ACCOUNT-OF BOOKS. 
it would be the last part. of the 
community from which the go- 
yernment would dare to ask for or 
expect assistance, when the service 
in which it was io be employed 
wou'd be attended with injury or 
even dzngcr to the liberty of the 
country. 
Mr. Michell suggests several im. 
provements respecting the age at 
which gentlemen should be allowed 
to sit in parliament. At 21 he 
thinks 4 man cannot be properly 
qualified for the important duties 
of a legislator; and therefore he is 
of opinion that he ought not to be 
eligible by law for a seat in the 
legislature, before he has attained 
the age of 30 years.” 
In chapter VI. Mr. M. speaks of 
the qualification of electors ; and, 
instead of extending the right of 
suffrage to every male of the age 
ef 21, he contends most strenu- 
ously for withholding it from all 
those who possess not fixed pro. 
perty, but who-are altogether de. 
pendent for their subsistence on the 
wages of their daily labour; and 
he maintains that, without this 
restriction, it 1s impossible that the 
gonstitution should be secure. 
_ Mr. M, would disfranchise only 
the populace, and would commu. 
nicate the right ef voting to all 
above that class, with the double 
view of preventing an aristocratic 
‘tyranny, and sprealing as widely 
as possible an interest in the public 
‘wellure. ‘Ko mark the line of 
‘discrimination is the business (says 
he), of -a legislator occupied in 
frawing a particular constituricn, 
aod inust be adapted to the manners 
fof exch parviculur prople.: It beionys 
to him also to ascertain what are 
the ofices which may be rendered 
[525- 
elc@tive, and to what.in a monar- 
chy the prince, in a republic the 4 
senate, should nominate.’ f 
The question of suffrage natu- 
rally leads to that of representa- 
tion. The author gives an historical 
account of the manner in which it 
was introduced into our. constitu- 
tion, and then observes that the 
idea of it became at last so cherished 
by the people, that representation 
was wish them a synonimous term 
for liberty; so that those who 
were not represented were consi- 
dered as not free. Mr. M, insists 
that this opinion is founded in 
error; or that it must be admitted 
that women, minors, and foreign. 
ers, residing among us are slaves ; 
for they are not represented by any 
one deputed by them to appear and 
a&t for them. 
He concludes the chapter with’ 
some very handsome compliments 
to the British House of Commons ; 
from which, he says, constituted 
as it always has. been, the nation 
has derived great happiness, wealth, 
and glory. 
The VIIth chapter treats of a 
monarchical and a republican form 
of government, and gives to the 
former a decided preference. 
Inchaprer VIII. he treats of the 
nature and extent of power that 
ought to be trusted to the king. 
He remarks that, if a sovereign 
does not possess sufficient legal 
power to enforce a vigorous and 
effective government, he must ob- 
tain it through influence, or an. 
archy willensué. 
In chapter IX. he investigates 
the origin, progress, und decay of 
absolute power in. France ; sand 
this discussion leads him to search 
for the foundation of British free» 
dom, 
