1792. on the coal duties in Scotland. 393 
ductive fax, and where it acts as an opprefsive burden 
upon the people, the revenue afforded by it will be trif- 
ling and inconsiderable ; it would seem that legislators 
who have a sincere desire to promote the welfare of the 
gulating popular eletions as any that can be conceived. f hall fir 
confider what would be the effect of this regulation in towns, and next 
in the country. 
In towns, without taking into account the turbulence and diffipa- 
tion this would occafion, and the difficulty of correcting abufes in the 
manner of voting, &c. one moft obvious confequence wotld be, that 
a great manufacturer, who employs many hundreds of hands, would 
naturally poffefs the power of giving an equal number of votes. At 
prefent indeed, while the demand for our manufactures is fuch as to 
exceed our power to fupply, and when of courfe operative hands are 
fo fearce as to require to be courted, this might not be altogether the 
cafe; but no fooner would the number of hands be equal to, or greater 
than the demand for them, than this would be abfolutely, and inevitably 
_ experienced : for every man that voted contrary to the will of his maf- 
ter, would,be turned out of employment. 
» Inthe prefent fituation of things the cafe might be a little varied, 
_ but the effe& would not be materially different: A difcontented 
nobleman, or perfon of high rank, who had loft his fortune by gam- 
_ ing or other fafhionable extravagancies, and who had not received all the 
emoluments from the minifter that he expected, might demean him- 
felf fo far, as to become a promoter of focieties and clubs among 
the lower ranks of the people, under the fpecious pretext of alleviating 
) taxes, and reforming abufes; of which they knew juft as much as he 
fhould be pleafed to tell them. This perfon, or the minion of a mi- 
nifter, or the beautiful wife of a grandee, by treating them with ex- 
treme refped?, would fo effectually flatter their vanity, as to get them to 
vote, without hefitation, for any perfon he pleafed to recommend.— 
“Other fatellites would be employed to flatter and harangue other fo- 
_cieties; and fo the thing would go’ on.— Not one of thofe numerous 
members of thefe focieties, would know either the talents or difpofitions 
of the perfon for whom they voted; but the minifter, or any other 
man who thus chofe to act, would eafily effect his purpofe when he 
pleafed. 
In the country, matters would be ftill worfe, At prefent we complain, 
not without reafon, that a nobleman, who by the laws of the land, has 
‘no right to vote for a member of parliament himfelf, fhould attempt, 
-by creating nominal and fictitious votes, to acquire an undue influences 
and the courts of juftice have, I think, with much propriety, of late, 
interfered to check this fort of fraudulent encroachment. But what 
would happen fhould this’ reform take place, which fo many perfons 
clamouroufly call out for? Why thefe nobles and great men would at 
ence be freed from an immentfy deal of trouble and expence they have 
