ENGLAND, m. 



represent the Irish nobility. The number of peers is indefinite, and 

 may be increased at will by the power of the crown. 



The commons consist of all such men of any property in the king- 

 dom as have not seats in the house of lords ; every one of whom has 

 a voice in parliament, either personally, or by his representative.* 

 The counties are represented by knights, elected by the proprietors 

 of lands ; the cities and boroughs are represented by citizens and 

 burgesses, chosen by the mercantile part, or supposed trading inter- 

 est, of the nation. The number of English representatives is 513, of 

 Scotch 45, and of Irish 100 ; in all 658. And every member, though 

 chosen by one particular district, when elected and returned, serves 

 for the whole realm. For the end of his going thither is not parti- 

 cular, but general ; not merely to serve his constituents, but also the 

 commonwealth, and to advise his majesty, as appears from the writ of 

 summons. 



Some of the most important privileges of the members of either 

 house are, privilege of speech, of person, of their domestics, and their 

 lands and goods. 



The house of lords have -a right to be attended, and consequently 

 are, by the judges of the courts of king's bench and common pleaS| 

 and such of the barons of the exchequer as are of the degree of the 

 coif, or have been made Serjeants at law, as likewise by the masters 

 of the court of chancery, for their advice in points of law, and for the 

 greater dignity of their proceedings. 



The speaker of the house of lords is generally the lord chancellory 

 or lord keeper of the great seal ; which dignities are commonly vested 

 in the same person. 



Each peer has a right, by leave of the house, as being his own 

 representative, when a vote passes contrary to his sentiments, to 

 enter his dissent on the journals of the house, with the reasons of 

 such dissent ; which is usually styled his protest. Upon particular 

 occasions, however, these protests have been so bold as to give 

 offence to the majority of the house, and have therefore been ex- 

 punged from their journals ; but this has always been thought a vio- 

 lent measure. 



The house of commons may be properly styled the grand inquest 

 of Great Britain, empowered to inquire into all national grievances. 

 The peculiar laws and customs of the house of commons relate prin- 

 cipally to the raising of taxes, and the elections of members to serve 

 in parliament. With regard to taxes, it is the ancient indisputable 

 privilege and right of the house of commons, that all grants of sub- 

 sidies, or parliamentary aids, do begin in their house, and are first 

 bestowed by them ; although their grants are not effectual, to all 

 intents and purposes, until they have the assent of the other two 

 branches of the legislature. The general reason given for this exclu- 

 sive privilege of the house of commons is, that the supplies are 

 raised upon the body of the people, and therefore it is proper that 

 they alone should have the right of taxing themselves : and so reason- 



* This must be understood with some limitation. Those who are possessed of 

 land estates, though to the value of only 40s. per annum, have a right to vote for 

 members of parliament ; as have most of the members of corporations, boroughs, 

 ZLc. But there are very large trading towns, and populous places, which send no 

 members to parliament ; and of those towns which do send members, great num. 

 hers of the inhabitants have no votes. Many thousand persons of great personal 

 f-ii/jierty have, therefore, no representatives. 



Vol. I. A a 



