LAW AND POLITICS. 189 



be approved of by the better sort; and the Populares 

 those who, out of a thirst for vain glory, did not so 

 much consider what was right, as what would please 

 the populace. 



The Chiltern Hundreds. 



A member of parliament cannot resign, but the 

 king may grant him the office of steward to the 

 Chiltern Hundreds, the acceptance of which vacates 

 his seat. The Chiltern Hundreds are crown lands 

 in Bedfordshire and Bucks, not far from Aylesbury, 

 their topographical name arising from the chalky 

 nature of the hills, of which they principally consist. 



Shires. 



The names of almost all the counties or shires in 

 England are mentioned in history before the extinc- 

 tion of the Saxon heptarchy. 



Scottish County Votes. 



In 1811 the number of freehold county votes in all 

 Scotland was 2417. Ayrshire had 151; Renfrew- 

 shire, 76 ; Inverness-shire, 49 ; and so on. 



Innovation. 



Lord Bacon remarks, Quis novatur tempus imi- 

 tatur, quod novationes ita insinuant ut sensus fallant, 

 (whoever innovates let him imitate time, which so 

 gradually insinuates its innovations that they deceive 

 the sense.) 



Freeholds. 



In England a lease for life, of 40s. per annum 

 value, is a freehold, and qualifies the owner to vote 



