It would be a guarantee against future liberticide wars; if wars were waged they would be the wars of the nation, not of an Oligarchy; they would be wars for, not against, the people. Lastly, it would consolidate the empire, uniting in the bonds of equal rights and reciprocal advantages England, Ireland, and Scotland, and render them what, from superior wealth and intelligence, they ought to be," the envy and admiration of the world!" England would recover her rank among nations, and be again the model of constitutional governments. Her government would be founded on Public Opinion, not on that sinister opinion fostered by a lavish expenditure of public money-by the abuse of collegiate and ecclesiastical endowments-by the restraint of discussion-but an opinion, the result of impartial investigation and expanded views of social happiness. Such, we apprehend, are a few of the advantages that would result from the adoption of the Reform Bill, and which would form the subjects of deliberation of a reformed parliament, and which, in due course, it would endeavour to accomplish. That the people can be frustrated in the pursuit of so many national blessings, we cannot for a moment believe; we cannot believe that from supineness or want of union among themselves they will continue the serfs of the Boroughmongers, who, for their own emolument, have cherished every abuse in our institutions, and entailed on the country all its embarrassing calamities. Our enemies are few in number, but mighty in influence. They are an united, active, and desperate band, exasperated almost to madness at being kept for the last fifteen months from their accustomed prey. If they succeed, they well know all the sacrifices they make will be amply repaid by the plunder of the people. But their rapacious hopes will be baffled. Corruption will never triumph over true patriotism—a mock representation over one that is real-private interests over the public weal-a mere faction over the king, his ministers, the public press, and the nation! Cheap government-cheap bread-cheap justice-and industry unfettered and productive will reward our efforts in the triumph of the Reform Bill! N.B. Whatever changes the Reform Bill may finally undergo in either House of Parliament, the subjoined "Statistical Tables" will be useful for reference; comprising as they do the elements of representation on any proposed plan, whether founded on population, on rental, the amount of taxation, or the household or universal suffrage scheme. Totness, in No. IV., which formed one of the semi-disfranchised boroughs, has been removed in the committee of the Lower House; but as it originally stood in the Bill, it has been here retained. STATISTICS OF REPRESENTATION. No. I. The Year of Election, and greatest Number of Freeholders who have exercised the right of voting in ENGLAND and WALES for County Members since 1811. The number of freeholders in this county is estimated at 4000.-Parl. Pap. 149, Sess. 1831. + The election continued only six days, and supposed half the number of freeholders polled. The election continued only one day. The number polled in 1790, when the election lasted two days, was 4849. No. II. The Number of Freeholders in the different Counties in IRELAND, Registered up to the 1st May, 1831; distinguishing the £50, £20, and £10 Freeholders. Population, Electors, &c. of the FIFTY-SIX Boroughs totally disfranchised, forming Schedule A of the Reform Bill. |