[...?] Jan 1809

Parl y Reform

1 '.2.

Ch.14. Electors

'.2. Boroughs, open, close, pocket

3

1

'.2. Distinction of boroughs into open, close, and pocket d o.

To delimit in all its varieties the instruments into which the matter of corruption is for the purpose here /now/ in question capable of being moulded, viz. the instruments by the suitable application of which the requisite species of undue[?] obsequiousness on the part of parliamentary Electors is under different circumstances the different circumstances of boroughs, counties, combinations of boroughs and combinations of counties in the three parts of the united kingdom produced, is a task the performance of which being beyond /not within/ my competence, is fortunately neither so necessary nor would be so much as conducive /[...?]/ to the present purpose. /purpose of the present work./

On this /the present/ occasion the current nomenclature will be sufficient to answer every material purpose . . .

The case of Counties [...?] has been it should seem not required to be comprehended in it. County Elections which certainly are[?] comparatively speaking seem to be /have been generally/ regarded as absolutely speaking exempt from /unexposed to/ all undue influence.

Remain the Boroughs, which in the current nomenclature are divided /distinguished/ into 1. pocket /open/ boroughs. 2. close boroughs: 3. open /pocket/ boroughs.
Similar Items
  • Title: [8 Sep. 1809 Parl y Reform I]
    Description: 8 Sep. 1809

    Parl y Reform

    I Necessity

    B.II. Influence

    ' King's dependence necessary

    2 Uncorruptive system self-ameliorative

    6

    15

    For assisting us /the mind/ in our conjectures, one course that on this occasion would present itself as a natural one would be to look out for the open seats whether those for the counties or those for the open boroughs and compare in this point of view that part of the Legislation[?] of the House with that which is composed of the representatives of close and pocket boroughs.

    Take Westminster for example - the most populous of all the open boroughs the most populous. Within the compass of the last half century how far are the instances in which the seat at the disposal of this borough /election district/ was not bestowed on the ground of merit of talent of some sort, often real always at least supposed.
  • Title: [19 Jan y 1817 Necessity Cat]
    Description: 19 Jan y 1817

    Necessity Cat

    II Application

    §.4. Constitution present real state

    *13

    *6

    Q. Be it so: First then as to the Electoral Districts.

    A. 1. Pocket Boroughs or Proprietary Boroughs. Seats

    2. Close Boroughs Seats

    3. Open or disputable Boroughs Seats

    4. County. Seats

    To one or other of these will all the seats contained in the House, will if I

    mistake not be found referable The ground of the distinction is the degree of

    assurance of certainty or uncertainty /certainty of closeness or openness real or

    apparent/ with which the /a man’s/ entrance into this species of office is attended.

    1. The pocket or proprietary seat /Borough/ is as the name imports a seat so assured

    as to be dependable on the same family upon the footing of a landed Estate: such

    being the results the state of things out of which the assurance results does not

    seem worth conceding for the present /with a view to an immediate/ purpose In this

    case no room is afforded for bribery. Of The seat As well the advowson as the next

    presentation may indeed be the object of sale as well as of gratuitous donation. But

    in neither case do the Electors receive any money: by the proprietor of the Borough,

    if by any person is the money received.

    2. Close Borough Seats.
  • Title: [13 Jan y 1817 Necessity Cat]
    Description: 13 Jan y 1817

    Necessity Cat

    II. Application

    § Members Classes

    §.4. Constitution present real state

    13

    6

    1. Pocket Boroughs 2. Close Boroughs. 3. Open or disputable Boroughs. 4 Counties

    1. Country Gentlemen 2. Placemen. 3. Mercantile men 4. Nominees of Country Gentlemen

    and Peers

    1. Modes of entrance. 1. Private Farm. 2. Purchase without competition. 3. Purchase

    as the result of competition. 4. Pecuniary intimidation.

    Q. II. Well and now as to those deputies, the representatives of these same Electors

    – the Members of the Commons House of Parliament. In what way and by what means is it

    that according to you that Assembly is fitted for being /in a state to be/ moulded to

    that same sinister purpose.

    A. Before an answer can be given to this question it will be necessary to make a

    sort of distribution in the first place of the Electoral Districts distinguished

    according to /according to distinctions taken from/ the nature of the sort of

    arrangement by which the seats belonging to them are filled: and in the next place, a

    {correspondent} distribution of the population of the Assembly, classes designative

    /expressive/ of the means by /manner in/ which they have found entrance into such

    their seats, and thence of the manner in which they respectively stand exposed to the

    corruptive influence of the Monarchs separate and sinister interest.