date

1819 Aug. 22 Disfranchising or
1819 Aug. 22

Disfranchising or

Apology for the Borough mongers

5

But now on the other hand suppose that instead of being transferred to populous towns the seats are transferred to Country Districts, things in other respects continuing on the same footing as at present. What will be the consequence? Instead of opulent men of all /those of opulent or well connected or educated/ classes as it might happen, the hands these seats would pass into would be the hands of Country Gentlemen: Peers included: men who, as compared with opulent and well connected or educated men of other classes put together are in respect of all the several elements of appropriate aptitude taken together, in a peculiar degree, and for the reasons so often given, likely to be, not to say sure to be, in a high degree, and to a practically mischievous effect deficient.

☞ Subjoin here or draw up and insert elsewhere a statement of the particulars in respect of which the interest of Country Gentlemen Peers included is more decidedly adverse than that of other persons at large of equal opulence, viz

1. Interest in […?] cases dear[?]. Probity

2. Looking to Peerage, advancement in d o and Baronetage

3. Indolence thence None attendance as compared with men of business

4. Ignorance, the result of high education, fox hunting &c. Intellectual aptitude and active talent.

5. Habitual insolence by lording it over tenantry.

As to aversion to Income Tax, they would be on no better footing than other men of equal opulence: and for certain they would be more likely to be craving for provision for younger children and heir apparent by more wars & distant dependence, with officers, and commissioners &c.
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    §. | | Proposed disfranchisements and transferences of seats, bad in themselves and bad as earnests.

    On the subject of this plan of partial and gradual disfranchisement, and transference of seats taken by itself /considered in itself/, I shall not attempt to detain your Lordship much longer: these letters being intended to be almost immediately followed by a little work in which that plan /measure/ will be particularly if not exclusively considered: /at present/ all I shall do at present is to state the positions, of which in so far as it is /they are/ not in my former work, the proofs will I hope be found in it.

    1. In so far as the disfranchising system is proceeded with /made to take place/, the seats taken from the existing boroughs will be given either to the[?] contiguous Country Districts, or else to populous and at present unrepresented towns.

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  • Title: [1819 June 1 Disfranchising]
    Description: 1819 June 1

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