HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



161 



House of Commons was found 

 so debased as to acknowledge the 

 existence of corruption in its for- 

 mation, and justify the existence 

 of it — [Here Mr. Hutchinson was 

 interrupted by cries of withdraw, 

 withdraw ! and a violent uproar]. 

 When this subsided, Mr. H. said 

 it was at least consistent in those 

 who had recourse to such voci- 

 feration, to drown, if possible, 

 the voices of those who opposed 

 them ; convinced, as they must be, 

 that such conduct as they pur- 

 sued that night could neither bear 

 argument, inquiry, nor the touch- 

 stone of common integrity. 



The question being loudly called 

 for, the two amendments were ne- 

 gatived without a division. The 

 house then divided on the original 

 motion, as proposed by Mr. Ma- 

 docks ; when the number of votes 

 were— Ayes, 85; Noes, 310. 



House of Commons, May 4.— • 

 Mr. Ciirixen made a variety of ob- 

 servations with the view of proving 

 the propriety of bringing forward 

 the measure of parliamentary re- 

 form, at the present moment. He 

 took a view of the circumstances 

 under which former reforms had 

 been attempted. — At one period 

 reform would iiave been obtained, 

 if Mr. Pitt had maintained his 

 consistency. The next serious at- 

 tempt was made by the " Society 

 of Friends to the People :" they 

 sought to inspire the country with 

 their own sentiments; but the times 

 were unpropitious ; a reform was 

 neither called for nor wished. He 

 made remarks on the difference 

 that the lapse of time had occa- 

 sioned between our present state 

 and that in which wc were at ei- 

 ther of the periods to which he 

 had before particularly alluded. 

 Vol. LI. 



The power and influence of the 

 crown had received considerable 

 increase; our army, navy, sys- 

 tem of taxation and expenditure, 

 were, at present, on such a scale 

 and under such management, as 

 materially to increase that influ- 

 ence. Mr. Pitt's profuse crea- 

 tion of peers, without much en- 

 riching that noble body, had 

 tended to impoverish the com- 

 mons. This weight of landed 

 property and influence had been 

 subtracted from that house and 

 added to another, which might 

 fairly be supposed to direct its 

 views more towards the crowa 

 than the people. During the pre- 

 sent reign, the selection of per- 

 sons clad in the ermine of justice 

 had certainly done honour to his 

 majesty's government. From that 

 body he drew his authority ; he 

 had the direct authority of Sir W. 

 Blackstone for the extension of 

 the oath against bribery, from the 

 electors to the elected. Under such 

 authority as his, Mr. Curwen felt 

 confidence in adopting this, as a 

 leading feature in the proposed 

 measures for reformation. Another 

 measure he should propose would 

 be to impose penalties on the sale, 

 or contracting to sell a seat in 

 that house ; and next, to extend 

 the bribery laws to agents or pub- 

 lic persons attempting to corrupt 

 electors, during the whole period 

 of parliament ; to preclude their 

 receiving a corrupt consideration 

 for procuring the votes of electors, 

 at any period, as well subsequent, 

 as prior to the election. In the 

 paths of commerce there were to 

 be found men of as high honour, 

 independent minds, and general 

 information as in any other ; but 

 to every class of society there was 

 M attached 



