/ 9 1 . Parliamentary Proceedings . 267, 



fpeftivdy, having an eftate, freehold or copyhold, for their 

 own refpeiflive lives, of the annual vaUie of three hundred 

 nounds above reprifes. That this very moderate reftri<flioD, 

 however vicious in its principle, leaving all citizens and bur- 

 gefies eligible pofleflinir life eftates, freehold or copyhold, of 

 the annual value of three hundred pounds, will henceforth 

 ferve only as a fnare to the candidate, and a mockery of the 

 eleftors, if fuch candidate, poHlflina: a life efiatc of three 

 hundred pounds a-year, mult expend fifty thoufand pounds 

 (and there is no probable appearance that a hundred thoufand 

 pounds would be f ifficit-nt) in attempting:, by a tedious, ex- 

 penRve, and incffeftual litigation, to fuftain the choice of his 

 coaftitnents, and to prove himfclf duly eleded. 



♦• That, though your petitioner complains, (as he hereby 

 does)ol-' the undue election and return of Lord Hood and the 

 Kight Honourable Charles James Fox to this orefent Parliament 

 for the city and liberty of Weftminfter, yet is your petitioner, 

 by a perfttcution and profcription of more than twenty ye.irs, 

 di&bled from making that pecuniary facririce, which, oy the 

 prefent new mode of inveftigatior, is (but ought not to be) 

 necelTary efledlually to prove fuch undue return ; and yet your 

 petitioner fully trufts, that, notwitliftandini; a very great ma- 

 jority of the Houfe of Commons (for fo it (til! continues to be 

 llyled) are not, as they oug'it to be, eleifled by the commons 

 of this realm, in any honeft meaning of the word commons, and 

 muft therefore naturally and receffiirily have a biis and intereft 

 againft a fair and real reprefentation of the people ; yet your 

 petitioner fully trufts, that he ihall be able to lay before a com- 

 mittee, chofen and fwom to try and determine the matter of 

 this petition, evidence of fuch a nature, as that the committee 

 will, oil their oaths, think proper to report to the Houfa fome 

 rcfolution, or refolutions, other than the determination of Ih- 

 retiirn ; and that the Houfc will make fuch order thereon as 

 to them ihall feem proper. And your petitioner doubts not, 

 that, as an cle<flor, at Icaft, he fliall, in confeqnence, receive 

 fuch redrefs, as will be much more im.portant to him, and to 

 the cledors oi Wcftminflcr, than anv determination of the rt- 

 lurn. JOHN HORNE TOOKE." 



When this very fingular petition had been read, Mr Pultney 

 fail', every petition complaining of an undue return, and pru- 

 oofing to invedigate the merits of that return, the Houfe was 

 bound to receive, and appoint a committee lo confukr ; but it 

 did not appear tha'. this petition (3i.l in any part oropofc to in- 

 veftigate the merits of the return ; for which reafon.'he thought 

 t!ir petition ought to be r.jedtcd in the firll inftance. 



On the motion of General Burgoyne, the octition was read a 

 fccond time. 



