 the salaries allowed to our diplomatists are monstrous, and they require 

 only to be exposed to be abolished. Why should the country be taxed 

 to pay 11,000 a-year to Sir Charles Bagot, at the Court of Holland, 

 even though he has done the state the extraordinary pleasure of marrying 

 the Duke of Wellington's niece ? whose mother, by the by, as well as 

 the duke's, lives on a pension ! Whatever the baronet's use may be at 

 the little Court of the Hague, who can doubt that the interest of 

 250,000 sterling is an enormous sum for his payment ? From the rate 

 of living, the obscurity of the court, and the obscurity of the ambas- 



