.a.a ^iliiieat f>r9p-efs of Britain. Oct. lO. 



sary^nce more to alter their mode of eiection j for the in- 

 fluence of wealth and popular manners, can never be fully 

 excluded, until the election fliall be made entirely by lot. 

 I cannot help recommending this proposition to the atten- 

 tive consideration of those who wi(h to preserve the pub- 

 lic tranquillity, and at the same time to exclude influence 

 entirely fiom the elections in Britain, Were tlie quaHfi- 

 eations necefsary for candidates properly defined, and the 

 law in that respect duly inforced *, I can see no objec- 



• If, for example, y/e wlihed totally to exclude every kind of influence 

 at elections, I ftiOuld be glad to know what obJECtions could be made t« 

 the following regulations, v'lx. let a law be m.^de which ordains. 



1. Thitno person con be elected till he has attained the age bf 25 year* 

 complete. And, 



2. Tnat no persnn who has ever livfd for ten years at a time out of Bri- 

 tain, or at least out of Europe, can ever be eligible. And 



3. Who has had his principal residence in the county where he becomes 

 a candidate, for three )eirs at least, preceding the day of election. Andf 



4. Who pcfsefses in bis own right in landed property, the value of three 

 hundred pounis of real rents, at least, free of deductions, or enjoys an in- 

 come, if inbusinels, at least of five hundred pounds a-year. 



All these facts to be ascertained by a jury of ho:iest men in the vicinage 

 whofljall take cogn since of them at the afsizes immediaxly preceding the 

 election, and whose verdict must be produced to the returning OiTicer be- 

 fjre the candidate can be put upon the ballot. 



Thus every scrutiny snJ expensive invesr'gitlcn into the legality of 

 cla'menrs would be avoioed, and thenecefcity of dela; s precluded. 



Le: as many candidates, thus quallned, as pleaed, come forward at the 

 time of election. Let one who h-d been a candidate at some former pe- 

 riod, but not at present, be chosen from amorg those present by lot, as the 

 leturnlng offi.-.er. Let a number of small ro.^s, of untq'ial lepgll.s, but in 

 every other respect, the same be provided, in number the same as that of 

 the candidates \ and amther equal number of rods, having the name of one 

 ef the candidates wrilten upon each. Let all the rods Oi one sort be Iha- 

 ken and mixed carelcfsly together before the meeting, and then so pl.'iced 

 that on; of the ends may project a little beyond a cover, and all ranged 

 »q'ia'., the writing on the on-, set being entirely conea'ed. Let a man 

 •ijeu be provided, who, by an inqitest before a jury, (hall have been previ- 



