T^Cj^- pniitical progrefs of Britain; jtg 



tioii to this mode of election but one, vi%. that it would 

 but too^ perfectly effect the purpose proposed. Such a 

 regulation would set the court and the opposition alike 



ously found to be perfectly blind- Let this man draw first a blank rod 

 from one side, the length of which (hall be ascertained by measuring it ou 

 a rod, wi"hin view of the meeting, and the precise length of it called out 

 v»ith an audible voice by the retarn;ng officer, and marked by the clerk. 

 Let then another rod be drawn from the opposite side, with the name of the 

 candidate upon it, which (hall also be held up in the s'ght of all present, so 

 asto be legible to them \ after which the nime (hill be publicly annotm- ' 

 cei by the returning ofEcer to the clerk, who (hall mark it opposite to the 

 measure of the rod before announced j and so on, till the whole are fini(}ied< 

 The clerk (hal! then read over the whole deliberately, and with an au- 

 dible voice, making a pause before every name. This ftall then be pre- 

 sented to the returning officer, whoMTiall declare which of the canJidilfg 

 t.'.s obtained the longest or the (hottest rod, (as had been previously agreed. ^ 

 and who is of course to be the member for this time, then s'gning the pa- 

 per with the leturn upon it, send it to the person authorised to receive the 

 sair.e. Ar.d thus ends the election. 



If those who plead for a reform at present, are seriously desirous of ob- 

 ta'n'ng the object they prof-fs, a representation fcallv unbial's.d by the 

 power of the crown, or any other influence, tr.ey cannot object to this pro- 

 posal j and in thit case the gre,ii: objeitiun to frequent elect'ons, '■jI'z. tie 

 lofs of labour, ar.d the disturbances which then occur, would be entirely 

 Jone away, so that even ani)ual parliame'iis, if trough: proper, might be 

 adopted . I do not pretend to say whether this v.-ould be the best mode of 

 elections pofsible ; all that is contended for. Is, that the influence now so 

 loudly complained of, would be irffaciually avoided j so that if the reformers 

 reject it they must clearly abandon their principle, which w.U prove th/t - 

 lome other object is in view than that which is held otit to the public. 



It is unnecefsary to observe, that, on this plan, acertain number of the 

 coiifidencial servants ofthe crown, to be distinctly specified in the bill, fliill 

 be members of parliament, ex officio \ for ca.ional businefs could nevfr 

 be carried on without them : no ojection can arise from tiiis circumstance, 

 beciu se these would be necefia^ily confined to such a small proport;or» of. 

 the afsetr.bly that their number could have little effect in determining a 

 nwjority. For the reasons afiigned in the text, no person will believe 

 that I could strious'y expect that this legulation will ever be adopted in 

 Biitain. 



